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News & Updates

September 2023 Speed Duel Events-only Limited List

September 13th, 2023

Attention Speed Duelists! On September 30th, we will implement an updated events-only Limited List for all Speed Duel Public Events being held at the September North America Remote Duel Main Event.*

The Limited List is legal on the weekend of September 30th and at future Tier 3 events. Duelists must comply with the list if they wish to participate in Speed Duel Public Events or the Speed Duel Main Event.  

Official Tournament Stores can also use the list for their local Speed Duel tournaments. 

Read more…

Skill Card Text Update for Speed Duel Tournament Pack 6

August 30th, 2023

Attention Speed Duelists! Speed Duel Tournament Pack 6 is set to be released on September 6th. It’s full of terrific reprints you may need additional copies of and upgraded rarities to some of the strongest cards from Speed Duel GX: Midterm Paradox and Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows. It also includes 5 returning Skill Cards to add to your collection.

Today we’re announcing that 4 of the 5 Skill Cards in Speed Duel Tournament Pack 6 will receive card text updates. These Skill Cards are being clarified, simplified, and/or modified to work within the updated Skill Card rules introduced with the Speed Duel GX: Duel Academy Box.

Skill Card Text Update

The following Skill Cards’ text has been updated to the following text.
These changes are effective immediately as of today, August 30th, 2023.

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Official KDE-US Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy – Version 2.2

May 12th, 2023

Since Tournament Policy documents require ongoing updates and amendments to keep pace with Organized Play, we are pleased to present you with Version 2.2 of the Official KDE-US Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy!

We have made several changes in this latest version – you will find clarification of existing policy, re-structuring of previous information to make it easier to understand, some completely new sections and also some changes from previous policy.

You will need to know all this information to properly prepare for tournament play, but don’t worry! We have prepared this article about the major changes and what they mean for you.  This is not a list of each and every change, but it will explain the more significant ones.  As you read through this article, have a copy of the policy document open too, and refer to it as you go – reading this article by itself instead of reading the policy document won’t provide you with all of the information you need to be ready for tournament play.

Most of the sections in the policy document itself will have example charts that will help you understand how the policy works

Let’s take it section by section!

Also note that previous subsection designations will have changed, due to adding in new subsections.

Read more…

What Else Is in Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows?

April 14th, 2023

If you read this far to Part 5 of our reviews, you’ve seen all 16 Skill Cards for the 8 featured characters in Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows, as well as their pre-built Duel Decks. But that’s not all you’ll find in the box!

There are more Skills, more support cards, and just generally fantastic cards that can help get you ready for competition, as well as those 24 Secret Rare variants! Today we’ll take you through everything else you’ll find in Duelists of Shadows, starting with the 4 remaining Skills.

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Helios Hype and A Cloudian Craze in Speed Duel Gx: Duelists of Shadows

April 13th, 2023

Yesterday, we showed you Shadow Rider Tania’s Amazoness Deck, and Shadow Rider Titan’s Archfiends, both playable out of the box in Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows. Those were two old-school strategies that got a new lease on life in Speed Duel.

Well get ready, because it gets even crazier. There are two more characters with pre-built Decks in Duelists of Shadows, and they’re both repping strategies that never really saw play until now: Shadow Rider Amnael’s Alchemy Deck, featuring Helios – The Primordial Sun and Golden Homunculus; and Adrian Gecko’s Cloudians. Both Decks get a big makeover for their Speed Duel debut, and both use Skill Cards to do things that would be totally impossible otherwise!

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April 2023 Speed Duel Events-only Limited List

April 12th, 2023

Attention Speed Duelists! On April 22nd, we will implement an updated events-only Limited List for all Speed Duel Public Events being held at the April North American Remote Duel Main Event.

The Limited List is legal on the weekend of April 22nd and at future Tier 3 events.
Duelists must comply with the list if they wish to participate in Speed Duel Public Events or the Speed Duel Main Event.

Official Tournament Stores may also use the list for their local Speed Duel tournaments.

Read more…

Amazons and Archfiends Arrive in Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows

April 12th, 2023

In Part 2, we looked at our first pair of Shadow Rider characters making their debut in Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows: Nightshroud and Camula. Here in part 3, we’ll look at two more: Shadow Rider Tania and Shadow Rider Titan. While our first pair get pre-built Decks in Duelists of Shadows that revolve around huge, old-school boss monsters, Tania and Titan’s strategies focus on more mid-range monsters with abilities that make them a nightmare to deal with.

