The Duel Masters Trading Card Game is a two-player or two vs. two team collectible card game (CCG) jointly developed by Wizards of the Coast, Shogakukan, and Mitsui & Co. The card game is part of the Duel Masters franchise.
The game was released in Japan in May 2002, where it quickly became the number one selling trading card game for over a year. Due to this popularity, it was released in the United States on March 5, 2004. The game shares several similarities with Magic: The Gathering, the world's first collectible card game, which was also published by Wizards of the Coast. In fact, Duelmasters was originally intended as an alternative tradename for Magic: The Gathering and the earlier game play was abandoned in the Duel Masters manga plot to promote this latest experience.
As in Magic: The Gathering, Duel Masters players summon creatures and cast spells using mana. Key differences include the fact that all creatures and spells can act as mana producers, creatures cannot block attacking creatures without having the "blocker" ability, and that creatures only have one "power" statistic. Furthermore, duelists have shields in the form of cards that go to their hand when "broken" as opposed to Magic's "life points". Due to the popularity of Duel Masters, four video games (three released for the Game Boy Advance and the other for the PS2) based around the game have been produced, titled Duel Masters: Kaijudo Showdown, Duel Masters: Sempai Legends, Duel Masters: Shadow of the Code for the GBA and Duel Masters: Cobalt for the PS2.
Fans of Duel Masters around the world support player-organized tournaments and also unofficial national championships. The community centers on two main forums internationally which contain translations for Japanese cards. Because Duel Masters is the most successful TCG in all Asia, a new booster set is released every two months, and new theme decks every three months.
As of December 2006, the English sets of Duel Masters were discontinued by Wizards of the Coast due to weak sales and is now being hosted by Takara Tomy in Japan. However in June 2012, Wizards of the Coast relaunched Duel Masters under a new franchise named "Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters". Based on the existing Duel Masters brand, Kaijudo features an online game, trading card game, and a television series.
In Duel Masters, two players play the role of duelists, using the "art" of "kaijudo" (a marketing term created for the North American version which supposedly describes the "art of battling with giant monsters" to bring their creatures to life to do battle. Players battle each other by placing cards into their respective "mana zones", then using that mana to cast spells or summon creatures into the battle zone.)
Each player has five shields that protect them from damage; once these are gone, it takes one successful attack to win the duel. When a player's deck runs out of cards, that player automatically loses the duel.
List of Duel Masters Cards Expansion Sets Which Contain Collectible Cards
TCG Promotionals
Promotionals 2
OCG Promos - Years 1&2
OCG Promos - Year 3
OCG Promos - Year 4
OCG Promos - Year 5
OCG Promos - Year 6
OCG Promos - Year 7
OCG Promos - Year 8
OCG Promos - Year 9
OCG Promos - Year 10
OCG Promos - Year 11
Base Set
Evo Crushinators Of Doom
Rampage Of The Super Warriors
Shadow Clash Of Blinding Night
Survivors Of The Megapocalypse
Stomp-a-Trons Of Invincible Wrath
Thundercharge of Ultra Destruction
Fatal Brood of Infinite Ruin
Epic Dragons of Hyperchaos
Shockwaves of the Shattered Rainbow
Blastplosion of Gigantic Rage
Thrash of the Hybrid Megacreatures
The following sets are only launched in Japan by Takara Tomy, as the English-language Duel Masters was discontinued by Wizards of the Coast.
Eternal Phoenix
Generation Gear
Secret of Hidden Gear
Origin of Perfect Gear
The Over-Technocross
Spectacle Nova
The Ultimate Nova
History of Devil Nova
The Dragonic Nova
The End of the Universe
Violence Heaven
Violence Creator
Dragonic Wars
Perfect Heaven
Battle Galaxy
Lock-on Heroes
Wild Kingdom
Never Ending Hero
Endless All Delete
Battle of Yamato Soul
Arcadias Knights
Castle of Demon
Victory Soul
Heavy Death Metal
Ultra Duel
Heroes Packs
Greatest Champion
Force of Dragon
Perfect Angel
Evolution Saga
Best Challenger
Violence Angel
Perfect Angel Entry Pack
Force of Dragon Entry Pack
Legend Chronicle Shobu
Legend Chronicle Rival
Rising Dragon
CoroCoro Legend 7
The Samurai Legend
The God Kingdom
Cross Generation
Mad Rock Chester
Corocoro Dreampack
Neverending Saga
Ambitious Samurai
Eternal Death
Psychic Shock
Ultra Nex
Lunatic God
Dark Emperor
CoroCoro Legend 7: Dynamite Movie
The Movie Deck: Ultra Fire Spirits
Grand Devil Finisher
Arc Seraphim Reverser
Tyranno Drake Crusher
Mars Flash
Überdragon VS Demon - Angelic Wars
Dramatic Wars: Angel and Demon
Psychic Splash
King of Duel Road: Strong 7
Start Dash Deck: Fire & Nature
Start Dash Deck: Water & Darkness
Episode 1: First Contact
Deck Builder DX: Hunter Edition
Deck Builder DX: Alien Edition
Dramatic Wars: Fire and Dragon
Episode 1: Dark Side
Full Foil Pack: Revival Hero - The Alien
Full Foil Pack: Revival Hero - The Hunter
Plus One Dream
Strong Metal Deck: Explosive Dash
Strong Metal Deck: Strongest National Sport
Episode 1: Gaial Victory
Battle Royale! Heroes Victory Booster: Burning Gutsy Epic Battle
Battle Royale! Heroes Victory Booster: Roar of the Wild Battle
Episode 1: Rising Hope
Rising Dash Deck: Infinite Attack!
Rising Dash Deck: Counterattack Block!
