Gem Guide
This is a living guide which automatically updates itself based on daily new top decks and weekly Tier List updates to give you the most up-to-date gem investment advice possible. The green/red arrows — / — found on cards throughout the guide represent recent trends in those cards’ usage rates.
Quick Links
- Recommended Deck: The best deck for new or returning players to pick up and immediately become competitive.
- Top Staples: All the cards used in multiple top-tier decks; these cards are very flexible and powerful.
- Trending Cards: Take a look at which cards are currently going up or down in usage.
- Set Breakdown: Full list of relevant boxes and structure decks along with the most competitive cards inside them.
- Analysis Details: Technical details about how this page chooses what to show and recommend.
The average cost to build Noble Knights (Tier 1) is 23,000 gems + $11. This comes from the 11,000 gems + $11 needed for the core UR/SR cards:
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- 2x Noble Knight Borz
- 1x Noble Knight Brothers
- 1x Gwenhwyfar, Queen of Noble Arms
- 2x Glory of the Noble Knights
- 2x Noble Arms - Arfeudutyr
- 1x Noble Arms - Caliburn
- 1x Noble Arms - Gallatin
- 2x Noble Arms of Destiny
Other Top Decks:
- Onomat (Tier 2) – 36,000 gems + $8
- Photon of Galaxy: 4,000 gems
- Shining Hope: 9,000 gems
- Gagaga Xyz: 500 gems + $8
- Infinite Ray: 5,000 gems
- Shark Fang: 4,000 gems
- Rampage of the Forest: 4,000 gems
- Tech cards: 9,500 gems
- Blue-Eyes (Tier 3) – 28,000 gems + $11 ()
- Blue-Eyes Evolution: 1,000 gems + $11
- Judgement Force: 9,000 gems
- Infinite Ray: 5,000 gems
- Blazing Rose: 5,000 gems
- Arena of Sanctuary: 5,000 gems
- Tech cards: 3,000 gems
- Desperado (Tier 2) – 43,000 gems + $11
- Full Metal Desperado: 1,000 gems + $11
- Arena of Sanctuary: 8,000 gems
- Tech cards: 34,000 gems
- Thunder Dragons (Tier 3) – 58,000 gems ()
- Infinite Ray: 16,000 gems
- Blazing Rose: 5,000 gems
- Judgement Force: 7,000 gems
- Photon of Galaxy: 3,000 gems
- Aerial Assault: 1,000 gems
- Future Horizon: 2,000 gems
- Dark Dimension: 14,000 gems
- Tech cards: 10,000 gems
- Water Xyz (Tier 2) – 65,000 gems + $150 ()
- Cybernetic Rebellion: 14,000 gems
- Gaia Genesis: 8,000 gems
- Shark Fang: 5,000 gems
- Photon of Galaxy: 5,000 gems
- Aerial Assault: 5,000 gems
- Visions of Ice: 4,000 gems
- Valhalla Calling: 9,000 gems
- Selection Box Vol.04: $150
- Tech cards: 15,000 gems
- These are decks that can require significant in-game play time to build. Because they make heavy use of cards from sources like drop rewards, ranked tickets, the Card Trader, and level-up rewards, these decks can be difficult for a new player to obtain.
- These are decks whose best versions involve cards currently exclusive to Selection Boxes. Such cards are extremely expensive and not currently available. It is unknown when these cards will be available to purchase again.
Note: Before investing in a deck, take the time to look into the play-style of the deck as well as general opinions on the deck. Be sure that you’ll enjoy playing the deck and that it’s not in danger of suddenly becoming irrelevant.
Warning: Not all box staples are in good boxes. Chasing cards from much older boxes is almost never a good idea for newer players.
Boxes/Structure Decks
- Number 70: Malevolent Sin is used in Noble Knights, Desperado, Onomat, and Thunder Dragons
- Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis is used in Desperado, Blue-Eyes, and Thunder Dragons
- Diamond Dire Wolf is used in Desperado, Onomat, and Thunder Dragons
- Book of Moon is used in Water Xyz and Blue-Eyes
- Abyss Dweller is used in Onomat and Water Xyz
- The Melody of Awakening Dragon is used in Blue-Eyes and Thunder Dragons
On the Rise
In Decline
Boxes and structure decks that are not in the list below have no cards that are frequently used in current top-tier decks. Competitive free-to-play duelists should not invest in them right now.
For more information on each set, the banner images will take you to full overview pages with complete card lists.
PHOTON OF GALAXY
This box contains support for Onomat (Tier 2), as well as multiple popular staple cards.
BLUE-EYES EVOLUTION
This structure deck contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).
Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money.
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources.
INFINITE RAY
This box contains support for Noble Knights (Tier 1) and Thunder Dragons (Tier 3), as well as multiple popular staple cards.
TALES OF THE NOBLE KNIGHTS
This structure deck contains support for Noble Knights (Tier 1).
Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money.
SHARK FANG
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2), Onomat (Tier 2), Water Xyz (Tier 2), and Thunder Dragons (Tier 3).
SHINING HOPE
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2), Onomat (Tier 2), and Water Xyz (Tier 2). Gagaga Samurai is also a strong staple in the current meta.
DARK DIMENSION
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2), Water Xyz (Tier 2), and Thunder Dragons (Tier 3).
FULL METAL DESPERADO
This structure deck contains support for Desperado (Tier 2).
Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money.
BLAZING ROSE
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2) and Thunder Dragons (Tier 3). Vermillion Dragon Mech is also a strong staple in the current meta.
LORDS OF SHINING
This box contains support for Noble Knights (Tier 1) and Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).
Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
SWORDBOUND SILENCE
This structure deck contains support for Noble Knights (Tier 1).
Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money.
Warning: All relevant cards in this structure deck have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
BLACKSTORM RISING
This box contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).
Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
THE WHITE DRAGON OF LEGEND
This structure deck contains support for Blue-Eyes (Tier 3).
Note: This structure deck can only be purchased once with gems. Be careful about pursuing decks that use these cards if you do not want to spend money.
Warning: All relevant cards in this structure deck have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
CRUSADERS’ BATTLEGROUNDS
This box contains support for Noble Knights (Tier 1).
Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
SERVANTS OF KINGS
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2).
Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
CRIMSON KINGDOM
This box contains support for Desperado (Tier 2).
Warning: All relevant cards in this box have been reprinted in newer sets. Be extremely cautious about investing your gems here.
FREE IN-GAME SOURCES
The best cards from free, in-game sources consist of support for Desperado (Tier 2), Water Xyz (Tier 2), Blue-Eyes (Tier 3), and Thunder Dragons (Tier 3). The Melody of Awakening Dragon is also one of the best staple cards in the current meta.
This page works by analyzing recent top decks from the past few weeks, automatically accounting for any changes to the Forbidden/Limited List and Tier List. Only cards which are used in those decks above a certain “usage threshold rate” are counted on this page, so the cards you see above are guaranteed to have been successful in multiple top decks from multiple players.
A “staple” card is classified as any card which is commonly used in multiple top-tier decks. Cards may shift from being staples to being classified as “archetype-specific support” if all but one of the decks using that card fall off the Tier List. Similarly, cards may become staples as other decks that use the card are promoted on to the Tier List.
The recommended deck is the best, most accessible deck on the Tier List, perfect for new or returning players. The price of each deck is estimated by looking at the “core” cards and then factoring in how expensive common “tech” cards are. If you’re instead looking for information on one of the non-recommended decks, the deck-type pages have full statistical breakdowns of the cards used in every deck.
