Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament Guide! Locals to Nationals!

New to playing in Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments? Here's a breakdown of the different levels of events, from local to world championships! Plus, what to expect and some tips for them!
LIKES, COMMENTS, and SHARES are always appreciated if you enjoyed the video!
We upload new Yu-Gi-Oh videos everyday, including deck profiles, live duels, pack openings, and card discussions! If you like what we do, then Subscribe (and click the bell icon) to support us and get notified of every new video!
- - - Want to keep up with, support, or contact Team APS? Follow us at these locations! - - -
► Check out TCGplayer, our sponsor, for great deals on Yu-Gi-Oh singles and sealed product, plus articles and decklists!
bit.ly/TCGplaye...
► Follow on Facebook for additional viewer interaction, channel updates, and behind the scenes pictures and videos!
/ teamaps
► Follow on Twitter for more frequent updates and viewer interaction like polls and giveaways!
/ teamaps
► Check out our Twitch channel, where we live stream Yu-Gi-Oh content like YGOPro and chat with the viewers!
/ teamaps
► Join the Team APS Discord chat server to meet and chat with other fans and Yu-Gi-Oh players!
/ discord
► Show your support for Team APS with an awesome tee shirt! New designs added regularly!
teespring.com/...
► Rep Team APS with your very own playmat to use when you play instead! They come in three different designs!
www.inkedgaming...

[@drizzt04]

Go to events so you can work to be the very best like no one ever was!!!

[@sammybrown4538]

Going to my first locals next week

[@yu-gi-oh6671]

POKÉMON GOTTA CATCH EM ALL 😂 fuck pokemon

[@dontuse10]

@@yu-gi-oh6671 Without pokemon tcg I wouldn't have gotten into Yu gi oh

[@epicfusion7635]

Very Helpful thanks Guys

[@dyannmetzger208]

To catch them is my real test to train them is my cause

[@RallenRiko]

My favorite tournament moment is probably my Exodia win. I had a random deck to start out that has exodia in it. The dude super cut my deck, meaning taking it apart to like several smaller stacks and putting them back together. He debated cutting one more time, but didn't. Because he didn't, I somehow managed to pull a 5 pieces of Exodia in my first hand. The dude almost cried. It was hilarious because I knew it'd NEVER happen again.

[@adamleonard9880]

There's a one in 1.5 million chance to open all five pieces of exodia.

[@isaacmahoney5947]

Why woulde he cry. You run an exo deck, one one ot of 3 games in a match, you wont win another

[@mangocoot5848]

@@adamleonard9880 no it's a 5 out of 40(if his deck is forty cards)

[@Madslav398]

mango coot58 I hate to be this guy but in a 40 deck that runs 1 copy of each part you have a chance of opening exodia .000008% or 1/7896090. I wouldn’t be mad, I would be honored in a way knowing I actually lost to such an unlikely scenario

[@Neyonius]

Lucky that your regional contest allowed god cards, almost all of which have been tournament illegal since 2005.

[@jdaniels8669]

Went to locals for the first time earlier this year. And as hard as I tried to keep an eye on my trade binder and tin, some of my shit was stolen anyway. Not sure how, but I guess some people are just really sneaky. So that incident, combined with the general unwelcoming "energy" and snobbishness, I won't be bothering with locals anymore. Casual games with friends is good enough.

[@sherllymentalism4756]

I'm sorry to hear that x

[@Realblack_m0nster]

that sounds terrible. Im lucky that the store owner of my locals is really awesome and respectfull but throws the ban hammer when needed

[@coffeeredfox8491]

Yoooo today I went to my first tournament. It was structure decks and everyone picked Rise of the True Dragons. I managed to get second place and got the Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack Playmat which I'm really happy about

[@TeamAPS]

Congratulations!

[@coffeeredfox8491]

Thanks Man! It means a lot coming from you!

[@liamgrosvenor4855]

Whoo hoo

[@Deestroying1]

Coffee Redfox good job

[@patirck024]

Coffee Redfox I know i'm late but that's awesome dude \m/

[@amerin9929]

*Locals*: Welcome to Kindergarten! I am ms. Applegate! *Nationals*: We will rip you a new *sshole...