Invincible Soul Starter Deck
Eternal Arms Starter Deck
Generation Gear Starter Deck
Best Challenger Starter Deck
Burn up to the Max! BEST Competition
Beginner Beat Slash Deck
CoroCoro Dream Pack 2: Eternal Legacy
Episode 2: Golden Age
Deck Builder Ogre DX: Gamba! Katsuta Saga
Deck Builder Ogre DX: Kirari! Leo Saga
Episode 2: Victory Rush
Zakira's Dragon Commander Power-Up Pack
Great Decisive Battle: Allstar 12
Deformation Deck Set: Ogre DX Dragon
Deformation Deck Set: Ogre DX Angel
Episode 2: Golden Dragon
Black Box Pack
White Zenith Pack
Episode 2: Great Miracle
OCG Promos - Year 12
1st Deck Outrage Dash
1st Deck Oracle Dash
Strongest Strategy: Perfect 12
Episode 3: Rage vs God
Forbidden Transform Deck: The Book of Outrage
Forbidden Transform Deck: The Book of Oracle
Episode 3: Dead & Beat
Full Foil VS Pack: Virtueless Royal
Super Deck MAX: Katsuking and Treasures of Legend
Episode 3: Ultra Victory Master
Super Deck Omega: Treasures of Pure Wicked God and Izumo's Counterattack
Episode 3: Omega Climax
Beginning Dragon Deck: Battle Dragon
Beginning Dragon Deck: Heavenly Justice Dragon
Beginning Dragon Deck: Crystal Memory Dragon
Fantasista 12
OCG Promos - Year 13
Dragon Solution Gaiginga
Super Victory Deck: Burning Dragon Sword Gaial
Super Victory Deck: Dragon Edge of Destruction Diabolos
Dragon Souls Festival
Wild Dragon Gaiglen
Tri-Transformation! Dragon Solution All Stars
Super Victory Deck: Gaiouban
Double Swords Ohginga
Super Rare 100% Pack
Super Battle Guynext x Goku
Super Battle Guynext x Shin
Duema Start Deck: The Invincible Fire Civilization
Duema Start Deck: The Destructive Darkness Civilization
Duema Start Deck: The Miraculous Light Civilization
Burning Dogiragon!!
Deck Ultimate Perfection!! Due-Max 160 ~Revolution & Invasion~ (New)
Creatures: Creatures are the most important cards in the game. Creatures are summoned into the battle zone by paying their mana cost. They can attack your opponents creatures, shields or the opponent himself. Breaking all of your opponents shields and then attacking the opponent is how you win the game. Creatures that have been summoned usually have summoning sickness and cannot attack in the same turn (with exception to evolution creatures and creatures with card effects like "Speed Attacker").
Evolution Creatures: These are put on top of the creatures, or "evolved". These cards generally have higher powers and better effects than normal creatures. Usually, evolution creatures have "Double Breaker" or "Triple Breaker" effects which allow them to break more shields than normal creatures. Evolution creatures made their debut in the "Evo-Crushinators of Doom" set. Evolution creatures also have a wide range of mana costs, ranging from costs of two mana, "Barkwhip, the Smasher" to 10 mana, [Dorballom, Lord of Demons]. Overall, Evolution Creatures are a good way to quickly attack and gain an advantage over your opponent as an Evolution Creature can attack on the turn they are summoned as they do not suffer from Summoning Sickness.
Spells: When cast, spells have an effect on either player's cards in their hand, graveyard (discard pile), mana zone or summoned creatures/cross gears and after their effect is used, they are placed into the graveyard. Some spells have special effects like "Cyclone" and "Charger" which sends the spell back to the player's hand or mana zone respectively. Spells can also have many other abilities such as "Double Evolution Burst", "Knight Magic" or "Launcher Energy"/"Photo Energy". Spells can do a variety of things such as allowing the player to draw cards, add more shields to their shield zone, giving power or various breaker abilities to their creatures, or simply destroying opponents cards.
Cross Gears: Cross Gear's are neither a creature nor a spell. Cross Gear's are put into the battle zone but cannot attack since it has no power. When you choose to "cross" a Cross Gear onto a creature, you must pay the cost of the card again, and the "crossed" creature gained this Cross Gear's ability. However when the creature is destroyed, the Cross Gear remains in the battle zone (as a sort of continuous equip card). There is no limit to the number of Cross Gears that can be crossed onto a creature, and the only way to remove Cross Gears from the battle zone is through effects specifically affect Cross Gears.
Evolution Cross Gears: An Evolution Cross Gear is a type of Cross Gear that can only be played on a Cross Gear of a specified civilization. It has the same basic functionality as the Cross Gear, and if the Cross Gear used to evolve is initially crossed onto a creature, the Evolution Cross Gear will be automatically crossed onto the target creature. Each Evolution Cross Gear has 2 civilizations, as features "catastrophe" in its card name.
Fortress: Allows the player to "fortify" the fortress to a shield in a similar fashion as a Cross Gear. A fortress card gains its ability after it is attached to the shield while the shield is still in play, some later Fortresses protect the attached from being destroyed in exchange for other shield. Unlike Cross Gear's, Fortresses do not need to pay their mana cost twice like a Cross Gear and are "equipped" onto the shields directly after being played. This type of card is introduced in DM-30 Ultra Duel. An example of a Fortress card in the Light Civilization is Silver Glory, Invincible Fortress.
