Yu-Gi-Oh fans, it’s time to duel! Gear up for this year’s competitive (or casual) dueling circuit with amazing new cards and products releasing in early 2023!
Amazing Defenders is a new booster set focusing on 3 new archetypes. The Rescue-Ace archetype focuses on summoning low-level monsters, utilizing quick-play spells and traps, with a focus on a brand-new boss monster. Rescue-ACE Turbulence has 3000 ATK and 3000 DEF points, making it strong enough to take on even the Blue-Eyes White Dragon! Keeping your level 1 Rescue-ACE monsters on the field enhances your strategy. Will you gear up to duel with a Rescue-ACE deck?
AMAZING DEFENDERS: INTRODUCING RESCUE-ACE, PURRELY & MIKANKO
The Purrely archetype is a set of Fairy cards that revolve around Xyz summoning. A Purrely quick-play spell allows you to Xyz summon a Rank 2 “Epurrely” monster with the level 1 Purrely. If you can attach 5 Xyz materials to a “Epurrly”, you can effectively evolve your card into a Rank 7 Expurrely monster! These adorable Yu-Gi-Oh monsters can pack quite a punch in the deck of any duelist.
Ohime The Manifested Mikanko is set to change the ritual game as the leader of the Mikanko archetype, arriving in the TCG on January 20, 2023 as part of the Amazing Defenders booster set. Mikanko cards revolve around the power of equip spells. Ohime is a powerful monster, and as of now the only ritual monster in the deck. They have the ability to search for more cards within the archetype, and a quick effect that allows access to equip spells in the graveyard.
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Even though Ohime The Manifested Mikanko has 0 ATK and 0 DEF points, they are still a deadly threat because they cannot be destroyed by battle. On top of that, your opponent takes any battle damage that you would have from attacks involving Ohime. Are you interested in exploring the power of machines through Rescue-ACE, wielding cute fairy might with Purrely cards, or do you plan to equip the power of ritual cards with Mikanko?
YU-GI-OH: AMAZING DEFENDERS OFFICIAL RELEASE DETAILS
Amazing Defenders introduces 36 new cards, but you’ll also find 24 reprints of past cards that help these new themes flourish. 15 cards in the set also appear as popular Collector’s Rare variants, including tournament favorites of the past and present like Card Trooper, Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher, and Isolde, Two Tales of the Noble Knights!
Prepared to be amazed, as Amazing Defenders debuts in stores on January 20. The complete Amazing Defenders booster set consists of 60 cards: 35 Rares, 15 Super Rares, and 10 Ultra Rares. A selection of 15 cards in the set are also available as Collector’s Rare variants. Each booster pack contains 7 cards: 1 Foil card and 6 Rares. MSRP: $4.49 per 7-card pack.
YU-GI-OH: PHOTON HYPERNOVA IS AN EXPLOSIVE NEW TCG BOOSTER
In February, the path of the duelist in 2023 continues with the release of Photon Hypernova! This core booster set features 100 cards to fit a variety of playstyles! The Chaos archetype consists of light and dark monsters with banishing effects. Photon Hypernova is giving the Chaos cards a big push with new synchro monsters like Chaos Beast and Chaos Archfiend! Both monsters gain incredible attack power on a turn when a monster is banished, and if you play Chaos, that means every turn.
Fans of Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal will be pleased to learn that the Galaxy Photon archetype is getting fantastic support in Photon Hypernova! Galaxy Photon Dragon is a Rank 4 variation on the iconic Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, bringing new light to the best Zexal-themed decks in the game! Number C62: Neo Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon is a next-level boss monster with 4000 ATK that can be summoned by using Number 62 as Xyz material.
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Rounding out the highlights of the new Yu-Gi-Oh Photon Hypernova booster set is Kashtira Arise-Heart. This rank 7 monster has the special ability to banish any card that would be sent to the graveyard, making it a walking Macro Cosmos. Perhaps this monster could mesh with a Chaos build, or maybe it’s best suited for taking on Tearlaments. No matter what you pull, when you open a pack of Photon Hypernova, you’re guaranteed to find exciting new cards.
