Magic Cards

There are several types of Magic Cards. Magic Cards can only be played during a Main Phase (Phases of Gameplay, p.22). The only exception to this rule is a Quick-Play Magic Card. Magic Card types are identified by the card icons listed at the end of this section. Magic cards are color-coded GREEN

Normal Magic Cards

Once their magic is activated these cards are destroyed. Like the "Dark Hole" card, they are often very powerful.

Continuous Magic Cards

These cards remain on the field once they are played and their magic effect continues until they are destroyed or removed. There is often a cost involved to maintain the effect of this type of Magic Card.

Equip Magic Cards

These cards allow you to modify the strength of monsters. When playing this card to the field, place it so that it overlaps with the Monster Card that you wish to equip.

Usually, this card can only be used with monsters that are face-up on the field. However, you may equip either your own OR your opponent’s Monster Cards with Equip Magic Cards. In some cases, certain monsters cannot be equipped with these cards (refer to the individual card’s text). One monster can be equipped with several Equip Magic Cards.

However, Equip Magic Cards count towards your 5-card Magic & Trap Card limit (even cards attached to an opponent’s monster), so be sure to use them wisely.

Field Magic Cards

These cards are used to alter the conditions on the field and modify the Attack and Defense capabilities of monsters. They are placed in the Field Card Zone and are NOT included in the Magic & Trap Zone’s 5-card limit. They may be placed face-down in the Field Card Zone, but will not be activated until flipped face-up.

There can only be 1 active Field Magic Card on the field at any given time between both players. When a new Field Magic Card is activated, the previous active card is sent to the Graveyard. Also, if a Field Magic card is destroyed and there are no active Field Magic Card on the field, the field returns to the original state that it was at the beginning of the game.

If a player’s Field Magic Card is Set when an active Field Magic Card is destroyed, the Set card does not automatically activate. Field Magic Cards can only be activated by a player, but never during an opponent’s turn.

Quick-Play Magic Cards *

Aside from the Main Phase, this type of card can be activated during the Battle Phase. Also, if you have this card Set on the field, you can activate it during your opponent’s turn.

* These types of Magic Cards will be included in future Yu-Gi-Oh! releases and do not appear in this Starter Deck.


Ritual Magic Cards *

These card are needed to summon a Ritual Monster. After the Ritual Monster Summon, it is destroyed together with the required Tribute monster(s).

* These types of Magic Cards will be included in future Yu-Gi-Oh! releases and do not appear in this Starter Deck.