Psychic Creature: Psychic Creatures are a card type first introduced in DM-36 Psychic Shock. A Psychic Creature is placed in the Hyperspatial Zone which is next to your graveyard. You are limited to eight Psychic Creatures per hyperspatial zone and they are counted separately from your main deck of 40 or more cards. At any time during a duel you are allowed to look at your opponent's hyperspatial zone. A Psychic Creature card is two-sided, and features a creature on both sides. When the cheaper side creature activates its awaken ability, you may flip the card over to its higher cost side. This gives the creature a higher power and improved card effects. For example: Bolshack Dragon, the Temporal Blaze flips over to Bolshack Mobius, Victory Awakened when it wins a battle. A Psychic creature doesn't provides any mana as it can only ever be in your battle or dimensional zone, whenever a Psychic Creature is to leave the battle zone, it returns to the dimensional zone.
Psychic Evolution Creature: These cards are put on top of Psychic creatures like Evolution creatures. They will be introduced in DM-39 Psychic Splash.
The symbol for a card's rarity is marked in the bottom right corner of the face-up side:
Common: a plain circle
Uncommon: a diamond shape
Rare: a star
Very Rare: a circle with a star in the middle
Super Rare: four squares put together to shape a diamond
Victory Rare: A stylized "=V=" symbol.
This is a list of the different Card Mechanics or effects that a creature, spell, cross gear or fortress may have:
Accelerator: Allows a creature to use its Accelerator ability whenever it is crossed with a cross gear. A creature with Accelerator is Metalchaos Dragon.
Awaken: Awaken is a card mechanic that belongs to the lesser side of Psychic Creatures. When a psychic creature completes a certain objective such as attacking and not getting blocked, or having a certain number of creatures in the battle zone. This allows the psychic creature to flip to the other side, gaining them stronger power or abilities. All Psychic Creatures have an Awaken ability.
Bio Kick: Allows the player to discard the card from his hand whenever a creature of a certain race the player controls attacks and is not blocked. If the player discards that card, the ability triggers. A creature with this ability is Sealed Devil Salvador.
Bio Tackle: Allows the player to discard the card from his hand at the beginning of a battle whenever a creature of a certain race the player controls attacks a creature. If the player discards that card, the ability triggers. A creature with this ability is Aqua Switch.
Blocker: Allows a creature to stop an attack from an opposing creature. For example, if a creature attacks one of your shields, you can use a creature with the Blocker ability to stop the attack. Sometimes this is specific to a given trait, e.g. a "fire blocker" can only block fire creatures. A creature with this ability is Gran Gure, Space Guardian.
"Breaker" Variants: These abilities allows the creature to break extra shields in a single attack if it makes a successful unblocked attack on a player. Each shield is broken one at a time. Should the creature leave the battle zone in the middle of breaking shields (due to Shield Triggers or other effects) the shields are still broken. Creatures with two or more of these abilities can choose to use either one of them – these abilities do not stack.
Double Breaker – The creature breaks two shields rather than the usual one.
Triple Breaker – The creature breaks three shields rather than the usual one.
Quadruple Breaker – The creature breaks four shields rather than the usual one.
World Breaker – The creature breaks all of the opponent's shields at once.
Galaxy Breaker – The creature breaks all of the opponent's shields at once. After the attack, all your shields are broken too.
Crew Breaker – The creature breaks one additional shield for each creature you control that is of the same race as that creature.
Civilization Breaker – The creature breaks as many shields as you have different civilizations in your mana zone.
Chain: When a creature with this ability is put in the battle zone, you may look at the top card of your deck. If the card is a creature that costs less than this creature with the chain ability, you may summon it to the battle zone.
Chain Cascade: allows you to view the top two cards of your deck. If they cost less than the creature with the chain cascade ability, you may summon them to the battle zone.
Rebirth Chain: When a creature with Rebirth Chain is put into the battle zone, or when the creature is destroyed, look at the top card of your deck. If that card costs less than that creature, you may put it into the battle zone.
Charger: Allows a spell to be put it into your mana zone instead of your graveyard after it has been cast. A spell with this ability is Slash Charger
EVO Charger: Allows a spell to be put it into your mana zone instead of your graveyard after it has been cast and it also allows you to put a creature from your mana zone underneath one of your evolution creatures in the battle zone.
Cyclone: A spell with the "cyclone" ability is returned to your hand instead of going to the graveyard after it has been cast if you've played a creature before casting the spell.
Dynamo: A special kind of race, with an ability similar to Survivors. Dynamo creatures can tap themselves to add their power and abilities to any Dynamo that is attacking or being attacked.
Double Evolution Burst: A spell with the ability of Double Evolution has a choice of two card effects. If there is at least one evolution creature in the battle zone when you cast the spell, you may choose both.
Evolution Creature Variants: a creature mechanic that allows you to "evolve" a creature into a more powerful creature. This is done by placing the "evolved" creature on top of the original.
Freeze: When a creature with Freeze attacks your opponent and isn't blocked, you may choose one of your opponent's creatures in the battle zone and tap it. That creature doesn't untap at the start of your opponent's next turn.
God Link: This ability is exclusive to the race of Gods. When two Gods are linked together, they will gain each other's effects and power. When a linked God would leave the battle zone, the player can choose which of the linked Gods leaves. Gods can only link with specific Gods, whose names are stated in their card text. Some Gods have "Triple God Link", allowing them to link with two other Gods.
Gravity Zero: This ability allows a player to summon a creature for no cost if the conditions are fulfilled, such as casting a spell or having a certain amount of dragons in the battle zone.
Holy Field: A creature with Holy Field gains their ability when you opponent doesn't have more shields then you.
Knight Magic: An ability exclusive to the Knight series of spells. These spells get to use their Knight Magic abilities a second time if you have a Knight creature in the battle zone.
