In case the term is new to you, “tech” usually means a card or two that’s slipped into a main or side deck to be used in matchup-specific duels. “Tech” also connotes innovation and creativity, or a way for an individual duelist to deal with the problems encountered in his or her area. For instance, while Asura Priest would be more narrowly defined as “Scapegoat tech,” because its primary use is counteracting Scapegoat, Different Dimension Capsule could be labeled as a general “tech” card because it’s an inventive solution to a particular obstacle.

Tech is basically a secret weapon, and the term itself has been around for a decade or so. It emerged when underground TCG teams would create alliances to trade innovative ideas—because it took inspiration and time to develop, it was dubbed “technology.” The term got shortened to “tech,” and now it’s a part of everyday TCG jargon.

Tech cards are usually either creative or strange. Why do players make such a big deal out of them? What sets tech apart from sheer randomness? Well, tech is intended to accomplish two general goals.

First, tech can allow a player to imprint his or her personal style upon even the most average of decks. Just a few cards can turn your deck from a cookie cutter build to something truly unique—and after all, who wants to constantly hear “Yeah, well, you totally copied that deck from (insert name here)”? Looking for a unique solution to your deck’s weaknesses can move your deck from standard to superior, and will help set you apart from players with similar ideas.

Second, good tech can lift you above the rest of the field and give you an extra edge against your competition. If you manage to find a strong option that no one else has considered, you’ll have a better chance of outperforming your opponents. Off-the-wall tech cards seem to leap into the game out of nowhere, and by the time your opponent realizes what you’re planning, it might be too late to stop you.

This is where your tech will earn its keep. It gives you options on the table that would otherwise be impossible, while simultaneously giving you the chance to mess around with your opponent’s head. When usual cards hit the table, experienced players know what to do, since they’ve seen these cards over and over. If you throw something unexpected into the mix, your opponent has to try and second-guess you, which is going to keep him or her on the edge.

I’d like to take a look at some currently successful tech cards. Ideally, you’ll be finding your own solutions to the problems that plague you, but to get started, I’ll give you a taste of some of the cards that other players are using.

Different Dimension Capsule: The most convenient piece of generic search in the game, this card allows you to seek out any card you please. Spell, monster, or trap—it doesn’t matter, you can choose whatever you like. Although it’s previously been a reliable way to get at one of the trinity cards, it won’t be hindered by the new Advanced format Forbidden list, since most decks have key cards and this versatile spell lets you seek out any of them.

In an average deck, Different Dimension Capsule can do two things. First, it can seek out a generally useful card like Sangan or Nobleman of Crossout. Second, it can fetch the solutions to any problems that are currently plaguing you. Is Jinzo getting you down? Grab Snatch Steal. Did your opponent set a bunch of cards in his or her spell and trap zone? Go get Heavy Storm. The two-turn waiting period to get your choice isn’t as long as one would think.

This card really shines in a combo-heavy deck. In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Zane Truesdale uses Different Dimension Capsule to find copies of Cyber Dragon and Power Bond. These cards are vital to the deck’s strategy, and would otherwise be difficult to get out reliably. And with Limiter Removal limited to one copy per deck, you can expect to see Machine fans mimicking Zane’s strategy.

Traditionally regarded as East Coast tech, Different Dimension Capsule definitely made a mark at the recent Shonen Jump Championship Boston. Team Hunger Force drove it into the Top 8, and with the recent changes to the Advanced format freeing up lots of deck slots, you can expect it to see play all over the country.

Legendary Jujitsu Master: This angry-looking guy was another underestimated card that made a showing at Shonen Jump Championship Boston. Though it only has 1300 ATK, its 1800 DEF means it can stand up to many popular monsters. Legendary Jujitsu Master also makes a great set on the first turn. One of the strongest openings available, a face-down Legendary Jujitsu Master can often rob your opponent of his or her first turn summon. It can clear the field for an attack on your second turn and force the opponent to re-draw the same monster. If Legendary Jujitsu Master survives the battle, it’s even better. You’ll get card advantage while denying your opponent a potentially important spell or trap, and very few monsters in defense position can offer that.

While many believe the new Advanced format will encourage the use of monsters with higher ATK values (Cyber Dragon undeniably raises the bar with its 2100 ATK and easy special summoning requirements), this resilient Rock-type monster can still be effective. It’s especially good when it’s getting rid of tribute monsters, and if you play against a passive player who refuses to attack for a while, it will often get the chance to do so.