YU-GI-OH: PHOTON HYPERNOVA OFFICIAL RELEASE DETAILS
Photon Hypernova delivers new legacy support for countless fan-favorite themes, plus new boss monsters for “Tri-Brigade”, “Generaider”, “Springan”, “Icejade”, “Vaylantz”, “Gishki”, “Dogmatika”, and even “Great Moth” Decks!
Photon Hypernova explodes into stores on February 10! The complete Photon Hypernova booster set includes 100 new cards: 50 Commons, 26 Super Rares, 14 Ultra Rares, and 10 Secret Rares. Each 9-card pack contains 1 Foil card and 8 Commons. MSRP: $4.49 per 9-card pack.
Arriving at your local card store on the same day as the Photon Hypernova booster set is an old friend…Dark Magician Girl! Dark Magician Girl and Dark Magician are two of Yugi’s most iconic monsters, with entire archetypes that support each other. Fans of Dark Magician Girl, get ready for a new line of collectible accessories.
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Dark Magician Girl card sleeves come in packs of 50. They pair excellently with the Dark Magician Girl Card Case, which can fit up to 70 cards! The highlight of this legendary character collection is the Dark Magician Girl Game Mat, made to resemble those awarded at official Konami events. Complete your collection with the 9-Pocket Dark Magician Girl Duelist Portfolio. It holds up to 180 cards safely with anti-slip, side-loading pockets.
DARK MAGICIAN GIRL ACCESSORIES: PRICING & RELEASE DATE
The Dark Magician Girl Accessories are unveiled alongside Photon Hypernova on February 10. The full collection includes the Dark Magician Girl Card Case, MSRP $4.99; the Dark Magician Girl Game Mat, MSRP $16.99; the Dark Magician Girl 9-Pocket Duelist Portfolio, MSRP $9.99; and Dark Magician Girl Card Sleeves, MSRP $4.99 per pack of 50.
The new structure deck, Beware Of Traptrix, will introduce over a half-dozen new cards to the fan-favorite Traptrix archetype. The Traptrix deck revolves around the utilization of trap cards such as Acid Trap Hole. Additionally, Traptrix monsters are able to help special summon one another. Cards like Traptrix Dionaea and Traptrix Sera will make their return in this new, ready-to-play deck.
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Beware Of Traptrix will introduce a new insect-type level 4 monster that summons itself from the hand whenever you control another “Traptrix” monster. Another creature is a level 4, plant-type Traptrix monster with the ability to search the deck’s field spell!
YU-GI-OH: BEWARE OF TRAPTRIX IS A PROMISING STRUCTURE DECK
The Traptrix field spell is a powerhouse, giving the user the ability to normal summon a second “Traptrix” monster every turn.
Traptrix Rafflesia and Traptrix Allomerus are getting a new ally – specifically a Rank 4 Plant monster boasting 2500 ATK and the power to search Traptrix monsters from the deck. If that wasn’t enough, Beware Of Traptrix is introducing a new Trap Hole variant into the game! This version of the card plays well with other Hole cards, making it a wonderful addition to this blossoming line of cards.
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Structure Deck: Beware of Traptrix swarms and sprouts into stores on February 24. Each Yu-Gi-Oh Structure Deck includes 40 Common cards, 3 Super Rares, 5 Ultra Rares, and 1 Double-sided Deluxe Game Mat/Dueling Guide. MSRP: $11.99 per box.
Yu-Gi-Oh is a special franchise that is for fans of all ages. Whether you’re a longtime duelist, a former fan who feels the heart of the cards calling, or someone trying to get started, January and February 2023 is the perfect time to get into the game.
Which of these Yu-Gi-Oh products are you most excited for? What do you hope to see next from Yu-Gi-Oh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media!
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