One of the cool things about Duelists of Shadows is that it takes some fan-favorite strategies from the past and then gives them Skill Cards that make them more competitive. In this case we’re talking about Amazons and Archfiends, two throwback themes that earned a place in our hearts…even if they never did well in tournaments.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seriously smashing your opponent with either of these two strategies, Duelists of Shadows can make those dreams into reality. Here’s how they work.

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Bringing Some Structure to Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows

April 11th, 2023

Yesterday we introduced you to the Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows box, and we talked about the Decks and Skill Cards for two of the main characters: alter ego Supreme King Jaden and former Duel Academy chairman Kagemaru. Eight characters have pre-built Decks in Duelists of Shadows, and 5 of them are Shadow Riders. The remaining 2 Shadow Riders are also getting Skill Cards, with many of their cards appearing in the extra additional cards included in Duelists of Shadows.

Today we’re looking at two of the Shadow Riders with full Decks: Nightshroud and Camula. Old school Duel fans may remember that this duo played Decks that echoed a pair of real-world releases in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Nightshroud’s Dragon Deck featured cards from Structure Deck: Dragon’s Roar, while Camula’s Vampire Deck played picks from Structure Deck: Zombie Madness. That’s right: these two devious Duelists piloted Decks that looked a lot like the first two Structure Decks in Yu-Gi-Oh! history, dating all the way back to 2005!

Fast forward to today and the Duelists of Shadows box comes with two pre-built Decks that modernize those old Structure Decks, with new cards and new Skills that make them fiercer than ever. Those Structure Decks never really made an impact in competitive Dueling, but the Speed Duel updates are a big step up. Here’s why.

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Dueling Gets Darker with Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows

April 10th, 2023

The Speed Duel: Battle City Box arrived a little over two years ago in December of 2020. Packed with more than 200 cards, it was loaded with new Skills and smash-hit Secret Rares and came with 8 Decks that were ready to play, right out of the box.  After a wait of a year and a half, we got the sequel, 2022’s Speed Duel GX: Duel Academy Box, the first Speed Duel release to introduce characters and cards from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX. And the concept would evolve again just a few months later, with Speed Duel GX: Midterm Paradox bringing even more fan-favorite characters to Speed Duels.

And now, almost one year after the release of the Duel Academy Box, it’s time for another mega-sized Speed Duel release! Speed Duel GX: Duelists of Shadows hit the streets on March 30th, ready to take Speed Duels to the next level with crazy new Skills, amazing Secret Rares, and lots of competitive cards revisited. Whether you love Speed Duel or you’re new to the format, Duelists of Shadows is packed with so much value that you won’t want to miss it.

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Official KDE-US Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy Ver 2.2

March 6th, 2023

Since Tournament Policy documents require ongoing updates and amendments to keep pace with Organized Play, we are pleased to present you with Version 2.2 of the Official KDE-US Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Infractions and Penalties Policy.

We have made a few changes in this latest version – you will find clarification of existing policy, re-structuring of previous information to make it easier to understand, some new additions and some changes from previous policy.

You will need to know all this information to properly prepare for tournament play, but don’t worry! We have prepared an article about the major changes and what they mean for you.  While it isn’t a list of each and every change, it will explain the more significant changes.  As you read through this article, have a copy of the policy document open too, and refer to it as you go – reading this article by itself instead of reading the policy document won’t provide you with all of the information you need to be ready for tournament play.

Most of the sections in the policy document itself will have example charts that will help you understand how the policy works

Let’s take it section by section!

Some of the previous subsection designations have changed in this new version, so keep that in mind as you go.

Section I.  Philosophy

This section explains the purpose behind the Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy:

  • Outlines the appropriate code of behavior for persons at a tournament.
  • Instructs judges and tournament officials how to identify infractions and assign correct penalties.
  • Helps ensure a fair and consistent tournament experience, by explaining the various types of infractions along with the penalties assigned to each infraction.

Changes to this section include:

Subsection A. Persons Attending a Tournament

What changed?
We separated Appropriate and Not Appropriate judge calls into separately-labeled sections, to better explain the difference between the two.
We have also provided some newer examples to help clarify.

What does this mean?
Judge calls (these are questions or issues about gameplay or policy which arise during a match) are intended to maintain a fair and consistent tournament. Judge calls should not be used as an exploitative tool to gain an unfair advantage or target another person.

Section II.  Investigation Procedure

This section explains how to investigate issues regarding policy, properly identify infractions, and apply penalties.

Changes to this section include:

Subsection E. Time Extensions

What changed?
We clarified the example table by adding a title for each example, to reiterate each rule and make it easier to retain.
We also added an additional example to clarify when time extensions begin (when the judge arrives at the table).