Launcher Energy: When the Spell with Launcher Energy is cast, the player can tap any number of non-Evolution creatures you control of a certain race that are not already tapped in the Battle Zone, the spell's effect depends on how many creatures are tapped.
Life Gate: When the creature with this ability is destroyed, you may take a creature from your graveyard and add it to your hand, if so add the creature with the "Life Gate" ability to the bottom of your deck instead of the Graveyard. (The races of creatures you can take back from the Graveyard are specifically stated by the card.)
Great Life Gate: Some creatures possess the Great Life Gate ability, allowing you to take back multiple creatures from your Graveyard to your hand. (The races of creatures you can take back from the Graveyard are specifically stated by the card.)
Lost Prism: An ability exclusive to the race of Lost Crusaders. When the creature is put into the Battle Zone, reveal the top card of the player's deck. If that card is multi-colored, it goes to that player's hand.
Mana Reburst: A creature with this ability may be summoned from the mana zone to the battle zone by paying its Mana Reburst number. For example, Beetle Moguttan has Mana Reburst 4, so it requires four mana in order to be summoned from the mana zone into the battle zone.
Metamorph: When the player's mana zone has 7 cards or more, the creature gets the Metamorph ability.
Meteorburn: Whenever the event stated occurs, the player may use the creature's Meteorburn ability if the player destroys a card under the creature. This ability is common on creatures with the Phoenix race. A creature with the Meteorburn ability is Ultimate Galaxy Universe.
Mega Meteorburn: is an upgaded Meteorburn ability that requires the player to destroy more than one card under the evolution creature.
Ninja Strike #: Whenever your opponent attacks or blocks, if you have # or more cards in your mana zone and you haven't used a Ninja Strike ability this attack, you may summon this Shinobi without cost. At the end of the turn you used this ability put this Shinobi on the bottom of your deck.
Overdrive: When the creature is summoned, the player may tap extra mana to gain the Overdrive ability.
No Choice: If any player has no cards in their hand, a creature gains their No Choice ability.
Photo Energy: Whenever the creature with this ability is put into the battle zone, if a creature of a certain race is tapped in the mana zone to summon the creature, the creature gains the Photo Energy ability.
Power Attacker: Makes a creature more powerful when they attack. For example, a creature that has power 3000 and Power Attacker +2000 will have a power of 5000 when it attacks.
Release: Release is an ability that allows the stronger side of Psychic Creatures to flip back over to their lower side when they are removed from the battle zone.
Revenge Chance: Activated if your opponent puts three or more creatures into the battle zone on that turn. The creature with the ability can be summoned without cost.
Samurai Generation: When a player put the creature into the Battle Zone, the player may generate a cross gear from your hand without paying its cost.
Samurai Magic: An ability exclusive to Flowing Gear - Dancing Twin Lion Fangs. When you generate this card and you have a Samurai creature in your battle zone, search your deck. You may put a Flowing Gear – Dancing Twin Lion Fangs from it into the battle zone without cost. Then, shuffle your deck. It is a mixture of the Knight Magic and Samurai Generation mechanic.
Saver: When a creature would be destroyed, the player can instead sacrifice another creature with an appropriate Saver effect. Some Savers can also sacrifice themselves for shields.
Shield Force: When the creature is put into the Battle Zone, the player may choose one of his or her shields. While the chosen shield remains in the shield zone, the creature gains the Shield Force abilities.
Shield Plus: The play may adds the top card of your deck on top of one of your shields. The stack is considered as a single shield. "Super Shield Plus" variants do this for each of your shields, while "Ultra Shield Plus" variants add the top one cards onto a single shield.
Shield Trigger: When a shield is broken, this allows you to play the card without paying its mana cost.
Shield Saver: When one of your shields would be broken, you may destroy a creature with the Shield Saver ability instead.
Silent Skill: An effect that triggers when you refuse to untap the tapped creature with Silent Skill during the untap step at the start of your turn.
Slayer: Allows a creature to destroy another creature in battle, regardless of the other creature's power. For example, a 1000 power creature with slayer can battle and destroy a 5500 power creature. Sometimes this is specific to a given trait, e.g. a "nature slayer" can only use its slayer ability against nature creatures.
Solemn Duty: Activated whenever another of your other creatures leaves the battle zone or your mana zone.
Soul: This is an ability that gains effects when you have other creatures with the various Soul abilities in your battle zone. Each civilization has their own different Soul ability. For example, "Pendelamon, Spirit Knight" protects your other Holy Soul creatures from being chosen as an effect target and "Nazuna Guma, Earth Unstoppable" can untap the Wild Soul creatures in your mana zone when summoned.
Nature – Wild Soul
Water – Magic Soul
Fire – Kung Fu Soul
Light – Holy Soul
Darkness – Evil Soul and Bloody Soul
Soulshift: Used when summoning Evolution Creature's. While summoning it, the creature's cost is reduced by that of the base creature's. This cannot be reduced below one.
Soul Recall: When a creature with Soul Recall attacks, you may choose a certain number of cards in your graveyard and them on the bottom of your deck in any order. If you do, you may activate this cards Soul Recall ability.
Hell's Soul Recall: You may activate this effect on both an attack, and to itself. By paying the cost of the certain number multiple times, you may chain the effect to itself.
Annihilating Soul Recall: When a creature with Annihilating Soul Recall attacks, you may choose cards from either player's graveyard and put it at the bottom of their owner's deck to activate its Soul Recall ability.
Speed Attacker: Allows a creature to attack on the turn that it was summoned. This ability is similar to Haste in Magic: The Gathering.
Stealth: Allows a creature to be unblockable when it attacks an opponent with a specific civilization card in their mana zone. For example, a creature with "water stealth" cannot be blocked by an opponent who has water cards in their mana zone. This ability is similar to the "Landwalk" abilities in Magic: The Gathering.
