Essay: What Should You Purchase in Yu-Gi-Oh?

Mario here. I've been writing different types of essays recently because university starts in a week...

In order to participate in Yu-Gi-Oh money must be spent on various cards. People in today's world must budget their money and spend it wisely. Buying cards is also dependant on personal interests. Yu-Gi-Oh is no exception and the answer to the question "what should you purchase in Yu-Gi-Oh" shifts depending on the cards and what the buyer wants. Boxes with 24 packs of a single set can be effective or destructive. Tins of cards are usually a great source of cards and worth the price. Finally, structure decks make deck building easier but it isn't mandatory. The corresponding topics are listed by the single price for one item starting with the most expensive; the box.

Boxes contain 24 packs of one set and are $100 per box on average. One factor that contributes to the question of buying a box is the duelist's interests. This can greatly affect whether buying a box is the correct choice. If someone is interested in each ultra rare in the particular set then buying a box is a smarter decision. However is a person is only interested in a playset of 1 particular card of a set then buying the single cards is financially smarter. Putting aside personal interests, considering the value of cards affects the decision of purchasing a box from a business and profiting perspective. The greater the financial value of cards in the selected set, the better buying a box is. Typically, buying a box of Generation Force or Extreme Victory is financially more intelligent whereas buying a box of Raging Battle or Crimson Crisis is not as intelligent. I've stated before when one buys a box that person will either profit by pulling cards worth more money than what was paid for the box, break even, or lose money by pulling worthless cards. Single boxes are really expensive and the choice of whether or not to buy must bear considerate thought more than thinking about buying a couple of tins.

Collector tins contain promo cards and packs from the most recent sets. On average they cost about $25 per tin. Typically buying a tin is always a significantly smarter choice 95% of the time. For example, the first wave of the 2011 Collector Tins were released everywhere recently (except the Belleville local card shop...). Each tin contains a $10 version of Pot of Duality and everyone knows by now what else exists in those tins. First of all, the promo cards are almost worth financially as much as the tin. Second and last of all, there are still the packs where it is possible to pull significantly great cards. Every player should spend money on tins unless there is absolutely nothing the player in question is interested in. As a side note if that is ever the case that player should immediately quit the game. The only thing less expensive than a single tin is a single structure deck.

Starter/ Structure decks come with a 40 card main deck, sometimes accompanied by a few cards that belong in the extra deck. On average one deck costs $15. Recently, Konami has released structure decks that are really solid if 3 are bought. Machina Gadgets was the first top deck that could be created by buying 3 of its corresponding structure deck and staples that weren't included in the deck. The Dragunities followed and finally Agents were created and it was that very same deck that won the World Championships this year. The next deck to follow this pattern is Dark Worlds and the deck is definitely tier 1 in the OCG and especially in the TCG with Tour Guide (even though Tour Guide got fucked by the most recent rulings). Is this affordable and plausible? $45 for 3 structure decks is much more affordable than a box and it's ready to be played to an extent. Don’t buy decks though if you have no interest in their theme. It can't be over-expressed how affordable this is outside of other staples and extra deck cards.

Buying Yu-Gi-Oh cards is a touchy subject. Buying a box can be beneficial or catastrophic. Buying tins is rarely a poor choice. Finally, buying structure decks is purely a decision of personal interest. What players buy are dependant on interests and finances. Buy Yu-Gi-Oh cards wisely and then enjoy the game.