YGO DDS Strats IV

12/7/19: New PB helped solidify strats. My strats were always written strictly personal; now, I've took the time to rewrite them to a great degree, to be more straightforward and legible. Helps you remember and clarify your own work after a few years time. Sorry if it's still messy tho lol

MAJOR NOTES TO REMEMBER BEFORE THE RUN:
- Resetting when a duel isn’t going well, where you’d likely lose, or after the 5th win on particular duelists is a key part of the run. It’s important to remember to reset after beating the following characters the 5th time: Seeker, Pandora, Slysheen, and Darknite.
- It’s also best to reset when you open fairly bad or unplayable “brick” hands. The quicker you realize a poor situation, and move on, the better the run goes.
- The fastest way to play during duels is mastering the way you enable the first slot in hand. Looking at, and utilizing newly drawn or “top decked” cards is faster.
- You win most duels by having about 3 monsters on field attacking. During duels, its fine having 2 monsters out for the bulk of the duel sometimes, mainly when the opponent has around 4000 life, and you can’t win during that turn. Going along with this idea, you can often make sure to get multiple direct attacks with your highest ATK monster, then summon a 3rd to make the difference. Calculating the most efficient way to win is critical every duel during the early game.

0-DROPS:
Cards you get after winning a duel will be referred to as “drops” throughout this guide, and are worked directly into the strats. Often, you'll see the game give you near useless cards that have low card cost; I call them “0 cards” or “0 drops”. Basically, if you see one of the following cards dropped, mentally take note of it. I usually verbally announce the card name and number during the run. All rituals spells are worth 0 cost, just to say. Ideally, additional 0 or 1 drops can help fit in larger cards throughout the game. Here's a list of the cards I've seen:
350 Dark Piercing Light
670 Black Luster Ritual
677 Hamburger Recipe
681 House of Adhesive
688 Simochi Allergy (Tech vs Paradox? Cuz fuck Dian Keto)
690 Fake Trap
692 Turtle Oath
693 Construct of Mask
700 Fortress Whale's Oath
722 Dark Magic Ritual
730 Thousand-Eyes Idol
783 Black Illusion Ritual
785 Multiply

NOTES FOR READING DECK EDITS:
- Cards or notes mentioned in parentheses are just for consideration, mainly depending on drops. You don’t follow them in the most base version of the run.
- I have good drops listed under every duelist. If I don't have special notes for a certain card, that means you would only consider adding that drop when you get to Tier 3.

ORDER OF WHO YOU FACE:

Tier 1:
Tristan
Mako
Yugi
Joey
Mai

Tier 2:
Espa Roba
Seeker
Rex
Weevil
Pandora
Kaiba

Tier 3:
P. Seto
Ishizu
Paradox
Slysheen

Tier 4:
Darknite

CARD PASSWORDS:
- Written as such: [Card Number] [Card Name] (Card Cost) [Password]. Cards written without their costs stated all have 15 or lower cost and are put into the deck at the start of the game.

644 Flame Viper (8) 02830619
229 Hourglass of Life 08783685
415 Mechanicalchaser (26) 07359741
026 Battle Ox (27) 05053103
795 Dunames Dark Witch (28) 12493482
771 Man-Eating Treasure Chest (26) 13723605
060 Great White (24) 13429800
168 Darkfire Dragon (27) 17881964
180 Arlownay (18) 14708569
234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24) 16899564
681 House of Adhesive 15083728
684 Invisible Wire 15361130
258 Beastking of the Swamp (21) 99426834
098 Clown Zombie 92667214
379 La Jinn (28) 97590747
367 Jirai Gumo (23) 94773007
089 Catapult Turtle (20) 95727991
096 Armored Zombie 20277860
551 Dark Elf (28) 21417692
440 7 Colored Fish (26) 23771716
733 Thousand-Eyes Idol (0) 27125110
628 Witch's Apprentice 80741828
- half
167 Ancient Jar 81492226
774 Drill Bug 88733579
428 Magician of Faith 31560081
730 Dark-Eyes Illusion (0) 38247752
591 Morphing Jar 33508719
680 Curse of Tri-Horned 79699070
683 Bear Trap 78977532
686 Widespread Ruin (20) 77754944
122 Yamatano Dragon Scroll 76704943
200 Petit Dragon 75356564
072 Cocoon of Evolution (60) 40240595
579 Abyss Flower 40387124
685 Acid Trap Hole 41356845
782 Anti-Raigeki (20) 42364257
682 Eatgaboon 42578427
224 Trap Master (16) 46461247
532 Gemini Elf (28) 69140098
097 Dragon Zombie (16) 66672569
770 Neo the Magic Swordsman (27) 50930991
395 Dancing Elf 59983499
135 Fiend's Hand 52800428
447 Giant Red Seasnake (26) 58831685
661 Crush Card (50) 57728570
- 45 total

