Greetings, everyone! Welcome back, and thank you all for joining me today. For this session, I thought we would shift our focus away from Lightsworn specifically and delve into a topic that will undoubtedly benefit anyone who plays the game: ensuring you're well-prepared for your next event! Let's dive in!
In today’s discussion, we won't cover the obvious, such as ensuring that you bring a well-prepared deck or a playmat—this should be a given as step one! Instead, we will explore a few items that may not have crossed your mind when packing for your next event.
1. The Old-School Way: Pen and Paper
First on our list is the good old-fashioned pen and paper. While you will often see players equipped with their sleek calculators and cases adorned with rare cards and accessories, it remains a crucial habit to track both players' Life Points with pen and paper. While a calculator certainly makes quick math easier, writing down Life Points manually provides a safeguard should any discrepancies arise.
(Pulled Straight From The Konami Policy Documents)
I recommend stopping by your local dollar store to pick up some pens and a notepad. Personally, I favor slightly larger notepads, as they allow me to not only track Life Points but also monitor mandatory effects and other game state requirements—such as the turn count for "Gold Sarcophagus" or the attack value of a "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" token.
For certain formats, such as Goat and Edison, note-taking may be permitted at some venues. For instance, if your opponent Normal Summons "Elemental Hero Stratos" and searches for "Elemental Hero Ocean," you would be allowed to jot that information down to ensure easier recall. However, it is important to note that outside of mandatory effects and Life Points, note-taking is generally prohibited at official Konami-sanctioned events. Always confirm with the tournament organizer prior to the event to clarify the rules.
(Examples of Legal & Non-Legal Note-Taking)
If you have questions about tournament policy, follow this link to the official policy documents:
(The Smaller & More Comfy, The Better!)
2. A Comfortable Backpack
Through the years of participating in events, I’ve gone through a myriad of “favorite” bags, each of which has accompanied me to countless tournaments. Without a doubt, the smaller, more compact ones have proven to be much easier to manage in a convention center over the course of a 10+ hour day. When playing in large-scale tournaments for extended periods, carrying a large bag can become cumbersome and lead to unnecessary fatigue. I highly recommend a bag with comfortable shoulder straps, or even a small crossbody bag or fanny pack. The game itself is already taxing enough, and you don’t want to add physical strain to the mix.
Additionally, try to pack only what is essential. If you’re not planning to trade or participate in multiple side events, leave extra trade binders or additional decks at home or in a secure place. Streamlining your belongings will make the day much more manageable.
(Actual Photo Of Me At A Yu-Gi-Oh! Event)
3. Water: Your Most Essential Companion
By far, the most critical item on this list for me is water. For years, I would attend events and endure excruciating headaches, attributing them to stress or early wake-up calls. In truth, I was in a constant state of dehydration throughout these Yu-Gi-Oh! filled weekends. Let’s face it—during these events, our diet is rarely optimal. From chicken tenders to fries and other fried snacks, salty foods dominate. I highly recommend investing in a high-quality water bottle to keep with you, ensuring you remain hydrated throughout the day.
Every venue I’ve attended has had water refill stations, which will not only keep you hydrated but also save you a considerable amount of money. I’ve seen bottles of water being sold for as much as $8! On average, during a Saturday at a YCS, I consume the equivalent of 9 bottles of water—roughly one per round. That’s a staggering $72 saved simply by bringing my own bottle!
Staying hydrated is key to maintaining focus and mental sharpness throughout the day, even amidst exhaustion. I also prefer to add ice to my bottle to keep the water cold, which is a refreshing relief as the day progresses and your mouth inevitably dries out. Having some convenient snacks goes a long way as well. Fruit snacks are my favorite. Gum is also a nice alternative that helps to keep focus, just please, chew with your mouth closed.
(“Talent is a pursued interest. Anything that you're willing to practice, you can do.”
―Bob Ross)
4: A Good Attutide
It's important to maintain a positive attitude not just in Yu-Gi-Oh, but in all aspects of life. I try to approach each new tournament as a learning experience, keeping my expectations at zero. Taking it one round at a time is crucial. Sometimes things won’t go your way. You might think, “They need Brain Control to win here,” and then they draw Brain Control on the next turn, you end up losing, you get upset.
A mindset that was very damaging to my Yu-Gi-Oh mentality was the thought, “This always happens to me,” when I’d lose to cards like Brain Control, draw Wulf at the worst time, or feel like I got "sacked." In reality, I was just hyper-focused on those rare moments instead of looking at the game logically. I often found myself saying, “I always draw three Wulf! This card is terrible!” or, when piloting Blackwings, “My opponent ALWAYS has Bottomless Trap Hole! This deck is awful! People are cheating!”