Strike Back: When broken shield is of the correct civilization, the player may discard the shield to summon the creature with Strike Back for no cost.
Survivor: A creature mechanic that allows your Survivor creatures to share abilities with other Survivor creatures. Note that not all the abilities of a Survivor are Image:Survivor.gif ability, and thus some cannot be shared.
Sympathy: The card's cost is reduced by a certain amount for each creature of a certain race in the Battle Zone. The player cannot reduce the cost below a certain amount.
Tap Ability: Instead of attacking, you can tap the creature to activate its tap ability.
Thrilling Three: Reveal the three top cards of your deck, for each race-specific card among those three cards; you may activate a special ability of the creature with the "Thrilling Three" effect. Afterward, put the revealed cards to the bottom of the deck in any order. Ex: For each "Armored Dragon" cards, you may draw an extra card.
Turbo Rush: An effect that triggers when any of your other creatures break a shield this turn.
Wave Striker: A creature mechanic that allows Wave Striker effects to take place if there are three or more Wave Strikers in the battle zone.
TCG and OCG Sets
A player must have at least a minimum of 40 cards in their deck. Players can purchase booster packs to increase the number of cards they have in their collection. Expansions are sets of cards that build upon the foundation laid out by the base set, the original set of cards released. Boosters are available in English for the first 12 sets, and Japanese for all for the following expansions:
DM-01 Base Set: The original set of 120 cards. It introduces many of the basic mechanics such as Attack Each Turn if Able, Power Attacker, Slayer, Blocker, and Double breaker.
DM-02 Evo-Crushinators of Doom: This set introduces the Evolution mechanic.
DM-03 Rampage of the Super Warriors: This set focuses on decks that use only one civilization.
DM-04 Shadowclash of Blinding Night: This set focuses on cards with abilities affecting other civilizations, e.g.: a creature that increases the mana cost of another civilization to hinder your opponent. It mainly focuses on Dark/Light support and hate, and also contains the famous cards Ballom, Master of Death and Alcadeias, Lord of Spirits.
DM-05 Survivors of the Megapocalypse: This set introduces the Survivor mechanic. It also contains creatures with more than 12000 power, the most prominent being King Tsunami which returns all creatures to their owners' hands, and Billion-Degree Dragon, which has the highest power in English Duel Masters. It also introduces Triple Breakers and Speed Attackers.
DM-06 Stomp-a-Trons of Invincible Wrath: This set introduces creatures with "Tap" abilities. These are abilities that activate when the creature is tapped. It is also the second set to have 120 cards, including reprints of cards introduced in the Base Set. This set contains the highly sought after "Bolmeteus Steel Dragon". It also contains support for Survivors such as Evolutions, Q-Tronic Gargantua, which breaks more shields for survivors in the battle zone, and Q-Tronic Hypermind, that lets you draw a card for each survivor you have. There is also a "vanilla" (which means it has no special abilities) survivor, Promephius Q.
DM-07 Thundercharge of Ultra-Destruction: This set introduces creatures with "Stealth" abilities, allowing them to be unblockable as long as an opponent has a specific civilization card in their mana zone. It also introduces spells with the "Charger" ability, allowing you to put it into your mana zone instead of your graveyard after it is cast. Finally, it introduces creatures that gain extra abilities when you have no shields left in your shield zone.
DM-08 Epic Dragons of Hyper Chaos: This set focuses on Dragons, and introduces three new Dragon races: Earth Dragons, Volcano Dragons, and Zombie Dragons. It also introduces the Turbo Rush creature ability and the first creatures that gains extra abilities if other creatures aren't blocked.
DM-09 Fatal Brood of Infinite Ruin: This set adds cards that allow you to power up creatures of a race of your choosing. As well as creatures with a base power of "0000+" (a creature with power 0 or less is instantly destroyed).
DM-10 Shockwaves of the Shattered Rainbow: This set introduces the dual-civilization and Silent Skill (creatures than you can keep tapped to use their abilities) mechanics. This is also the third set to have 120 cards, including reprints of cards from previous sets. This set also features the first card to be put on Wizards of the Coast's watch list, Bombazar, Dragon of Destiny, meaning that it may eventually be banned from constructed play following tournament results.
DM-11 Blastosplosion of Gigantic Rage: This set introduces the Wave Striker ability. Creatures with Wave Striker can only use their abilities if there are two other creatures with Wave Striker in the battle zone. This set also introduces dual-civilization spells.
DM-12 Thrash of the Hybrid Megacreatures: This set brings a new race type, Vortex Evolutions, which include races like Phoenix, Naga, Starnoid and Pegasus. You need two creatures to evolve these strong vortex creatures, the two cards must be of a specific race. Clone Spells let you use the cards effect additional for each copy of that spell in any players graveyard. The set offers new rainbow card evolutions and adds new creatures to the Wave Striker theme.
DM-13 Eternal Phoenix: This set is the first Japanese-only set, and it features Eternal Phoenix, Phoenix of the Dragon Flame. It also introduces Sympathy, contrasting civilizations and two more cards added onto the list – Pacific Champion and Judgment of the Flame Spear and Water Sword. This set also includes the last wave striker [Toronbo, the Bone Fracturing Puppet].
DM-14 Generation Gear: The fourth set with a Starter Deck, this set focuses on Crossgears, many card remakes and also features Dorballom, Lord of Demons and Crystal Zweilancer. It also introduces winning all battles, doubling power, and crossing crossgears for no cost. Crossgears are like equipment which you can generate (put into the battle zone) and cross to your creatures.
