Some might say that Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a simplified version of the popular collectible card game but I disagree. The game has so much more depth and strategy involved but is open enough to be played by almost everyone.
The great thing about Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is the ability of each player to edit and build your deck much like playing the original Yu-Gi-Oh card game.
Understanding the basics of the game can be very troublesome especially if you are not yet well-versed in the world of Yu-Gi-Oh. In this guide, I will explain the game and how you can get gems to help your gameplay. Let's go!
- A Simplified Version
- Build Your Deck
- How to Earn Gems
- Get the Core Cards First
- Spend Them Wisely
- When to Use Cards
A Simplified Version
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links makes it so that the game is open to new players who won't be overwhelmed by the classic game's complex mechanics.
In this mobile version, the game only has three monster zones and three spell zones. There is also a graveyard and an extra deck zone where you can only add 5 monsters each.
Cards are also removed from play and only when you are done with the Battle Phase can you end your turn. In Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links, each player only has 4,000 health.
Getting New Cards
There are a lot of ways to obtain new cards in Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links. You can purchase them through the Card Trader or you can duel NPCs and Legendary Duelists.
If you do want to go through the Card Trader, you will first encounter the Card Trader at Stage 7. You will be required to craft the cards that you like.
Gems can also be used to get new cards but they are random and will need a lot of luck for you to get the cards that you like.
Build Your Deck
The Deck Editor is where I can build and edit my deck of cards. Tap on ‘Card Studio’ or simply tap the character to start building your deck. There should be at least 20 cards on your deck for you to be able to use during duels.
You can only have a maximum of three of the same cards on your deck. I can add or remove the cards that I like by tapping the Add or Remove icon.
I can also use the filter feature to categorize each card thus making them easier to add or remove. If you are still unsure of your cards, use the Create Auto-Deck feature in the game and the game will create one for you.
Take the time to learn the ins and outs of the game and build your deck later on once you have a better understanding of the game.
Have a Better Deck of Cards
Focus on having better cards that compliment each other. Never try to overload your deck with cards that do not work well with others.
Play with your strengths according to your play style. Make sure to use all the skills from your deck and make the most out of it.
How to Earn Gems
Gems can be purchased using real money. However, if you want to own the cards that you like, you should know where to find gems so you can afford to open a lot of card packs.
I would recommend saving at least 1,000 gems first before you buy your first card pack.
At first, you won't feel the need to earn gems since you can easily beat your opponents with your current deck. But there will come a time that you will need to upgrade your deck and this is when you'll try to find different methods to acquire gems.
Here are some of the best ways for you to get gems in the game.
Challenge NPCs
There are a lot of low-priority characters in this game. Some of these NPCs don't have much to offer but I made this mistake once. I recently found that you can duel with these characters to gain experience and gems in the long run.
While they may not be essential to the story, they still offer a lot of experience when you go through each of them. Never underestimate these NPCs during duels as they still pack quite a punch and give you a run for your money.
It is important that you construct an auto deck first before heading into battle with them.
Get the Core Cards First
With that in mind, use your initial gems to acquire core cards first. These are the types of cards that are great during the initial phase of the game. They are highly effective against these types of characters.
This is highly effective in helping you invest your gems to good use and save some for the long run.
Make sure to use some of your gems so you can get more later on. After that, you can go for the tech cards which are more effective later in the game.
Grind for Gems
Another meaningful way to get gems in this game is to grind for them through events like the Unlocking Characters event and many others.
There are a lot of events that come our way so try not to miss them. Participate in these events and you should be able to get a good amount of gems that you can use later on.
There are also secret locations in the game that will help you get more gems. Tap the water fountain at the Gate to receive at least three gems for free. You can also tap the street lights at the PvP Arena, the garbage can at the Card Studio, and the Giant Spinning Card at the Shop.
Spend Them Wisely
Many new players who have received a fair amount of gems would immediately want to spend them altogether. I would try to recommend that you spend your gems wisely.
Every card pack should be around the same price however, they have different values. At one moment, I can open a card pack with a lot of valuable cards and at another moment, I would receive low-tier cards that have no use for my level.
Make sure that you look at all the possible cards that you can obtain through these boxes. Never try to go for these boxes if you cannot finish your deck.
Play With Other Players at the PvP Arena
Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links features a PvP Arena where you can challenge other players into a duel. It can be quite fun if you are well-prepared with the cards that you have.
Make sure that you have your decks built properly apart from the ones that were given to you at the start of the game. This gives you a great advantage in the game knowing that you have something up your sleeve apart from the common ones used by new players in the game.
Once you have reached a certain level in the game, make sure to head over to ranked duels to truly test your skills. Ranked duels will pit you against another duelist that matches your skill level so it should always be a fair fight. As always, prepare yourself by building a proper deck.
When to Use Cards
With so many cards to choose from, it can be difficult for players to understand when each card should be played. There are cards like Syncros that won't even see being played while there are others that are used in every duel.
The best way to land a victory is to use power-ups. Power-up cards help boost your other cards and equip them with enough damage to eliminate your opponents.
Cards like Reinforcements are a great card to use during duels with powerful opponents as it boosts your cards.
Spells like De-Spell and Twister are great at destroying other spell cards and traps.
When to Use Auto Duel
Auto Duel is a great feature in the game if you want to gain a lot of experience and level up. If your goal is to reach a certain level in the game then by all means, I advise you to use the Auto Duel feature.
However, there are things that AI cannot do and might even pose as a risk for your next battle. Cards that affect status can be detrimental to your chance at winning duels.
Spells and combo heavy cards should be avoided when using this feature. The AI won't be able to use these combos so you won't be able to make good use of them.
Conclusion
There is still a lot to learn more about Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Links. It might be a very simple game to play but it also has a lot of depth making it one of the best collectible card games on mobile.
Make sure to download the game by checking Steam, the Google Play Store, or the App Store for a download link appropriate for your device.
