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 Dark Magician (Tier 2) is 39,000 gems (). This comes from the 31,000 gems needed for the core UR/SR cards:
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Other Top Decks:
- Ritual Beasts (Tier 3) – 36,000 gems
- Spirit of the Beast: 12,000 gems
- Warriors Unite: 5,000 gems
- Galactic Origin: 10,000 gems
- The Ultimate Rising: 10,000 gems
- Shiranui (Tier 2) – 52,000 gems
- Soul of Resurrection: 10,000 gems
- Curse of Dread: less than 1000 gems
- Generation Next: 5,000 gems
- Fortress of Gears: 5,000 gems
- The Ultimate Rising: 5,000 gems
- Crimson Kingdom: 5,000 gems
- Tech cards: 22,000 gems
- Blackwings (Tier 2) – 58,000 gems
- Aerial Assault: 21,000 gems
- Blackstorm Rising: 16,000 gems
- Truth Universe: 5,000 gems
- Secrets of the Ancients: 3,000 gems
- Dark Dimension: 5,000 gems
- Galactic Origin: 10,000 gems
- Cyber Dragon (Tier 3) – 50,000 gems ()
- Future Horizon: 9,000 gems
- Cybernetic Rebellion: 6,000 gems
- Warriors Unite: 5,000 gems
- Galactic Origin: 15,000 gems
- Tech cards: 15,000 gems
- Crystrons (Tier 1) – 67,000 gems
- Cybernetic Rebellion: 15,000 gems
- Spirit of the Beast: 10,000 gems
- Secrets of the Ancients: 3,000 gems
- Dark Dimension: 1,000 gems
- Blazing Rose: 5,000 gems
- Galactic Origin: 15,000 gems
- Tech cards: 18,000 gems
- Elementsabers (Tier 2) – 56,000 gems + $150 ()
- Dark Dimension: 21,000 gems
- Selection Box Vol.03: $150
- Aerial Assault: 9,000 gems
- Generation Next: 15,000 gems
- Tech cards: 11,000 gems
- Masked Heroes (Tier 2) – 30,000 gems + $229 ()
- Destiny Rulers: 500 gems + $4
- Valiant Souls: 10,000 gems
- Selection Box Vol.03: $225
- Fortress of Gears: 10,000 gems
- Galactic Origin: 10,000 gems
- These are decks that 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 only available while the Selection Boxes are around (until June 14th). 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
- Cosmic Cyclone is used in Crystrons, Blackwings, Dark Magician, Masked Heroes, Cyber Dragon, and Ritual Beasts
- Sphere Kuriboh is used in Elementsabers, Shiranui, and Ritual Beasts
- Floodgate Trap Hole is used in Elementsabers and Shiranui
- Fiendish Chain is used in Elementsabers and Shiranui
- Ballista Squad is used in Crystrons and Shiranui
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.
SELECTION BOX VOL.03
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Dark Magician (Tier 2), Elementsabers (Tier 2), Masked Heroes (Tier 2), and Shiranui (Tier 2), as well as multiple popular staple cards.
Note: This Selection Box is available until June 14th. Only a limited number of packs can be purchased with gems.
SELECTION BOX MINI VOL.02
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Blackwings (Tier 2), Dark Magician (Tier 2), Elementsabers (Tier 2), and Cyber Dragon (Tier 3). Forbidden Lance is also a strong staple in the current meta.
Note: This Selection Box is available until June 14th. Only a limited number of packs can be purchased with gems.
SELECTION BOX VOL.02
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Blackwings (Tier 2), and Masked Heroes (Tier 2).
Note: This Selection Box is available until June 14th. Only a limited number of packs can be purchased with gems.
SELECTION BOX MINI VOL.01
Cosmic Cyclone is one of the best staple cards in the current meta.
Note: This Selection Box is available until June 14th. Only a limited number of packs can be purchased with gems.
SELECTION BOX VOL.01
This box contains support for Shiranui (Tier 2). Sphere Kuriboh is also a strong staple in the current meta.
Note: This Selection Box is available until June 14th. Only a limited number of packs can be purchased with gems.
HERO GENERATION
This structure deck contains support for Masked Heroes (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.
Note: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources.
FORTRESS OF GEARS
This box contains support for Masked Heroes (Tier 2). Ballista Squad is also a strong staple in the current meta.
FUTURE HORIZON
This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 2), Shiranui (Tier 2), and Cyber Dragon (Tier 3).
AERIAL ASSAULT
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Blackwings (Tier 2), and Elementsabers (Tier 2).
SPIRIT OF THE BEAST
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1) and Ritual Beasts (Tier 3), as well as multiple popular staple cards.
MASTERS OF CHAOS
This structure deck contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 2) and Masked Heroes (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.
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here.
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources.
DARK DIMENSION
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Blackwings (Tier 2), and Elementsabers (Tier 2).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
VALHALLA CALLING
Forbidden Lance is a strong staple in the current meta.
Note: All relevant cards in this box are currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
CYBERNETIC REBELLION
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1) and Cyber Dragon (Tier 3).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
GUARDIANS OF ROCK
This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 2).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
WARRIORS UNITE
This box contains multiple popular staple cards.
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
REVOLUTION BEGINNING
This box contains support for Elementsabers (Tier 2).
Note: All relevant cards in this box are currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
BLACKSTORM RISING
This box contains support for Blackwings (Tier 2).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
STARDUST ACCELERATION
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1).
Note: All relevant cards in this box are currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
VISIONS OF ICE
This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 2).
Note: All relevant cards in this box are currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
VALIANT SOULS
This box contains support for Elementsabers (Tier 2), Masked Heroes (Tier 2), and Shiranui (Tier 2).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
Warning: Some relevant cards in this box may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here.
DESTINY RULERS
This structure deck contains support for Masked Heroes (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.
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck may also be found in newer sets. Think carefully before investing your gems here.
Warning: Some relevant cards in this structure deck are also available from free, in-game sources.
ABYSS ENCOUNTERS
This box contains support for Crystrons (Tier 1).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
GALACTIC ORIGIN
Cosmic Cyclone is one of the best staple cards in the current meta.
Note: All relevant cards in this box are currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
CRIMSON KINGDOM
This box contains support for Dark Magician (Tier 2) and Shiranui (Tier 2).
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
THE ULTIMATE RISING
This box contains support for Cyber Dragon (Tier 3). Sphere Kuriboh is also a strong staple in the current meta.
Note: Some relevant cards in this box are also currently available in a Selection Box (until June 14th).
FREE IN-GAME SOURCES
The best cards from free, in-game sources consist of support for Crystrons (Tier 1), Dark Magician (Tier 2), Masked Heroes (Tier 2), and Cyber Dragon (Tier 3).
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.