DM-15 Secret of Hidden Gear: Introduces Shield Trigger X, a Shield Trigger for crossgears. This allows crossgears to be crossed instantly when broken from a shield; and Accelerator, an ability that triggers when a crossgear would be crossed. Also includes Alphadios, Lord of Spirits, and a crossgear that makes reference to Uberdragon Bajula (Bajura's Soul).
DM-16 Origin of Perfect Gear: Introduces G-Zero which lets creatures be summoned for no cost if a certain condition is met, and reintroduces Dragons.
DM-17 The Over-Technocross: Introduces Evolution Crossgears and the ability Strike Back, which is similar to Shield Trigger.
DM-18 Best Challenger: This set is a reprint set, and the biggest set with 151 cards in total. It also has the last Starter Deck in the series released in Japan. The reason for this set is because the older sets have stopped in production.
DM-19 Spectacle Nova: Galaxy Vortex Evolution creatures are introduced. These are cards that evolve on three other creatures, and are mostly single-civilization Phoenixes, with a gamebreaking Meteorburn effect that takes place when you destroy a card under them, and extremely high power. Examples include Super Divine Star Venus la Saint Mother and Super Divine Star Mercury Gigablizzard. Also focuses on single-raced decks, utilizing cards like General Kuwagatan to summon creature for free when it is destroyed and Great Cactus, which seems to be a very improbable card to be a super rare as it only allows the player to search for a Wild Veggie.
DM-20 The Ultimate Nova: Introduces Photo E and Launcher E (refer to above). Also has Energy spells which make use of either Photo E or Launcher E. There are also races which relate to other races through their effects.
DM-21 History of Devil Nova: Introduces Thrilling Three and cards that are high-cost but have a very useful effect. Examples include Captain Mirionparts and Tyranno Link Nova.
DM-22 The Dragonic Nova: Supports Dragon and Phoenix, and introduces Apollonia Dragons (light civilization dragons) and Poseidia Dragons (water civilization dragons). Also has Ultimate Galaxy Universe, the first card that lets you win the game by an ability, which is also a triple breaker and evolution phoenix. If you attack with Ultimate Galaxy Universe, you can destroy the creatures under it using its meteoburn ability. If you put a phoenix into the graveyard using its ability from the bottom to the top, you win the game. World Breaker is also introduced, and breaks all shields with one attack. An example of a world breaker is Supernova Apollonus Dragerion.
DM-23 The End of Universe: Introduces Bio-Kick, Bio-Tackle, Life Gate and Great Life Gate. Also has the first two Galaxy Vortex Evolution Phoenix without any Meteorburn ability.
DM-24 Violence Heaven: God Link is introduced. This mechanic allows two creatures of the race God to link up, thus combining their abilities and power, and becoming a single creature. When destroyed, only one side leaves the battle zone. There are also 3-Civilization cards, and many cards that work great in a Beatdown or Control deck (see below). Includes Bolmeteus Samurai Dragon, a creature that has a lot of support and dominance in later sets. This is the first set to include foiled cards of all rarities, as part of the 5th Anniversary celebrations done by TakaraTomy in Japan, Although there are still holographic commons, uncommon and rares afterward.
DM-25 Violence Creator: Introduces Overdrive. Also, a combo which has been banned in Japan has been discovered in this set, and it makes use of Romanesk, the Dragon Wizard; Soulswap and/or Crest of Mother to generate lots of mana. Many card remakes like Super Spark and Aqua Super Emeral are also released.
DM-26 Dragonic Wars: This set has lots of remake foils like Bolshack Yamato Dragon, Ballom Emperor and King Alcadeias. There are many cards which support multi-civilization decks. Creatures with purely God race are also included, for example Aku, Ultimate God and Zen, Transcendent God. This is also the set which debuts alternate "secret" versions of some Super Rares released in the set, as well as other Super Rares deemed useful to be reprinted.
DM-27 Perfect Heaven: Cards of all civilizations are released, and a 5-God-Link (which has the potential to chain to the point where all four copies of each God Link is on the Battle Zone, making it into a 20-God-Link; it is the only God Link able to do so) has also debuted in this set. (The only other occasion where more than two Gods are linked up is in DMC-40, where three Gods link up to become an extremely powerful creature.) Some races from the Base Set, who seemed to be "discontinued", are also revived.
DM-28 Battle Galaxy: The seventh set to have 120 cards. This set introduces Samurai and Knight, which trigger an ability if found on a creature, spell, or crossgear of that race. Spells and Crossgears also have races now. Mana evolution is also introduced.
DM-29 Lock-on Heroes: Introduces Shinobi, Ninja Strike and Ultra Shield Plus. The cards above can link together (Power and effect) with God-link. World Breakers are in this set too.
DM-30 Ultra Duel: Introduces the Fortress mechanic, which can be fortified to your shields to enable your creatures to get certain advantageous abilities, or does something disadvantageous to your opponent. Some Fortresses also have an ability that takes place after the fortified shield is broken.
DM-31 Greatest Champion: Introduces Samurai Magic and Knight Generation, as well as the new race Origin. This is the first set which non-evolution multicolored cross gears are released.
DM-32 Evolution Saga: This set releases supports for Evolution Creatures. Introduces the new race Lunatic Emperor and the new ability Double Evolution Burst. The new Ultimate Evolution card mechanic releases.
DM-33 Rising Dragon: In this set, new Ultimate Evolution creatures like Rising NEX, the Enlightened, White Knight HEAVEN, Lord of Spirits and XENOM, the Reaper King appears.
DM-34 Cross Generation: Introduces Bolshack Cross NEX and other Galaxy Evolution creatures and introduces the evolution mechanic Unlimited evolution.
