Players are always asking questions. “Hey, where do I find the certification tests? How do I check my rankings? Where is the next Shonen Jump Championship?” They don’t ask simply because they are too lazy to find out for themselves—often they have no idea where to get the information they need. There are lots of online links offering resources and information, but sometimes it’s hard to find just the one you’re looking for. If that’s a problem you encounter frequently, then today’s your lucky day—because I went and gathered all the links I could think of that would be useful, and sorted them into lists. All you have to do is bookmark this article, and you’ll find your links with ease, right when you need them.

I’m only giving you official links in this article, so everything here can be found somewhere on Upper Deck Entertainment’s site. The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG site was completely overhauled a short while ago and it looks really great. However, if you’re using a Mac, you won’t be able to see anything with Safari. It works perfectly in Firefox though, so you’re covered. Actually, after talking with some PC users, I’ve been told that Firefox works better for PC users too in certain areas of the site. Consider it as an option if you’re experiencing difficulties.

I prefer to sort things into groups rather than just fling them at your head in a random pattern. The links are grouped rather loosely into three categories: Player Information (also good for judges), Certification Information, and General Information. Some links that apply to one group might also apply to another, so you’ll want to look through all the categories.

Player Information

Policy Documents

Imagine that: the very first things I’m trying to force feed you are the policy documents. What can I say? I’m a judge on a crusade. Anyway, all players and judges need to check these often. They do get updated, and an announcement isn’t always made to that effect. I like to access them from the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG site, because it tells you right there on the main page when the last update was made. So convenient! I also like that red background.

There’s also a nice downloadable decklist form on here, if you want to be a hero and fill out your decklist—maybe even type it!—before you get to the event. If you do, then bless you.

So, yes—policy documents. Right there! Click! Download! Read! Lather! Rinse! Repeat!

The FAQ Section:

This page is the portal to absolute oceans of information you can’t play without. It’s got the Limited/Semi-Limited/Forbidden lists, basic and advanced gameplay information, an online version of the current rulebook, and an alphabetized list of individual card rulings. I will just mention in passing that the individual card FAQ (and mailings sent to the judge list) are the only officially recognized rulings resources.

If you’re really lazy, take note of these particular links!

The Online Rulebook:

Just in case you didn’t buy the latest structure deck, you’ll find the updated rulebook here. There is also a Beginner’s Guide, which is a great resource for teaching the game to someone else, or if you’re a beginner yourself.

Forbidden/Limited Lists for the Current Formats:

Ignorance is not an excuse—don’t build an illegal deck! All the information on what can and cannot go in your deck is listed here.

Individual Card Rulings:

They’re sorted alphabetically, and there are a lot of them. If you want to print them out, I suggest copying and pasting the text into a text editing program rather than printing the pages. It’ll be a lot easier to read and you won’t use up your color ink cartridge. New rulings are added with each new expansion, and they won’t be limited to the new cards. Older cards will get new entries occasionally, and sometimes rulings will get reversed. Stay current!

Errata List:

Don’t neglect the errata list! Lots of cards have been reprinted, and text has been updated on many of them. This is another page that usually doesn’t get an announcement when it’s been updated, so make a habit of checking it out at regular intervals.

All right, now that you know what you’re supposed to do at a tournament, what will happen to you if you don’t do those things, how all your cards work, and whether or not the text on them is up to date—it’s time to find a place to play! I’ve got links to help you do that! Just pick the kind of event you’re looking for, and away you go.

Hobby League Locator:

Here you’ll find a handy search utility to see what’s available in your area for League. You can also pull out the yellow pages and call stores in your area if you want to expand your search, but this page is a good place to start. It’s also a good resource if you’re going to spend some time in a new place—vacation, or visiting friends or family. No reason you have to put your dueling life on hold!

Regional Locator:

Same deal! Search your area (or another area, if you’re planning on traveling) and see what’s offered when you want a bit more competition. It’s also a good resource for judges who are looking for Tournament Organizers in their area, to expand their judging experience.

Shonen Jump Championship Locator/Schedule:

Here’s the basic information on this Tournament series, and you can use the same search feature to find out when and where they’re scheduled to take place. Make your travel plans early!

Sneak Previews:

If you’re looking to get the newest expansion before it’s in stores, this page will lead you in the right direction. We’ve got Strike of Neos coming up fast, and trust me, you really, really want to go to this Sneak. (You absolutely do. Make sure you find a location. Don’t say you didn’t know it would be good, because I’m telling you now.)