In truth, these things didn’t happen nearly as often as I convinced myself they did. My perspective on the game was completely skewed.
One of the worst things you can do in the game is approach a match or deck-building with emotions clouding your judgment. It's essential to stay level-headed and keep a clear mind.
Remember when we talked about note-taking earlier? How it can only be used in-game to track mandatory effects and life points? Well, that’s just during the game.
Once a match is over, I often jot down quick notes on why the match ended the way it did. I ask myself things like:
- Did a certain card overperform or underperform?
- Did I make any misplays?
- Did my opponent have every answer?
- Did I really get "sacked," or could it have been prevented?
- Was my win a "bad" win?
If you're like me, you probably find yourself wondering, “Was there anything I could’ve done differently?” Keeping notes to reflect on will help you answer this question.
After reflecting, you'll often realize you learned something from the match—something you could’ve done better or differently. Maybe you still won but didn’t notice a line of play that would’ve been safer, like one that still wins the game and also plays around Gorz. This is what id call a "bad" win. Because if they did have Gorz: you would've lost. Even if you somehow did still ended up winning; you gave them an unnecessary turn and a chance to get back in the game.
However, if you truly realize there was nothing you could have done differently—no misplays, nothing—and your opponent just had it all (for example, they went first with Black Whirlwind, Shura, Trap Dustshoot, Solemn Judgment, Icarus Attack, Bottomless Trap Hole, etc.), then there’s no need to dwell on it. That’s just Yu-Gi-Oh, and sometimes it happens. There’s no reason to beat yourself up over things outside your control. Don’t let it affect your mindset for the rest of the day. Just because your opponent had everything in round one doesn’t mean it will happen in the next eight rounds.
Your perception of bad luck is often just a placebo effect. The human brain is wired to remember negative experiences more vividly than positive ones. For example, you might feel like you always get stuck in traffic, but in reality, it might only happen 20% to 50% of the time.
Don’t get trapped in the “I have bad luck” mentality. Step outside, grab a drink or a snack, and check in with your friends about their rounds. Clear your mind and approach the next round as if nothing happened.
In Conclusion & Additional Recommendations
Today, we covered many essential items you'll need to have on hand throughout a long, Yu-Gi-Oh-filled weekend: pen and paper, a comfortable backpack, access to water, and a positive attitude. These essentials work together to not only give you the best chance for success but also ensure you're prepared and feeling your best throughout the event. These are the bare minimum items to bring to every event.
Below are a few additional miscellaneous items that you might find useful from time to time. Remember, you can never be too prepared!
Dice: This may seem obvious, and often one of the players will have a set. However, occasionally neither of you will be prepared, and you'll have to ask around to borrow some. Avoid the hassle by getting a set of dice from your local store.
Deodorant: Okay so maybe this should've been mentioned sooner. But this one isn’t optional. Personal hygiene is crucial, so prioritize deodorant over anything else on this list. I always keep an extra small stick or spray in my bag, especially in the summer. Events can get warm due to the large number of people in one space, and the deodorant you applied in the morning might wear off by the end of the day. You definitely don’t want to be “that person” at the event!
Hoodie/Jacket: This tip is especially relevant during the colder or rainy months. Be sure to check the weather of your destination beforehand. A few years ago, it was warm in North Carolina where I live, but I traveled to Richmond, Virginia for a regional and didn’t bring a jacket—it was freezing! My dad used to say, “You can always take it off if you don’t need it, but you can’t put it on if you don’t have it.” His words echoed in my head that day.
Wristwatch: While not required, I always try to wear a watch to events. Ultimate Time Wizard events generally don’t have a visible clock during matches, and a watch helps me keep track of time. Sometimes, I set my watch to 12:00 to easily monitor when the 45-minute mark is approaching. Although the Yu-Gi-Oh Neuron app has a timer and can be used in offline mode, I prefer to keep my personal belongings off the table as much as possible. Wearing a watch feels like a nice little advantage.
Portable Phone Charger & Phone Charge Cables: The only thing worse than scrubbing out of an event is having a dead phone afterward. Keep a portable charger and a phone charger in your Yu-Gi-Oh bag to ensure your devices stay powered throughout the day. I actually keep a dedicated set of chargers in my bag at all times so I never forget them.
Hand Sanitizer: This one should be pretty self-explanatory, always think to yourself “You don’t know where that’s been.” Because well, you don’t, If you think about it, with every round that you play, you’re touching sleeves that your opponent has touched, and that every opponent of theirs has also been in contact with. Do yourself a favor and give you the best chance of not getting sick when you return home from your trip!
That’s all I have for today! Thank you guys for reading, until the next one!
Much Love, - Mike. 🫶
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