The rest of this guide will be written as deck edits, and general tips on certain duelists. For more in-depth information and strategy, refer to my “YGO DDS Dueling Notes - Revised” document linked here: https://pastebin.com/6fqRyteP

BEFORE 1ST DUEL:
Take out (19):
Sinister
Zone
2 Sinister
Leguhl
Fungi
Shadow
Leguhl
Monster Eye
Turu
Kaminari
Turu
Star Boy
Mystery
2 Mystery
Droll Bird
Bladefly
Gale Dogra

ADD THE FOLLOWING in this exact order:
- Hold Start and use Right and Left buttons to move through card pool by increments of 100. Hold Select while hovering a card, and Right will add the card to your deck, Left will remove the card. Using this method makes adding cards much faster.

096 Armored Zombie
098 Clown Zombie
122 Yamatano Dragon Scroll
135 Fiend's Hand
229 Hourglass of Life
200 Petit Dragon
167 Ancient Jar
395 Dancing Elf
428 Magician of Faith
628 Witch's Apprentice
591 Morphing Jar
579 Abyss Flower
680 Curse of Tri-Horned
681 House of Adhesive
682 Eatgaboon
683 Bear Trap
684 Invisible Wire
685 Acid Trap Hole
774 Drill Bug

AFTER 2 DUELS:

Take out: Jinzo #7, Bone Mouse (Continue to hold right as you go to your deck to get Jinzo first!)

Add:
097 Dragon Zombie (16)
180 Arlownay (18)

- Tristan can drop: 395 Dancing Elf, 466 Flame Viper (Pyro, 8), 681 House of Adhesive, 690 Fake Trap, 768 Unhappy Maiden (Light, 1), Rituals
- With Dancing Elf drop, take out Swordsman for it at next deck edit. At 17 duels, take out Wretched instead.
- House of Adhesive is arguably the best 0 drop you can get. If you get House of Adhesive after already getting a low drop, you can swap out that card for it at your next deck edit.

AFTER 8 DUELS:

Take out: Boo Koo, Hiro, Hiro, Frog, Masked Clown, Cyber Stein

Add:
730 Dark-Eyes Illusionist (0)
532 Gemini Elf (28)
551 Dark Elf (28)
447 Giant Red Seasnake (26)
440 7 Colored Fish (26)
367 Jirai Gumo (23)

- Mako can drop: 060 Great White, 122 Yamatano, 135 Fiend’s Hand, 229 Hourglass, 682 Eatgaboon, Rituals.
Mako also drops various pyros: 101 Wings of Wicked Flame, 154 Fire Reaper, 210 Hinotama Soul, 214 B. Flame Kagemusha, 242 Candle of Destiny, potential others
- With Yamatano drop, take out Petit for it at the next deck edit.
- With Fiend’s Hand or Hourglass drop, switch it for Abyss Flower for Espa Roba.
- With Eatgaboon drop, take out Muka for it at next deck edit. Take out Eatgaboon at Seeker.

AFTER 12 DUELS:

Without 0-drop, use this password:
350 Dark Piercing Light 45895206

Take out: Shadow, White Dolphin, Mechanical Spider, Mech

Add:
795 Dunames Dark Witch (28)
(0 card)
733 Thousand-Eyes Idol (0)
(350 Dark Piercing Light (0))
379 La Jinn (28)

- Yugi can drop: 010 Blackland Fire Dragon (23), 031 Koumori Dragon (27), 041 Celtic Guardian (26),060 Great White (24), 210 Hinotama Soul (Pyro, 11), 350 Dark Piercing Light, 628 Witch's Apprentice, 681 House of Adhesive, 688 Simochi Allergy, 747 Gazelle (Dreams, 27), Rituals
- With Witch's Apprentice drop, take out Abyss Flower for it when you get to Espa Roba.

AFTER 17 DUELS:

Without 2nd 0-drop, use either password:
350 Dark Piercing Light 45895206
690 Fake Trap 03027001

Take out: Swordsman, Shadow, Air Marmot

Add:
089 Catapult (20)
770 Neo the Magic Swordsman (27)
(0 card)
(690 Fake Trap (0))

- Joey can drop: 043 Karbonala Warrior (27), 078 Axe Raider (28), 097 Dragon Zombie (16), 224 Trap Master (16), 417 Blast Juggler (Pyro, 17), 682 Eatgaboon, 761 Alligator's Sword (27), Rituals
- Add Dragon Zombie drop instead of Widespread during Rex deck edit. Switch once you get to P.Seto.
- Add Trap Master drops for sure at P.Seto, amazing card to have at multiple copies.

