Build Your First Deck
Pick a proven list and learn why it works.
You don't need to build a deck from scratch. The best way to start is to copy a list that has already won, play it a lot and change it once you understand it.
Pick an archetype
Each deck guide explains how an archetype plays, what it is good at and what it struggles with. These four are a good place to start:
- Goat Control. The deck the format is named after. Slow, careful and strong.
- Chaos Control. Goat Control plus Black Luster Soldier and Chaos Sorcerer for more pressure.
- Warrior. The format's top aggressive deck. Reinforcement of the Army finds most of what it needs.
- Flip Control. Uses flip effects and Tsukuyomi to grind out card advantage.
Copy a list
Find a recent list for your archetype in decklists. Lists from tournament winners and top finishers are a safe choice. Play it as it is for a while before you change anything.
Know the power cards
Some cards are so strong that almost every deck plays them. You will see these in nearly every game, so learn what they do:
- Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning
- Heavy Storm, Snatch Steal and Graceful Charity
- Mirror Force, Torrential Tribute and Ring of Destruction
- Tribe-Infecting Virus, Morphing Jar and Sinister Serpent
- Delinquent Duo
Many of them are Limited to one copy. Check the Limited list and the full banlist before you change your deck.
Change one thing at a time
Once you know the deck, small changes teach you the most. Swap one card, play some games and see if it helped. Ask on Discord why a list plays a card before you cut it. There is usually a reason.
Load it into DuelingBook
Download the .ydk file from the decklist's export menu and use Import Deck in DuelingBook's deck constructor. How to Play covers the rest.