Ratings and Rankings:

Okay, if you put the tournament locators to good use, you’ll want to check on how you are doing ratings-wise. I don’t believe you can access your personal page directly through your Tournament ID any longer, so navigate your way there through your continent, country, state/province, etc. It’s not that much of an ordeal—it’s actually kind of entertaining. Hey, I know most of these guys on the North American main page!

Upper Deck Entertainment Account Log In Page:

If you want to log into your Upper Deck account, you’ll need a tournament ID number. No number, no account! If you don’t have one, you’ll need to get one at an event. There’s a little bit of info on the page that will tell you how to go about doing that. You log in here to edit your personal information, take certification tests, and so forth. Sometimes people get caught in a “log-in loop”—you’ll enter your information, hit “Log In”, and then the page goes right back to the log in page. If that happens, click “Log Out” at the top of the page and try again. That usually seems to fix it.

Certification Information

These are links for people who want to become certified, or are certified in various UDE programs. Whether you want to take a certification test, or are already a judge, Tournament Operator, or Demo Team member, you will most likely find what you need in the links below. Remember, you’ll need an Upper Deck Entertainment Tournament ID in order to take the tests.

The FAQ for Certification Questions:

Whatever your question about the certification process, you can probably find an answer here. Read it over before sending in an email if you are wondering about certification.

Certification Tests:

The Tournament Organizer test is here, and the Demo Team test is here. Remember, you’ll need an Upper Deck Entertainment Tournament ID in order to take the tests.

Demo Team Page:

If you’re certified as a Demo Team member, this is the page you’ll use for your basic resources. You’ll also report your demos here. You can request a demo if you are a certified Tournament Organizer. You can put in a request for a demo of the games of your choice, and a message will go out to find a Demo Team member that can help you out. Spice up your next event with some demos!

The MANTIS Page:

Download MANTIS, learn about MANTIS, or just look at the cute bug in the logo. This is the page that will let you do all of the above. Tournament Organizers will need MANTIS and it’s not a bad idea for judges to learn how to use it, too.

General Resources

Official Upper Deck Entertainment Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG site:

First things first! This is the place to start. You can find links to most everything you want here (including most of the ones I’ve given you), and if you’re just getting into the game, or want to understand it better because someone you know plays, you can get a demo and other basic info here. I send a lot of parents to this site, specifically for the demo and basic information all handily arranged in one spot.

Product Information:

If you need to get the official word on what’s been released, what is going to be released, and a list of contents, this is where you should look. You can download checklists for sets and structure decks, and even find a store in your area that sells what you’re looking for. If you’ve got family members that want to buy you some cards, point them here.

The Upper Deck Entertainment . . . Forums?:

Be honest, did you know UDE had forums? There are sections for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG rules and questions here, and a MANTIS section too!

The Upper Deck Entertainment . . . Online Store!?:

They’ve got one of these too! And as a little tip, when I registered for the forums, I got an email with a coupon good for 20% discount on select items in the online store. I’m just saying.

Last, but not least . . .

A List of Email Addresses

If you have a question that couldn’t be answered on any of the site pages, you can send an email. It might take a while for emails sent to the general addresses to be answered, so be patient. If you have a personal contact for a specific department (perhaps you’ve collected a few business cards from a convention) you might have better luck emailing the person directly. Check the list below to find the correct email address, and make sure your subject line is clear and relevant, so the person reading the email will a) know you want and b) not think you are spam. In the body of your email, express yourself clearly, briefly, and civilly. Please use complete sentences and correct spelling and grammar—if it looks like you invested some effort and care into writing your email, you’re more likely to get the response you’re looking for. Imagine opening up an email with a subject line of ‘ygo ?’ that reads like this — “ok, if hav 5card s  in play thun 4 teh nex ttime, my friend sez u put it in the graveyard 1st. cn  u tel me if thas rite, cz i dun know teh ansewr, lmk thx.” Honestly, what can you do with a “question” like that?

If you have any Demo Team questions, use: demo@upperdeck.com.

If you have a question that doesn’t seem to fit under any of those categories, you can always fall back on good old: ude@upperdeck.com.

I hope you found all that informative and helpful—I actually had fun digging around on the site to find all these for you. Now that you have them, make use of them! Especially the policy document pages! Don’t rely solely on the links I’ve picked out—spend some time clicking around on the site. There’s a lot of information on there I didn’t cover in the article, and you might never know it’s there if you don’t go and take a look.