[@darkdeltakai5863]

lmao Ms. Applegate 😂

[@TeamAPS]

LMAOOOOOO

[@zacharysipes]

i found funny on nats one lmao

[@dysastus2113]

Revised edition Locals: Welcome to Kindergarten! I am ms. Applegate! Nationals: nugget will dig a hole as fast as lightning and as deep as hell

[@TeamAPS]

*Hey guys! Do me a solid and let's try to get this video to 500 Likes!* *What's been your most memorable experience at a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament?*

[@ashtonxii]

Team APS i found 3 decks one day and gave them back but i switched pot lf desires rares with the deck

[@bencampsall8563]

Without a doubt my most memorable experience was my first regionals. So me and about 6 other people of my locals traveled by train to it and I honestly had a blast going to it. Met some amazing people and managed to get a few cards from vendors last minute that I needed xD. If I had the chance to go to another event like regionals then I'd definetly go to it

[@kirbro735]

Team APS About a month ago I pulled an ulti strike at a locals

[@awesomesauce0552]

Team APS my first locals accidentally cheated since I didn't know I couldn't edit my deck between rounds lol

[@Jvoidz]

so I went to a anime convention and they had tournaments that the were officialy sanctioned since I got one of those official konami card game player cards there were 2 small ones today took 3 in one that had 10 player and 2nd in the last one but only had 4 people in that one lol

[@YugnarYT]

Super informative video! So nice to have all this info in one video for people who haven't really gone past locals. Thanks for sharing :)

[@judgemanny9316]

There is a big difference between REGIONALS and YCS that you did not mention. Regionals are run by organizers/OTS and YCS are Konami ran.

[@DarkDodgers]

My first locals had nothing but Nekroz, Burning Abyss, and Kozmo.... One of the guys who had Nekroz actually went to nationals once... II placed third with Ritual Beasts.... It was EVERYTHING but casual.

[@hunterwalker4256]

same but with morphtronics

[@DarkDodgers]

Dude, one time some kid came in with a duel disk and asked with a duel (He was using a deck with monsters from the first YGO series.) One of the Nekroz players just like obliterated him..(DAMN YOU WALLLY!)

[@dr.c6260]

My first locals was the other day, and I played pure dinos and everyone there was playing top tier decks. True king dinos, lightsworn zombie, zoodiac, ddd, blue-eyes, metalfoes,and a monarch player. I went 2-2.

[@davidowen28]

The people that were playing at my locals (back in 2014) were all running Lightsworn, OTK Cyber Dragons, Utopia, Fire Fist, and Exodia decks. In was 12 playing against 20 and 30 year olds and at first I was running a Blue Eyes, then moved on to a Lightsworn deck. We were all serious players. One guy actually went to YCS.

[@raphaelokoye6459]

In my locals we have 3 tiers of players 1)tryhards 2)tryhards who don't have the budget to go tier 1 tryhard 3)scrubs who play blue eyes and think that tier 1 and 2 are bad players and only win cause they play Meta decks

[@teddrewflack400]

Raphael Okoye ^^ wow this sooo much

[@peytonibarra8992]

Which one are you? 😎

[@yabai7400]

@@peytonibarra8992 blue eyes :D

[@scrappycoco3725]

So happy you guys made this video. Had been meaning to request something like it. Great video, great job as always.

[@duelistfurhire4715]

Discovered this channel about a week ago, a short while after getting back into dueling with my roommate, and have been watching all your Vids lol. Great content and thank you.

[@ross8982]

Low key want trell saying "wash ya ass" to be my answerphone "I'm sorry you I'm away from the phone right now, WASH YA ASS!"

[@mugongaiaphage7764]

I remember going to a local event here in Holland once. Was a lot of fun to go with four of my Yugioh friends and see them get rekt by Royal Tribute (yeah it was a while ago lol). Love the video as always

[@sup32o80]

0:06 when you assume your ultimate form

[@grimmy7340]

sup32o80 lmao

[@marshallnavarro7044]

My local store is konami recognized and the meta is savage there -___-

[@kammvance2245]

This is the perfect video to have been posted. My group of friends just planned to start preparing for higher level of yugioh. We have been going to locals for around 6 months and we are thinking about trying to go to locals next year. So I have a question. 1. How long do you need to practice and learn roughly before you move to the next stage? And 2. Is it a waste of time to go to nationals just for the area and people?