Exarion Universe: This versatile monster has seen a lot of play since the tins were released, primarily because it can wreck Sheep tokens or players who are just plain conservative. While Scapegoat and Magician of Faith will obviously see less play in the updated Advanced format, other flip effect monsters will undoubtedly step in to take their places. Magical Merchant will see play everywhere as players scramble to find their newly-limited spells. Apprentice Magician will be in plenty of Spellcaster decks, Old Vindictive Magician will likely accompany it, and Morphing Jar may very well be a new staple for competitive Advanced format play—and they’ve all got low ATK and DEF values. Exarion Universe is a good choice against these cards.

Exarion’s 1900 DEF earns it another gold star. It can repel attacks from most Warrior-types, many Beast-types, and virtually all non-tribute Machine monsters. If an attacker is level 4 or lower, isn’t packing some type of ATK boost, and doesn’t have “Goblin” in its name, it’s probably going to be staying home.

Its Beast-Warrior type also gives it some serious synergy in decks running Enraged Battle Ox and Wild Nature’s Release. Expect a pair of Exarion Universe to be a standard element in successful Beastdown strategies.

Injection Fairy Lily: You know you love Injection Fairy Lily, and it was back for more fun at Shonen Jump Championship Boston. The Advanced format changes will only make Lily better! An Earth attribute monster, Lily can be searched out with Giant Rat, which is a must for any Earth-themed deck. Injection Fairy Lily also fits in well with Spellcaster strategies, where it can be summoned to the field from the deck with Magician’s Circle.

Lily’s seachability makes it a real threat. A 3400 ATK monster might not be manageable when you’re expecting it, but both Giant Rat and Magician’s Circle can deploy it to the field in the middle of the battle phase. Sangan can fetch Lily out as well, so while the opponent will get some short notice of Lily’s arrival, it probably won’t be enough time for them to save themselves if that Sangan was destroyed off of their attack.

As a part of a rush strategy, Injection Fairy Lily can be invaluable. While Marauding Captain can really dish it out when it brings a Goblin Elite Attack Force to the field, a little bit of girl power can go even farther. Expect to see Injection Fairy Lily splashed into virtually anything in the new format, where it provides the raw ATK power that’s needed to trump Cyber Dragon.

Magician’s Circle: This is a card that will give new life to the Spellcaster archetype. Not only does Circle allow magicians to flood the field at an utterly unfair rate, but the search option opens up a wonderful world of choices. Silent Magician is a great default pull, and Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer is a nice beatstick, but take the time to consider some of your other options.

—Dark Magician Girl: That’s right! Dark Magician Girl can be summoned to the field without a tribute, with 2000 ATK, bustier, and all. It’s nice that it was reprinted in the 2005 Collector’s Tins, isn’t it?

—Masked Sorcerer: Though it’s not nearly as large as some of Magician’s Circle’s potential summons, Masked Sorcerer lets you exchange Magician’s Circle for a monster and a free draw if it can get in a hit. That’s some two-for-one card advantage, plus a special summon!

—Hand of Nephthys: If you really want to pull out Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys in main phase two, Magician’s Circle gives you a proactive method of doing so. Are you tired of waiting for your opponent to attack Apprentice Magician so you can bring out Hand of Nephthys? Magician’s Circle lets you do it without having to resort to kamikaze tactics. Most Spellcaster decks will be running Sacred Phoenix and Hand of Nephthys anyway, since Apprentice Magician makes Spellcasters so versatile.

There are plenty of cool uses for Magician’s Circle, and most opponents will only be able to summon Magician of Faith or Breaker the Magical Warrior through its effect. In such a case, Magician of Faith comes to the field face up and will be useless, while Breaker doesn’t get its token, making neither selection a good one. Your worst fear is Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, and Dark Magician Girl or Injection Fairy Lily will make short work of it.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. There are plenty of cards out there that fall under the definition of “tech,” but this is enough to start with. If you’ve been looking for a unique spin to add to your deck, go ahead and try any of the cards we covered today. Depending on your metagame, they can range from mildly useful to completely gamebreaking. Take a look through your binder, too, and bear in mind that there’s plenty of innovation to be found among the commons.

I plan to come back to this topic every four or five weeks or so in order to highlight some of the best or most unusual tech I’ve seen in the format. Who knows—perhaps you’ll be the one to discover the cards I profile next?