Basic Game Mechanics (Spell Cards)

As part of your deck, You'l need Spell Cards to complement and strengthen your Monsters. Spell cards come in 6 types: Normal, Equip, Continuous, Quick-Play, Field and Ritual. The Layout of the card is: The card's name at the top, underneath is a symbol (unless it is a Normal Spell), then a picture depicting the spell followed by an explanation of what the card's effect does. All Spell cards have a pale green border. You can only control 5 spell (or trap) cards maximum active at any one time (this limit does not include Field Spell cards).

Normal Spells

These are spell cards that are sent to the Graveyard after they are used. One example of this type of card is "Card Destruction"(http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Destruction) which forces both players to discard their hands and draw the same number of cards they had. Once this effect resolves, the spell card is sent to the Graveyard. Normal Spell cards have no symbol

Equip Spells

These are spell cards that change the ATK of DEF points of your monsters. "Black Pendant" (http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Pendant), for example, increases the ATK points of the equipped Monster by 500 points. Equip Spells can only be used on one Monster (they do not apply to all monsters), or a specific type of Monster. Equip Spell cards stay on the field until one of the two following situations occur: 1) the Monster it is equipped to leaves the field or, 2) The card itself is destroyed. In both cases, the spell card goes to the Graveyard when one of those two situations occur. Equip Spell Cards have a plus sign as their symbol.

Quick-Play Spells

Quick-Play spell cards are the only Spell Cards that can be activated on your opponent's turn (normally, you can only activate Spell Cards on your turn). A common Quick-Play Spell Card is "Mystical Space Typhoon" (http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Mystical_Space_Typhoon). This Spell Card allows you to destroy one of your opponent's Spell or Trap Cards. Quick-Play Spell Cards are sent to the Graveyard after their effect resolves and a lightning bolt is their symbol.

Continuous Spell Cards

These are Spell Cards that remain active on the field until they are destroyed. "Card Trader" (http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Card_Trader) is a Continuous Spell Card that allows you to shuffle and redraw one card at the start of every turn. Continuous Spell Cards have an infinity icon as their symbol and are sent to the Graveyard when they are destroyed.

Field Spell Cards

Field Spells give bonus ATK points (and sometimes DEF points) to all Monsters on the field, including your opponent's, while some Field Spells apply only your Monsters. "The Seal of Orichalcos" (http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/The_Seal_of_Orichalcos) for example will give all your Monsters a 500 ATK point boosts for as long as it stays in play, but it destroys all Special Summoned Monsters you control at the time of its activation and prevents you from summoning from your Extra Deck. However, there are Field Spells which don't power up either player's Monsters but give the controller advantages. Understanding these cards and how to use is critical in a deck that relies on field enhancement. Unlike other Spell (and Trap) Cards, you destroy an activated Field Spell you control to play another. Under the current rules, each player may control only one Field Spell at a time. Field Spell Cards have an almost three-dimensional star as their symbol, and go the Graveyard when discarded or destroyed.

Ritual Spell Cards

Ritual Spell Cards are cards that are required to summon Ritual Monsters. Using "Black Magic Ritual" (http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Magic_Ritual) will allow you Ritual Summon "Magician of Black Chaos" (see the "Basic Game Mechanics (Monster Cards) post for "Magician of Black Chaos") as long as you meet the requirements of the card. Ritual Spell Cards go the Graveyard after the Ritual Monster has been summoned. Ritual Spell Cards have a flame as their symbol.