[@yvonnedonohoe9557]

Kamm Vance hell no I went to Europeans a coupla years back I lost all my matchs but I got a clear wing and I loved every second of It lif you are able GOOOOO I haven't been able to go in a while and I really miss them

[@raphaelokoye6459]

Kamm Vance depends on your goal if you want to win the tournament you should play as much as possible vs Meta decks. I went to German Nats and lost match to enter day 2 so on Sunday I just went to play side events if you are planning to get better at this game going to big events will be really helpful

[@KaiOcean408]

Trell got mad spinning skills! ^^

[@rawpower2025]

I have only been to 1 locals. Got to know a few people and surprisingly I didn't do THAT bad. It's nothing to be proud of ofc but it was fun to see what decks people were using and how well my deck did against their's.

[@adnanc110]

never been to a yugioh event in London and dont have many friends into yugioh sadly

[@Shocker-f6z]

THE OG FIGET SPINNER ! Also who else is watching in 2019

[@RedEyesBMan]

2019 squad😂😁

[@Mariolander10]

2020 here

[@SHURITSTRATEGISTOFTHENEKROZ]

I just realised I haven't been commenting on your vids in a while, B L A S P E M Y

[@TeamAPS]

Hi Shurit! Welcome back! ^_^

[@knes167]

Its cuz ur banned. Back in the whole

[@northerngamingygo4274]

Went to my first locals and went 3-1 today (I came late so I got a round one loss Lol)... But the people there were all really great

[@Oscardageek]

Wow! The only thing I didn't know you could get a next year invite. Cool! Last minute invite is something I can look into.

[@Jeeves_0]

So one question. How do I find a local?

[@134f1n47r33]

A good start is to look for a card shop or board game shop that's not too far away. You may need to be prepared for, like, an hour's drive depending on where you live. Once you've found a shop, try visiting it to see if they appear to be equipped to run events. Do they sell Yu-Gi-Oh cards? Do they have tables? Do they have a side room with tables? If they do, ask the employees if they run Yu-Gi-Oh locals there at all. If they do, find out when and if they're regular and such. The card shop nearest me does Friday night magic and other events, but not Yu-Gi-Oh locals. The next closest which is about a half-hour's drive away does have locals on Fridays and Sundays at around 6pm. You can also sometimes found out this information if you check a given card shop's social media accounts such as Facebook or Twitter if you either don't have regular travel freedom or are an antisocial scrub such as I was. Also, arguably the best and "easiest" way to find locals in your area is to make a friend or coworker who happens to like Yu-Gi-Oh who happens to know a shop that runs locals. That's what I personally did, but method 1 should work too.

[@toewstokane9023]

Hahahahahahahahaha the Terrell thumbnail! I love it !

[@christophermccreary6749]

That moment you notice Alex sitting in the back 🤣🤣🤣 1:27 for me lol

[@BattleDuelists]

so could you make a video about upcoming link monsters, in what decks to expect, how to play them etc

[@novaratchet4166]

Guy at my locals is going to Worlds this year, Ryan Slot

[@elitefutclips5887]

You guys need to make a shirt that has a continuous magic card on it and it reads "wash your ass"

[@knes167]

MST Negate

[@justinpeterson1075]

My locals is pretty awful, half the decks run Dragonic Diagram in some way or another. Others run Pendulum Magicians. Then there's a few casuals. Seems like locals has become less laid back over time.

[@drdotts8878]

As someone who’s learning competitive yugioh/yugioh in general is this same information still relevant and accurate?

[@franklynnoort5490]

hi team aps do you guys have tips for me of how to prepare for a ycs becous i am gowin i 2022 for the first time

[@ElPsychoDog]

You know this video is dated af when one of them has a fidget spinner.

[@dysastus2113]

My first locals was back when REDMD wasn't stuck in its garbage state. Disaster Dragon deck took me to 2nd first time. then i won 2 of them back to back. Now I'm teaching my younger brothers how to play the game cause they want to go play to locals XD

[@Bladecharge]

I went to YCS pittsburgh did not do so well but i enjoyed myself

[@skymiller1414]

I never go to yugioh event before

[@comradealita]

What is the best way to keep up with the nationals, ycs, and everything else, and know where and when they will happen?