What does this mean?
There are specific rules for applying Time Extensions, understanding how they work will help you understand the policy.

Subsection F.  Game State

What changed?
We separated Irreparable, Reparable, and Accepted Game States into separate sections, to make the differences easier to understand. 
We added a section to clarify Significant Advantage, which was not a widely understood concept.
We clarified some of the examples in the Misrepresenting the Game State example table.

What does this mean?
It is each Duelist’s responsibility to maintain an accurate Game State, and to call over a judge immediately should any disruption to the Game State occur.

Disruptions to the Game State should be evaluated carefully to determine whether the Game State is Irreparable, Reparable, or Accepted and whether or not the disruption has created Significant Advantage.

Misrepresenting the Game State is a serious offence and can happen in a variety of ways – be aware of this and avoid doing it.

Section III. Penalties

This section covers information about the 4 types of penalties (previously 5) which can be administered.

We have one significant change to this section!
The Caution penalty has been eliminated entirely.
A Warning is now the only penalty that can be given for Minor Infractions.

Changes to this section include:

Subsection E.  Upgrading and Downgrading Penalties

What changed?
We separated the Upgrade and Downgrade examples into separate tables, to make the information easier to process.

What does this mean?
Head Judges should follow correct policy when determining whether or not to upgrade or downgrade a penalty.

Section IV. Infractions

This section covers information about the different types of Infractions that can be committed.

Changes to this section include:

Subsection B. Procedural Error

2. Procedural Error (PE) – Major (Game Loss)

What changed?
We have added a new Procedural Error – Major:  If the Duelist responsible for submitting the Match result for a Match that has concluded has not done so before 5 minutes have passed from the official end of the Round, that Duelist will receive a PE – Major (Game Loss) Penalty.

What does this mean?
Typically, the Duelist who wins the Match is responsible for submitting the Match results. If this Duelist fails to submit the result for a Match that has concluded within 5 minutes after the end of the Round, that Duelist will receive a Game Loss penalty, applied to their next Match. 
This is intended to cut down on delays created by missing Match results in between Rounds.
Matches with Time Extensions must submit their Match result immediately after their Match has concluded.

Which Duelist is responsible for submitting the Match result?
The winning Duelist is responsible for submitting the Match result. 

Subsection G.  Slow Play

What changed?
We clarified there is not a set amount of time for actions.
We added some examples for appropriate upgrades.

What does this mean?
Slow Play is frequently misunderstood, study this section carefully to better understand it.

Subsection H.  Unsporting Conduct

3. Unsporting Conduct (UC) – Severe (Disqualification)

What changed?
We have added some new examples in the example chart, including intentionally misgendering another person, refusing to wear a mask when instructed to do so, submitting fraudulent vaccination information, behaving inappropriately on camera at a Livestreamed event, and anyone other than an official vendor attending a Sanctioned event for the purpose of buying and/or selling.

What does this mean?

Unsporting Conduct – Severe infractions are serious, and it is your responsibility to understand policy and avoid these actions.

4. Unsporting Conduct (UC)  – Cheating (Disqualification)

What changed?
We re-organized the examples, to put similar offenses next to one another.  We also provided clearer scenarios for some of the more vaguely worded examples.

What does this mean?
This information should be easier to understand now.

Section VI. Suspension and Suspended Persons

This section covers information about the process of Suspension from Organized Play, and information regarding Suspended Persons.

Changes to this section include:

Subsection A.  Suspension for Infractions Occurring at Sanctioned Events

What changed?
We added the line “Persons who are suspended from KDE Organized Play will be included on the Suspended Persons list.”

What does this mean?
You should be aware that if you are Suspended from KDE Organized Play, your name and CARD GAME ID number will be included on the Suspended Persons list.

Subsection B. Suspension for Infractions Outside of Sanctioned or Official Events

What changed?
We added the line “Persons who are suspended from KDE Organized Play will be included on the Suspended Persons list.”We have also expanded the examples list.

What does this mean?
You should be aware that if you are Suspended from KDE Organized Play, your name and CARD GAME ID number will be included on the Suspended Persons list.

Unsporting Conduct – Severe/Cheating infractions are serious, and it is your responsibility to understand policy and avoid these actions.

We’re excited about these updates to the document, and hope you found this article helpful and informative! Tournament Policy is often overlooked as Duelists focus on card text and rulings, but it’s every bit as important a part of tournament preparedness.

Please make sure to review this current version (2.2) before attending an event, regardless of whether it’s an in-person tournament or a Remote Duel tournament!