Yu-Gi-Oh! is the story of Yugi and his friends who are caught up in the game craze that is sweeping the nation. Yugi's grandfather manages a gaming shop and introduces him to an ancient Egyptian card fighting game called "Duel Monsters". The game pits different mystical creatures against one another in magical duels on a shifting battlefield filled with traps and magical pitfalls. When the haze of battle clears, only one can be called Yu-Gi-Oh!, King of Games. Yugi unlocks the secret of the ancient Egyptian Millennium Puzzle that releases a powerful spirit of an Egyptian King, Yami Yugi. When Yugi solves the Millennium Puzzle, he is awarded with the spirit of the all-powerful game king. And he starts on a path to become the King of Duelists!

There are several types of Spell Cards. Spell Cards can only be played during a Main Phase. The only exception to this rule is a Quick-Play Spell Card. Spell Card types are identified because they are Green and by their icons. Their icons represent what kind of action they do:

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

Equip: Like weapons, these cards allow you to modify the strength and abilities of monsters.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 Spell Cards. One monster can be equipped with several Equip Spell Cards.However, Equip Spell Cards count towards your 5-card Spell & Trap Card limit (even cards attached to an opponent’s monster), so be sure to use them wisely.

Field: 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 Spell & Trap Zone’s 5-card limit.There can only be 1 active Field Spell Card on the field at any given time between both players. When a new Field Spell Card is activated, the previous active card is sent to the Graveyard. Also, if a Field Spell card is destroyed and there are no active Field Spell Card on the field, the field returns to the original neutral state that it was at the beginning of the game.

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

Normal: Once these Spells are activated these cards are sent to the graveyard. Like the "Raigeki" card, they are often very powerful.

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

You can Set Trap cards facedown on the field and activate them at any time after the start of your opponent’s next turn. Trap Card types are identified because they are Purple and by their icons.Their icons represent what kind of action they do:

Normal Trap: A normal Trap Card has no icon. Once activated, this type of card is sent to the Graveyard.

Continuous Trap: These cards remain on the field once they are activated and their effect continues until they are destroyed or removed from the field. There is often a cost involved to maintain the effect of this type of Trap Card.

Counter: These Trap Cards are activated in response to the Summon of monsters or to neutralize the effects of Spell or Trap Cards. Once activated, this type of card is sent to the Graveyard.