| This is written for all the parents out there whose child | | | | Yu-Gi-Oh games, comic books, special prizes etc. |
| has been asking them to buy them some Yu-Gi-Oh | | | | Onto rarity, Yu-Gi-Oh have quite a lot of rarities by |
| cards and have no idea what they are going on about | | | | now. Each pack usually have 9 cards in it, the newer |
| or whether or not you are getting them the right things! | | | | set would have at least a rare and above. So you |
| Seriously, half the kids don't really know what they | | | | could open a pack with a rare and a super rare card |
| want themselves, or how expensive some of them | | | | in it. In terms of how hard to get, it goes like: |
| can be! As an experienced tournament organiser and | | | | Common - rare - super rare - ultra rare - ultimate rare |
| a player myself, I have been asked many times about | | | | - secret rare - ghost rare. You also have parallel rare, |
| what to buy and what is good, etc. So here are all the | | | | which are special promo |
| advices in one article, hopefully it will help you out! | | | | Secret rare - they are actually harder to get then |
| First of all, try to find out exactly what the card name | | | | ghost rare because there are about 4 -5 of them per |
| is if they want a specific card. Some of them can | | | | set, and only one ghost rare per set. So a specific one |
| sound very strange, like blue eyes white dragon, or | | | | is harder to get. On eBay, they would list what the |
| winged kuriboh Lv9, you need to be very careful about | | | | rarity is for each of them. Be careful with promo cards, |
| the name. Because a Red Eyes Darkness Dragon | | | | they can be secret rare sometimes, and they are not |
| and a Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon may sound | | | | worth as much as a secret rare from a booster set. |
| very similar, but one is fairly useless when the other is | | | | Because you can get some from say a comic book, |
| a fairly expensive but powerful card! If you know the | | | | which cost about £8 to buy. |
| exact name, just go onto eBay, most of the times you | | | | Normally speaking, a rare card can be from 50p to |
| will get a fairly good deal even on "buy it now". If they | | | | £2. Super from about £2 to £8 |
| are a bit vague, go to Yu-gi-oh Wikia, and look for it | | | | (some can be as high as £15 if they are very |
| there first. Golden rule, don't ever buy a card that | | | | useful). Ultra rare are around £10 - 15. Ultimate |
| sounded a bit like what they are looking for, there are | | | | rare about £15 - 20. Secret rare can be from |
| over 3000 cards, a lot of them have really strange and | | | | £15 - 100+. Ghost rare are usually about |
| similar names! | | | | £25 ish. Parallel are usually promo, so probably |
| Another question usually would be they are trying to | | | | £5 or so. If a certain card goes way beyond |
| get a certain Character's card. This is the time when | | | | what I quoted, chances are they are tier 1 cards, i.e. |
| Yu-Gi-Oh Wikia will save you. Look for that | | | | cards that the top tournament players use. Unless you |
| Character's name, chances are the site will tell you | | | | are very rich, they are usually not worth it. Unless your |
| what card that person use. Then just pick the few key | | | | child is doing really well in local tournaments, tier 1 cards |
| ones and go from there. Again, DO NOT TRADE for | | | | are wasted on them. |
| them usually, because character cards are usually | | | | Having said all this, the best thing to do really is take |
| very weak and are quite cheap to buy online, but the | | | | them to local tournaments. Go to and you should be |
| rarity is high, so people may rip you off for it. So at the | | | | able to find the tournament locator there. Konami is |
| very least check how much your own cards are | | | | slowly getting it sorted for all the regions. If it doesn't |
| worth, then how much those you wants are worth | | | | say there, just get a phone directory and call all the toy |
| before going in to trade with anyone. | | | | stores nearby and just ask if they do Yu-Gi-Oh |
| To buy cards, there are various ways. You can get a | | | | tournaments. |
| structure / starter deck, they are fixed, so all the cards | | | | In general, Yu-Gi-Oh is a great game for kids. It is fairly |
| would be listed at the back, and you always get the | | | | easy to pick up but have really deep strategies. It will |
| same cards. Very good if you are starting fresh and | | | | help them with their confidence as well as just |
| don't have many cards. Usual advice is to buy the | | | | cognitive skills, as you do have to think a lot playing it. It |
| newest one. | | | | teaches them about competition and fair play, basic |
| Booster packs. Comes out once every 3 months. | | | | calculation, improve their memory, and best of all.... |
| About 100 cards per set. With all the secret rare these | | | | You can usually leave them at the local store for a |
| days, you can buy about 10 boxes (240 packs) and still | | | | few hours!! Most stores would have sufficient adult |
| won't get every card. So best bet is to just buy a few | | | | supervision providing you child is ok to take care of |
| packs and hope to get some good cards then go | | | | themselves like going to the toilet and can buy |
| trade for what you need. Specific cards are usually | | | | themselves food and drink etc. You can just go |
| best off trading or buying off eBay. The pre-release | | | | shopping or do whatever you like! Just sit with them |
| event is always great to go to, you can buy the cards | | | | the first couple of times, they should be fine. To be |
| cheaper than retail, and get special promo for it! | | | | honest, a lot of dads ended up playing the game |
| Collector tins. They are pretty good if you want to get | | | | themselves even long after their kids have stopped |
| cards from the past few sets. They usually come with | | | | playing. |
| a really good promo card. Most people buy these just | | | | And to quote the head judge from the 2009 UK |
| for that. Also comes with a tin to put all the spare | | | | national championship: "This Yu-Gi-Oh championship is |
| cards in! Special editions. These are the best way to | | | | ran at the National institute of sport, so Yu-Gi-Oh is |
| buy previous sets. They come in box of three | | | | now officially a sport!" Yup, not sure how much |
| boosters, sometimes are the same price as three | | | | exercise they will get out of it, as long as don't try to |
| boosters or even cheaper! They also come with a | | | | play Yu-Gi-Oh whilst riding a bike (cartoon reference), |
| decent promo usually. | | | | they should be just fine! |
| You can also get cards from Shonen jump magazines, | | | | |