[@therealqft2961]

I had to change my card shop because I almost picked up a fight with the rich snob kid who bullied my friend, I don't want to get to know these people

[@giovannymorales3260]

It was in London but it got switched to Japan due to the attacks in the uk

[@roxas8137]

My locals consisted of all meta decks. All Zoo’s and True Dracos if I remember correctly. As someone who can’t afford a meta deck it kinda turned me away of playing at tourneys.

[@theogwarrior4901]

My friend stole like 10 decks from some people at ycs. He hasn’t been caught yet

[@marcushorne7625]

Team aps rule all keep it up guys

[@LongXue]

I wish there's tournaments like this here in the Philippines.

[@tommyjules3117]

Love how you mentioned Louisiana instead of a bigger state like California

[@vampireguy92ryan81]

Hey I live in Philly and I want to go to a local event, thing is I believe it's in the downtown area and I'm a nit scared to go to one of these events and get completely trashed..

[@artistki6435]

So im not sure if I’m understanding this correct so.... Local= un ranked / causal Regional= elimination national= ranked ?

[@privatepenguin2496]

I am playing krawlers how far will i go?

[@patirck024]

Andrew Vega i personally feel like the deck is slow at the moment but my cuz is building a krawler dk now im not ruling anything out how does it do when you playtest it

[@limitlessmindz5187]

my first locals I got my ass molly whopped by a shit ton of zoo's, but my most memorable time at a local event is when I beat a True King/DDD Deck OTK with my alien deck

[@pillaroflightperformance6948]

How much are the entry fees to regionals and up?

[@paradoxartworks1586]

I beat pure dracos with cyber dragons yesterday. but I had probably the best possible hand and this dude didn't have the best field but it was fairly decent. I'm a noob at yugioh. I just play FTK/OTK decks and phantom knights with a rank 3 spam engine and some unusual tech cards. I dont know what it takes to build a competitive deck but I just don't like playing what everyone else plays when they just want to beat every deck (meta) because I don't want to be like everyone else. I want to be that random dude that offsets tournament outcomes with that odd ball deck. That's my mission. is it possible?

[@That1nerdkid1]

at locals, yes. Regionals, mabye, nats.. no.

[@user-rv1co2gd2p]

Luke Garner In the event you beat people at the highest level with an unusual deck, I'd think your deck would become meta and people will follow in your steps.

[@That1nerdkid1]

Exactly what this dude said^ some dude at LA regionals last year topped 32 with Volcanics! and it was a thing for a while, it wasn't super meta, but it was a thing none the less.

[@LexorTheUber]

Luke Garner well in theory, but since every meta deck has to start with one person you'd just be starting a new meta deck if you do well.

[@fighterpilot0700]

@ Team APS: Do y'all know any shops in Austin that do Yu-Gi-Oh? One place I know of close to me is Round Rock. Just curious if there are other shops.

[@MASTERTUBE]

so how do i become the king of games?

[@CorruptNeo]

By playing duel links 😁

[@user-zj3hp2nq7j]

They haven't had ycs in nyc

[@BikolasBompkins]

almost every one at my locals runs zoodiacs, true dracos, or palyozoic toads

[@barthcellos]

What about UDS and OTS Championships? I'm fairly new and haven't played in any of these

[@Neyonius]

Who maintains your dreads bro? I love how they look.

[@danielolivares7782]

The local had people who played more meta decks than casual which forced me to modify my deck a lot

[@danielolivares7782]

The locals i go to is what I meant to say

[@victormarin2248]

So if i don't qualify can i still go just for the other stuff

[@kingsoindabuildin8036]

Informative 👍👌

[@Royjr36]

Do you guys ever come to Canada

[@monkuso_1033]

I’ve been thinking about going into the whole tournament thing even though I’m known to not be so competitive. I built a masked/elemental hero deck and whenever I play it ppl are either surprised or think I’m not taking it seriously. But I wanna try to get into regionals with that deck. Is it possible with my deck?