FOR MAI: No edits.

- Mai can drop: 096 Clown Zombie, 098 Armored Zombie, 595 Fiend Reflection #1 (Dreams, 27), 682 Eatgaboon
- Add Dragon Zombie instead of Widespread during Tier 2. Switch once you get to Tier 3.
- With Clown Zombie/Armored Zombie drop, plan to take out Abyss for it when you get to Espa Roba. Will delay Widespread 1 duel.

FOR ESPA ROBA:

Take out: Milus, Wretched

Add:
060 Great White (24)
415 Mechanicalchaser (26)

- Espa Roba can drop: 142 Flame Manipulator (Pyro, 19), 215 Flame Ghost (18), 244 Dissolverock (Pyro, 19), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 756 Reflect Bounder (27), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20), 684 Bear Trap
- With a Clown/Armored Zombie drop from Mai, or Hourglass from Mako, take out Abyss for it here. For the Zombie drops, would have to delay Battle Ox for Headhuntress at Weevil unless you switch back. For Hourglass, at Weevil take out Morphing Jar and add back Abyss for space.
- With Pyro drops lower than 20 cost, try to remember them for Darknite.
- With any Trap drops during Tier 2, take out Ancient Jar for them.
- With Witch's Apprentice drop from Yugi, take out Abyss Flower for it here.
- With Anti-Raigeki as a drop, take out Arlownay for it once you get to Seeker.

FOR SEEKER:

Take out: Muka, Abyss, Drill Bug

Add:
207 Droll Bird (11)
258 Beastking (21)
782 Anti-Raigeki (20)

- Newer tip: Use very weak monsters you’ve set while going first to check his set monsters, don’t conserve LP. Running random beatsticks into Stone Statue or whatever saves LP, but makes the game turns longer. Checking his sets and summoning the right counter furthers the game.
- Reset after 5th Seeker win.
- Seeker can drop: 171 Big Eye (Dreams, 22), 256 Dimensional Knight (Dreams, 22), 293 Masaki (Light, 22), 493 Maha Vailo (Light 29), 684 Invisible Wire, 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)

FOR REX:

Take out: Beastking, Anti-Raigeki, Arlownay

Add:
072 Cocoon of Evolution (60)
686 Widespread Ruin (20)
644 Flame Viper (8)

- USING COCOON: The entire route depends on you getting off Cocoon as early and often as possible. Scan your hand on your first turn every time just to check for it. When starting 2nd in a duel, you should often summon a beatstick to attack over sets, as most opponents in Tier 2 and on have tribute monsters that could possibly get over Cocoon’s 2000 DEF.

- Rex can drop: 032 Two-Headed King Rex (28), 080 Uraby (23), 559 Oscillo Hero (Dreams, 19), 683 Bear Trap, 684 Invisible Wire, 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Add Dragon Zombie drop over Widespread here.

FOR WEEVIL:

Take out: Petit, Droll (Morphing Jar, Abyss)

Add:
026 Battle Ox (27)
168 Darkfire Dragon (27)
(Dropped Pyros)

- Weevil can drop: 55 Giant Flea (27), 120 Dream Clown (Dreams, 21), 165 The Judgment Hand (Light, 21), 290 Moon Envoy (Light, 21), 299 Sonic Maid (Light, 21), 683 Bear Trap, 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Morphing Jar is 13 cost, Abyss is 11, so you can test replacing them for cheap pyros dropped at Mako, or wherever.
- With a previous Clown/Armored drop, add 234 Beautiful Headhuntress over Battle Ox here. Add Battle Ox for Pandora.

FOR PANDORA:

Take out: Morphing Jar, Abyss, Catapult (Dunames)

Add:
771 Man Eating Treasure Chest (26)
234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24)
224 Trap Master (16)
(Potential dropped Dreams cards)

- Pandora can drop: 281 Mystic Clown (Shadow, 25), 603 Fairy Dragon (Light, 23), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Reset after 5th Pandora win.
- Switch any dropped Clown/Armored in place of the Abyss here.
- With a good Dreams drop, take out Dunames for it.
- With Witch's Apprentice from Yugi, take it out here.

FOR KAIBA: No edits.

- Kaiba can drop: 026 Battle Ox (27), 168 Darkfire Dragon (27), 234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 379 La Jinn (28), 647 Hyosube (24), 599 Violent Rain (23), 661 Crush Card (50), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- With Crush drop, take out Neo or Treasure Chest for it around P. Seto
- If you removed Dunames previously add it back here. Doing a 1 card edit is fine.

Tier 3: At this point, it's firmly planned to add in any good drops around this point of the game. Since it's kind of random, you'll have to simply play on your toes and think ahead sometimes. Keep track of what your deck limit is, and determine how many duels it may take until you can swap certain cards for drops.

