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FanatikMonk on Yu-Gi-Oh!
The n00b Mantra
May 1, 2006

            Does anyone else get excited when they’re dueling someone online and they summon Blue-Eyes, Dark Magician or Buster Blader?  That’s the point at which you know you’ve won and you can start playing for fun.  As promised, I will try to help out as many n00b’s as I can with this game, after all, it’s not easy trying to break into a game already in motion.  I’m convinced that every n00b makes some very similar mistakes and that the remedy of these errors can up their game significantly.
 

            You see there is nothing wrong with being new to a game, nor is there anything wrong not being good at the game you play; however, failing to accept that you can improve and not maximizing your potential is a waste to everyone who plays Yu-Gi-Oh!  If every one of the 225,312 registered competitors around the world (huge number isn’t it, then why aren’t there 225,312 original decks) was as good as they could be, new decks, creativity and challenge would flow from every nook and cranny of this game.  That is the ideal scenario for any card game and reaching it takes group and personal effort.  So, to all n00bs out there, for the sake of us all, force yourself to get better!

Signaling

            Most veterans can spot a n00b from a mile away.  We’ve all been at the local comic book store, talking to our friends and then you see the kid with the Jinzo tin full of cards walk in; he looks around for someone he knows and chooses to sit by himself; when you ask to see his binder it’s filled with commons and rares from SOD and his only ultras are from Starter Decks.  It’s tough to be new in any environment and in a game like this, where most veterans will pick on the smaller, less-experienced duelists, it’s even tougher; hence, the importance of proper signaling.  You don’t have to know everything and you don’t have to play like a champion, so long as you look like one.  My friends often laugh at me when I tell them that 90% of the time before you duel someone you know who will win just by the way they carry themselves.  The best duelists will look as if they’ve already won the tourney when they walk in and it’ll show in their duels.  I’m not saying be cocky, arrogant or mean, I’m saying have confidence in yourself and show that you are a legitimate opponent.  Your dueling will be better, their dueling will be better and the environment will be more encouraging towards your progress.
 

            I play ultimate Frisbee and one of the greatest ultimate players once told me that when I’m on defense and my opponent makes a cut for the disk to dive for it even if I know I won’t get it.  Why?  Because it makes a statement about who I am and how serious I am about my game.  My opponents will take me seriously through every moment of that game and I’ll play better as a result.  Intimidation and confidence are powerful tools that anyone can harness and exploit.  So, make sure your cards are in good shape before a tourney (get sleeves, omg, I can’t stress that enough.  Having no sleeves on your card is like carrying a sign that says “pwn me now, I want it!”), come ready to win and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.  As far as you and anyone else should be concerned when you walk into a new tourney, you’re the best player in there and that alone will up your game significantly.

Duel Up!

            Horrible grammar.  But is true.  Yes.  Duel people better than you, easy rule right?  The tendency for new duelists is to find friends that they can beat and duel them into the ground over and over again.  In one sense, it’s a great way to build confidence; however, you won’t learn as much from dueling people that aren’t up to par as you would from dueling good duelists.  The best duels you’ll ever have are the ones where you fight through every turn and even if you lose on a bad draw or your opponent gets an incredibly good one, all of your moves were well thought out and intentional. 
 

            Great duelists have a lot to teach you and love nothing more than to help out new duelists.  If you see Paul Levitin walking down the street grab him by the shoulders, shake him and say, “Paul Levitin you duel me now!”  Even if he says no, guarantee it’ll be a good story for both of you.
 

            Furthermore, every decent duelist out there wants to spread their wisdom.  We all have tips, tricks and ideas we want to share with you all and the only thing you need do is ask.  So many basic concepts like chaining, what you can and can’t do during a damage step and priority are still mysteries to a lot of duelists and it’s the responsibility of the privileged few, who understand, to teach the others.  You’ll learn from asking questions, and we’ll learn from answering them.

Make an Effort to Change!

            No one gets better over night on their own.  Improvement comes through interacting with other players, reading, listening to and developing your own opinions and constantly reevaluating the choices you make for decks and play style.  For reading material, I’d suggest looking for basic articles on advantage on pojo, metagame or dmcomet.  If you spend half an hour every day on the web just surfing looking at new ideas and understanding different decks how and why they work, you’ll be amazed with the progress you make in a week.
 

            Many duelists also make the mistake of thinking that they are better than they really are, that they have nothing else to learn, and as a result, many duelists never maximize their potential.  Even after you transcend your n00b stature, you should continue to challenge yourself and force growth on yourself and others.  Don’t be afraid to object to opinions!  Just because someone posted something doesn’t mean it’s correct, and you should extend your own views to challenge those that you don’t agree with.  The greatest duelists are constantly developing, growing and reanalyzing themselves. 

            Oh meek n00b, fear not the oppression of veteran players, but seek them out for their wisdom grows like trees in the midst of many fountains.  Basically, tae my advice and you’ll do well.  After all, you’re only as much of a n00b as you think you are.  Happy Dueling!

-FanatikMonk

Clayton_Nelson@Brown.edu