Starter Deck Showdown Format
The Starter Deck Showdown Format, or SDS, was created to address the desire for a Structure Deck-based format within the Yu-Gi-Oh! GOAT format community. The idea originated from a chat discussion during a livestream with JDZ on a Goat Format Friday night. The goal was to find a way to use official products to create a playable and competitive environment.
INTRODUCTION
The original Starter Decks, (Yugi, Kaiba, Joey, Pegasus) composed mainly of 50-card singleton commons, are not viable for competitive play. Additionally, the available Structure Decks are limited, offering only four choices, which restricts variety and balance in matchups.
To overcome these challenges, the SDS format reimagines the use of Structure & Starter Decks. Instead of playing with individual Structure Decks, the format allows players to combine the cards from all four Structure Decks, treating them as a single card pool. Imagine walking into a store, finding these decks on sale, and buying three copies of each. This combined pool of cards becomes your "trunk," from which you can draw to build your deck.
An exception is made for the Warriors Triumph Structure Deck, which isn't typically GOAT-format legal. However, since none of the cards (except the cover card) are banned in the GOAT format, it is included to enhance the diversity and strategic options in SDS. This inclusion results in a 301-card pool, offering a unique micro-format within the broader GOAT format. SDS challenges players to craft their best decks from a fixed yet varied card pool, providing a fresh and engaging deck-building experience.
STRUCTURE AND STARTER DECKS IN SDS
The following Structure and Starter Decks make up the SDS Card Pool:
- Structure Deck - Warrior’s Triumph
- Structure Deck - Dragon’s Roar
- Structure Deck - Zombie Madness
- Structure Deck - Blaze of Destruction
- Structure Deck - Fury from the Deep
- Starter Deck: Yugi Evolution
- Starter Deck: Kaiba Evolution
- Starter Deck: Pegasus
- Starter Deck: Joey
- Starter Deck: Yugi
- Starter Deck: Kaiba
You can view the full card pool here.