FOR P.SETO:

Take out: Ancient Jar, Hourglass, Great White (Clown, Armored, (pyro drop?), Neo) (Should be 582/675 base)

Add:
258 Beastking (20)
661 Crush Card (50)
782 Anti-Raigeki (20)

- P. Seto can drop: 026 Battle Ox (27), 168 Darkfire Dragon (27), 234 Beautiful Headhuntress (24), 377 Ryu-Kishin Powered (28), 379 La Jinn (28), 466 Skull Red Bird (Wind, 27), 507 Crazy Fish (26), 523 Bistro Butcher (28), 532 Gemini Elf (28), 551 Dark Elf (28), 661 Crush Card (50), 631 Maiden of the Moon (Dreams, 28), 685 Acid Trap Hole (10), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Try to add good dropped cards from P. Seto at Ishizu.
- With Anti-Raigeki drop before or during these duels, add it in for Armored as soon as possible.
- With Trap Master drop from Joey, add it here.
- Switch out Dragon Zombie drop for Widespread Ruin here.
- With Crush drop, take out Neo for it, make sure to have low cards to fit it in easily.
- With Acid Trap Hole drop anywhere during Tier 3, add it over Yamatano at next deck edit.

FOR ISHIZU:

If it wasn’t dropped:
787 Last Day of Witch (50) 90330453

Take out: Clown, Anti-Raigeki, Darkfire, Flame Viper (Armored, Neo, Yamatano)

Add:
787 Last Day of Witch (50)
2 579 Abyss Flower (11) (Aim to add 2 copies usually)
563 Wretched (9)

- Ishizu can drop: 125 Faith Bird (Light, 26), 440 7 Colored Fish (26), 447 Giant Red Seasnake (26), 532 Gemini Elf (28), 551 Dark Elf (28), 685 Acid Trap Hole (10)
- Take out Clown for Wretched as the base strat. If you got a good Shadow type drop previously, or some other good drop is in mind, add that over a 2nd Wretched when possible.
- With Crush Card drop, skip putting in Last Day of Witch.
- Can be hard to fit in 2nd Abyss with beatstick drops in the deck

FOR PARADOX:

Take out: 2 Abyss

Add:
096 Armored Zombie (15)
060 Great White (24)
- Paradox can drop: 281 Mystic Clown (25), 454 Destroyer Golem (25), 649 Hibikime (24)
- Add 688 Simochi Allergy as a drop? Take out 0 card for it if possible
- For this duel, be willing to put in lesser drops, 1500+ ATK roughly. (Try to remember them from earlier, its best to audibly announce them when seen during the run)

FOR SLYSHEEN:

Take out: Last Day of Witch, Man-Eating Treasure Chest, Curse/House/Eatgaboon, 0 cards (Other Dreams drops, Ancient Jar) (Note: Prioritize keeping low dream cards before other 0 cards, ideal early sets for Raigeki/Change of Heart)

Add:
(098 Clown)
(1-2 122 Yamatano)
224 Hourglass
486 Boo Koo
782 Anti-Raigeki (20)

- Slysheen can drop: 415 Mechanicalchacer (28), 433 Ancient Elf (Light, 26), 625 Fairy of the Fountain (27), 685 Acid Trap Hole (10), 782 Anti-Raigeki (20)
- Reset after 5th Slysheen win.
- Add back Armored and/or Clown Zombie if necessary.
- Remove any Dreams drops as they are dead cards at this point
- If you got a good Light monster drop, try to add it in here before Boo Koo, as extra Lights make these duels easier: 041 Celtic Guardian (26), 165 The Judgment Hand (21), 290 Moon Envoy (21), 293 Masaki (22), 299 Sonic Maid (21), 493 Maha Vailo (29), 603 Fairy Dragon (23)

FOR DARKNITE:

(TRY TO PUT IN PYRO DROPS!)

Take out: Curse/House/Eatgaboon, 0-drops (Ancient Jar, other weak cards)

Add:
168 Darkfire Dragon (27)
644 Flame Viper (8)

- Add back any Pyro's, Lights, Yamatano/Petit, Wretched, or other 1500+ ATK drops that come to mind.
- Potential pyros: 101 Wings of Wicked Flame, 142 Flame Manipulator (19), 154 Fire Reaper, 210 Hinotama Soul, 214 B. Flame Kagemusha, 215 Flame Ghost, 242 Candle of Destiny, 244 Dissolverock (19), 417 Blast Juggler (17), potential others
- Darknite can drop: 367 Jirai Gumo (23). Add any dropped Jirai’s as soon as possible
- Reset after 5th Darknite win.

CREDITS CODE: 42382443