Subject: Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic compared-The Evolutionist Yo, I'm back. This will be my third time getting posted. I figured I would make a nice comparison of my Two favorite TCG's, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh. I have been playing Magic for 6 years and Yu-Gi-Oh for almost 1. 1.The Decks- Yu-Gi-Oh: 40 card minimum 3 of each card maximum 1 list of Restricted/Limited cards for tourneys Magic: 60 card minimum 4 of each card maximum (except for Mana) Each set becomes Illegal after 1 or 2 more sets come out (can't remember exactly) 2.Going first or second: Yu-Gi-Oh: Going first allows you to set/summon your monster first, and any m/t's you may have. Going second allows you to plan a strategy based on your opponents move. You get to draw no matter which one you choose. My opinion: Go first, it will let you plan your strategy quicker. Magic:Going first does not allow you to draw, but you get to lay the first Mana. This can be a disadvantage, since odds are that you won't have a 1 mana creature in your hand first-turn (unless your deck is based around it). Going second allows you to draw, and play based on your opponents move. My opinion:This all depends on your hand, if you have at least 1 mana ad 1 lower creature, go first. Otherwise (as in a situation where your first 7 are mana) go second. 3. The Hand Yu-Gi-Oh: First hand: 5 cards, draw on your first turn. Maximum hand: 6, unless a card says different Draw: Every turn, plus other cards allow for extra drawing power. Magic: First hand: 7 cards, player who goes second draws on the first turn Maximum hand: 8, unless a card says different Draw: Every turn unless you go first, then it is every turn after the first turn. Also, there are cards that allow you to draw more. 4. Playing cards Yu-Gi-Oh: Summoning Monsters is based on the level of the monsters. 1-4 can be played directly from your hand onto the field. Monsters 5+6 require a single tribute from the field. Monsters 7+ require 2 tributes from the field. Also there are two other ways of summoning monsters, Ritual and Fusion. Certain Monsters require a Spell(ugh) card to allow them to summon them, it varys depending on the monster. After you play that Spell card, you offer a number of monsters whose level equals that of the ritual monster from the hand or the field. Fusion monsters require a Spell card, Polymerization, The 2 fusion material monsters, and the actual fused monster card. The fusion material monsters can be in either yor hand or your field. Spell cards can be played from the hand, and Trap cards must be played face down on the field in a Spell/Trap zone before being activated. You can have 5 monsters on the field and 5 Spells/Traps plus one Spell card on the field at once. Magic: Summoning Creatures is done just like playing anything else: Mana. There are 5 colors associated with Mana: Red (Mountain), Green (Forest), Black (Swamp), White (Plains), and Blue (Island). You can play one Mana per turn, and they do not cost anything to put down. To play any other card, you must tap the required amount of Mana, which is shown on the card. You can tap as much or as little Mana as needed during your turn. 5. Attacking/Defending Yu-Gi-Oh: There are 2 different modes that monsters can be put in, Attack (ATK), and Defense (DEF). ATK is when a monster is put onto the field Face-up and Vertical. When a Monster is in ATK, you use his ATK number to calculate battle. Putting a monster in DEF is when the player places a monster on the field face-down Horizontaly. When a monster is in DEF, the players use the DEF number to calculate battle damage. Magic: There is only 1 normal mode, face up-horizontal. There are still 2 values, Power and Guard (I think). The way this works is actually fairly simple. You attack, and any creatres the block your creature takes damage to its guard equal to the Power of your creature. Same happens to your creature. If either or both of the Guard numbers of the creatures are exceeded by the Power of the other creature, that creature is destroyed. Ok, thats most of the comparisons I can think of. E-Mail me at theevolutionist1123@yahoo.com. Send me love, advice, things to add to this review (if I get enough feedback, I might do part 2), heck, I'll even help you with your deck. But please, no hate mail. If you have something that is really important that also happens to be hate, fine, send it. Otherwise, please don't waste my time. If you have it, my AIM Screen Name is TheEvolutionist3 (I changed it, so be careful). Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search