The goal. Take your opponent's 8000 Life Points to zero. Rock·Paper·Scissors decides who starts.
Play a card. Drag it from your hand onto the mat, or click it and pick. Summon puts a monster face up and ready to fight; Set puts it face down. One Normal Summon a turn — Level 5–6 costs one tribute, Level 7+ costs two.
Attack. Press Battle on the mat, then drag your monster onto the one you want to hit — or straight at your opponent while their field is empty.
Positions. Attack position fights; Defence (sideways) protects your Life Points. Click your monster to change it.
Spells and traps. A spell goes off at once. A trap must be Set first and springs during your opponent's turn. Hover or tap any card to read it in full.
The clock and the stakes. 45 seconds a move, then a safe move is played for you. Ranked wins pay credits and rating; practice duels pay nothing.