DM-35 Never Ending Saga: Introduces the 6-God-link, which effects plays heavily around the shield zone, and the evolution mechanic MAX evolution and the EVO charger ability.
DM-36 Psychic Shock: Introduces a new card type called Psychic Creature, which features a creature on both sides of the card such as Bolshack Dragon, the Temporal Blaze. These creatures provide no mana and are placed in a special zone near the graveyard called the Hyperspatial zone and can be summoned using certain spells, like Hyperspatial Bolshack Hole. The various Soul abilities are introduced as well.
DM-37 Dark Emperor: This set introduces the No Choice, Solemn Duty, and Freeze mechanics, as well as dual-civilization Psychic Creatures, and Psychic Creature's whose two sides are of different civilizations.
DM-38 Angelic Wars: This set introduces the Revenge Chance and Loop Awakening mechanics.
DM-39 Psychic Splash: This set introduced a Psychic Evolution creature, the SP ("Espy") set of creatures, as well as the Alien, Soul Command, and World Command race of creatures.
The deck can consist of minimum 40 cards of any civilization and rarity and further any number of cards can be added (up to 20) to support your deck or civilization.
DMC-01 : Shobu's Blaze Deck
DMC-02 : Kokujo's Darkness Deck
DMC-03 : Shobu's Blaze Power-Up Pack
DMC-04 : Kokujo's Darkness Power-Up Pack
DMC-05 : Lightning Thunder
DMC-06 : Dragon Strikes
DMC-07 : Eternal Insects
DMC-08 : Endless Black Hole
DMC-09 : Shobu's Dragon Legend
DMC-10 : Hakuoh's Holy Spirit
DMC-11 : Shobu's Dragon Legend Power-Up Pack
DMC-12 : Hakuoh's Holy Spirit Power-Up Pack
DMC-13 : CoroCoro New Generation Pack
DMC-14 : Crimson Armorloids
DMC-15 : Eternal Dragons
DMC-16 : Guardian Blue
DMC-17 : Dark Warriors
DMC-18 : Shobu's Holy Dragon
DMC-19 : Zakira's Dragon Commander
DMC-20 : Shobu's Holy Dragon Power-Up Pack
DMC-21 : Zakira's Dragon Commander Power-Up Pack
DMC-22 : Hell Boost
DMC-23 : Speed Burn
DMC-24 : Illusion Blue
DMC-25 : Shobu's Fullmetal Fire
DMC-26 : Hakuoh's Angel Kingdom
DMC-27 : CoroCoro Dream Pack
DMC-28 : Grand Devil Finisher
DMC-29 : Arc Seraphim Reverser
DMC-30 : Tyranno Drake Crusher
DMC-31 : Great Mecha-O Eraser
DMC-32 : Mars Flash
DMC-33 : Edge of Dragon
DMC-34 : CoroCoro Dream Pack 2: Eternal Legacy
DMC-35 : Beginner Beat Slash Deck
DMC-36 : Heaven of Dragon
DMC-37 : Violence Angel
DMC-38 : Castle of Demon
DMC-39 : Victory Soul
DMC-40 : Heavy Death Metal
DMC-41 : Wild Kingdom
DMC-42 : Coro Coro Dream Pack 3
DMC-43 : Never Ending Hero
DMC-44 : Endless All Delete
DMC-45 : Battle of Yamato Soul
DMC-46 : Arcadias Knights
DMC-47 : Heroes Cross Pack - Shobu
DMC-48 : Heroes Cross Pack - Zakira
DMC-49 : Force of Dragon
DMC-50 : Perfect Angel
DMC-51 : Force of Dragon Entry Pack
DMC-52 : Perfect Angel Entry Pack
DMC-53 : Legend Chronicle Shobu
DMC-54 : Legend Chronicle Rival
DMC-55 : CoroCoro Legend 7
DMC-56 : The Samurai Legend
DMC-57 : The God Kingdom
DMC-58 : Mad Rock Chester
DMC-59 : Ambitious Samurai
DMC-60 : Eternal Death
DMC-61 : CoroCoro Dream Pack 4: Eternal Heaven
DMC-62 : Ultra NEX
DMC-63 : Lunatic God
DMC-64 : CoroCoro Legend 7: Dynamite Movie
DMC-65 : The Movie Deck: Ultra Fire Spirits
DMC-66 : Super Best
DMC-67 : Dramatic Wars: Fire and Dragon
DMC-68 : Dramatic Wars: Angel and Demon
Episode 1
DMR-01 Episode 1: First Contact
DMR-02 Episode 1: Dark Side
DMR-03 Episode 1: Gaial Victory
DMR-04 Episode 1: Rising Hope
Episode 2
DMR-05 Episode 2: Golden Age
DMR-06 Episode 2: Victory Rush
DMX-01 King of Duel Road: Strong 7
DMX-02 Deck Builder DX: Hunter Edition
DMX-03 Deck Builder DX: Alien Edition
DMX-04 Full Foil Pack: Revival Hero - The Hunter
DMX-05 Full Foil Pack: Revival Hero - The Hunter
DMX-06 Battle Royale! Burning Gutsy Epic Battle
DMX-07 Battle Royale! Roar of the Wild Battle
DMX-08 Burn up to the MAX! Best Competition
DMX-09 Deck Builder DX: Gamba! Katsuta Saga
DMX-10 Deck Builder DX: Kirari! Leo Saga
DMX-11 Great Decisive Battle: Allstar 12
Duel Masters cards represent the 5 different civilizations (Light, Water, Darkness, Fire, Nature) in the Duel Masters creature world. Each of the civilizations has a zone which most cards of that civilization affect.
