Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament rules
Official Konami events range from local tournaments and Remote Duels to Regionals, YCS events and the World Championship.
Forbidden & Limited list
Konami updates the list several times a year. Forbidden cards can't be used; Limited cards are one per deck; Semi-Limited cards are two. The TCG list (Europe, the Americas and Oceania) is different from the OCG list used in Asia.
Matches
Matches are best of three duels, with Side Deck swaps between duels; the Side Deck must stay at 15 cards or fewer and your Main Deck count must stay legal. Rounds usually last around 40 minutes, with a set end-of-match procedure if time runs out.
Deck registration and conduct
- Register your Main, Extra and Side Decks before the event.
- Use opaque, matching sleeves.
- Announce your actions, summons and activations clearly, and give your opponent the chance to respond.
- Call a judge for rules questions or mistakes.
Penalties
Konami's penalty guidelines cover game errors, procedural errors and unsporting conduct, from a caution up to a game or match loss. Higher-tier events enforce them more strictly.