[@nitko1287]

Idk depends on how good the deck is, and i'm having the same thing with dark magicians

[@jesseymarchlewski8963]

Gotta attend'em all, gotta duel'em all, Yu-Gi-Oh!

[@sammybrown4538]

Going to my first locals man

[@josevasquez1050]

Awesome Video

[@nothinghappens2254]

And also how to you get a yugioh tournament id?

[@MrPunisher2268]

what about the UDS championship

[@AnarchoBearBear]

i used to think ycs meant yugioh card shop

[@7cosmic7]

I am in South Africa, are there any ycs's here i havent been able to find any

[@jonathanchavez2723]

Do y’all live together?

[@t4nk3r27]

My Locals consists of True Draco and/or Zoo and then im just that 1 guy playing Ancient Gears who topped at locals EDIT: Also has 1 person who topped at YCS

[@Mariolander10]

where so you play yugioh at ii play at gametroics

[@velocity236]

I can never even find a Event to go to :/

[@disasterlevelgodgarou1849]

Finally winning a Win a Mat after 7 (I think) attempts

[@dragonjames620]

my local term. is super hard core

[@RaulChunior]

locals in Brazil goes the same way as ycs goes here

[@jeffreywatson5164]

My locals aren’t that easy most of the regulars have meta decks

[@happygenerously6008]

Y'all going to Anaheim regionals?

[@otakudoomer646]

How good do you guys thing cyber angels will be for link format?

[@brotobeans]

I mean, they aren't really playable now. The herald deck utilizes benten pretty well but they lose hard to true draco trap cards

[@johnkim6920]

R locals technically events or do they just do it every week?

[@freezeframe3533]

'The people you love to hate' *thinks about that chaos max player who will not be named*

[@deepwatertrading3530]

Our regionals max 60-70

[@Chiefs_Fan_91]

Worlds is in Japan this year.

[@yvonnedonohoe9557]

FOX THE DUELIST worlds is always in japAn

[@zachlang3700]

Am I the only one that feels that you shouldn’t have to mention “washing your ass” so damn much 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Aether52]

my locals are somewhat vicious nothing but meta decks. me and 1-2 other people play rouge decks.

[@Aether52]

its not fun fighting dinos every round

[@privatepenguin2496]

I would be to scared of making a miss play to do regionals.

[@aa-tx7th]

Shit I would love a structure deck tourney.

[@strategistofthenekroz3102]

my best yugioh experience is bashing zoo players in DB

[@nikolasquintero249]

went 1-5 today at locals.... should've watched this video

[@SultanMirBeats]

my locals comprise of mostly pros and few casual players lol so its not casual decks everyones playing zoo or true draco or true king dinos

[@Gamemyster1991]

at my locals its u play meta or u lose

[@CheeckoOBendanna]

Omg i wan cry 🥲🥲🤣🤣😭😭😭😭

[@bradleyr8459]

notification squad

[@shahirrizvi7977]

I’m 12 and I wish I could compete in tournaments but my parents won’t let me

[@aj1.]

Why not?

[@samdario9614]

my last locals i was at hat 27/32 players playing zoo ... casual my ass

[@lapislazuli7584]

do you jave to get an invite to a regional/ycs tournament??

[@TeamAPS]

No, thankfully.

[@lapislazuli7584]

Team APS Can I side extra deck monsters? Bc if I can, I will side Metaltron XII and Trishula and Cocytus for a few matchups That I don't like

[@lapislazuli7584]

Ed Elric, The Fullmetalfoes Alkahest thnx m8

[@lapislazuli7584]

Ed Elric, The Fullmetalfoes Alkahest thnx m8

[@theroyalimprovisers]

so do I need an invite to get to regionals?

[@yvonnedonohoe9557]

the royal improvisers no I'm fairly certain

[@lokephoenix1039]

the royal improvisers no, you can show up to any regionals (in the world, in fact). I'm from the UK and had a friend who got an invite to the NAWCQ by topping a regional while he was on holiday :')

[@FateZeroLoL]

#SpinnerSquad

[@BasementKorean]

Top 8 at locals

[@epicfusion7635]

SONIC X T SHIRT BOI