Light – Shield Zone
Water – Hand
Darkness – Graveyard
Fire – Battle Zone
Nature – Mana Zone
The Light civilization focuses mainly on adding shields, tapping and untapping creatures, and summoning low-mana high-power blockers. Many such blockers cannot attack players. A few cards are designed specifically to counter creatures and spells from other civilizations, especially Darkness and Fire. Light also has many creatures with the effect "This creature can't be chosen by your opponent."
Races in the Light Civilization
Apollonia Dragon, Berserkers, Cosmo Walkers, Gladiators, Guardians, Initiates, Light Bringers, Mecha Del Sols, Mecha Thunders, Rainbow Phantoms, Shine Monsters, Shining Command Dragon, Soltroopers, Starlight Trees and White Command Dragon.
Water focuses mainly on drawing cards, returning creatures from the battle zone to hand, changing or returning cards from the mana zone, low power unblockable creatures, good creatures costing high mana, mid range blockers which cannot attack at all, seeing of hand and shields, searching through deck, changing shields and unattackable creatures (shared with Fire Civilization). Water cards aid blockers and creatures from Water, Light and Darkness civilizations. Some Water cards directly penalize Fire creatures. As many Water cards allow the player to draw more cards, a long battle can result in his defeat, as the player's deck runs out.
Races in the Water Civilization
Blue Command Dragon, Blue Monsters, Cyber Commands, Cyber Clusters, Cyber Lords, Cyber Moons, Cyber Viruses, Earth Eaters, Fishes, Gel Fishes, Leviathans, Liquid Peoples, Merfolks, Poseidia Dragons and Sea Hackers.
Darkness Civilization mainly concentrates on destroying creatures. Powerful creatures usually require a higher mana or a sacrificing act to be summoned. The civilization features many cheap and weak creatures, blockers most of which cannot attack players, creatures having "Slayer" or card effects which can make other creatures "Slayer", cards specifically designed to penalize decks focused on light and nature civilization, discarding cards from opponents hand, self destructing or sacrificing creatures regardless of battle's outcome, sacrificing own creatures, mana or shields for additional benefit, returning a creature from the graveyard, creatures and card effects which allows the user to destroy opponent's creatures, milling from opponent's and/or own deck and picking up one's own shields (may or may not allow Shield Trigger abilities).
Races in the Darkness Civilization
Black Command Dragons, Brain Jackers, Chimeras, Dark Lords, Dark Monsters, Demon Commands, Death Puppets, Devil Masks, Gargoyles, Ghosts, Hedrians, Living Deads, Pandora's Boxes, Parasite Worms and Zombie Dragons (Dragon Zombies are a mistranslation of Zombie Dragons).
Fire focuses on low-power, low-mana creatures as swift attackers. This civilization contains no blockers. Fire has a lot of Dragon support, as well as Speed Attacker, Power Attacker (shared with Nature), attacking if able, power-limited creature destruction, blocker and mana destruction, putting shields into graveyard, untapping after winning battles, unattackable creatures (shared with Water), breaking extra shields, taking extra turns, searching and reducing the costs of cross gears effects. A pure Fire deck tends to struggle against a well-designed pure Light deck or other mixed decks. Therefore, many fire cards are designed to aid Armored Dragons, as well as to be used along Nature and Darkness cards, and vice versa. A few Fire cards directly penalize blockers and creatures from Light and Water civilizations.
Races in the Fire Civilization
Armored Dragons, Armored Wyverns, Armorloids, Big Muscles, Dragonoids, Dune Geckos, Fire Birds, Feathernoids, Flame Commands, Flame Monsters, Humans, King Command Dragons, Machine Eaters, Melt Warriors, Red Command Dragons, Rock Beasts, Volcano Dragons and XenoParts.
The Nature Civilization focuses on mana increasing, high cost and power ratio creatures, searching deck for creatures, power limited unblockability, moving creatures from/to mana zone, creatures that break shields when blocked, forcing blockers to block, creature/spell cost reduction and shield trigger canceling effects. This civilization contains no blockers except one Phoenix, "Supernova Bigbang Anstathis".
Races in the Nature Civilization
Ballon Mushrooms, Beast Folks, Colony Beetles, Earth Dragons, Emerald Monsters, Gaia Commands, Giant Insects, Giants, Horned Beasts, Mystery Totems, Snow Faeries, Tree Folks, Wild Veggies and Wonder Tricks.
Multicolored are a combination of two or more civilizations. They are distinguished by a multicolored card (hence the name multicolored) frame. Races exclusive to multicolored are: Creators, Devil Command Dragon, Gods, Naga, Pegasus, Phoenixes, Rainbow Command Dragons, Soul Command, Spirit Quartz, Starnoid, Sumo Wrestler Command, Sumo Wrestler Command Dragon, World Birds, World Command and World Dragons.
Zero was a new civilization introduced in DMR-05 Episode 2: Golden Age. They are not a civilization, so much as a lack of civilization. Players don't need to tap Zero cards in the mana zone to use Zero cards. They are represented by a crystal like six-headed star symbol in their mana number.
There are some cards in the Japanese OCG that do not belong to a certain civilization. For example, Aqua Holy is a pure-light Liquid People. It means that races are not always limited to specific civilizations. There are some races that belongs to more than one civilization. They are: Aliens, Arc Seraphims, Brave Spirits, Deep Marines, Dreammates, Dynamos, Eggs, Grand Devils, Great Mecha Kings, Gods, Hunters, Knights, Lunatic Emperors, Luna's Sun Kaisers, Machine Heros, Origins, Phoenixes, Saint Heads, Samurais, Shinobis, Survivors, Tyranno Drakes, Unknowns, Unnoises and Vehicle Bees.
