Well, if you're here, you're here for one of those reasons: to see the answer to this question or to laugh at what people have to say to this. Well, the side-deck by a standard definition is an extra compilation of 15 cards that players are allowed to switch between duels to accommodate their deck to different situations or decks. With this swap, you can exploit weak points of decks to put things on your advantage. The side-deck easily and essentially determines the outcome of a duel, whether in your favor or not.

This little write-up will help show what a side-deck is, what it should be composed of, and examples of side-decks.

Step 1: Research

A side-deck requires research and study of your deck and the decks of people in your area, or metagame. For instance, for a metagame with mostly players who are playing Burners, try side-decking cards such as Dust Tornado to rid this ailment (unless you too are running Burner).

Side-Note: If you are going to a large tournament such as a Regional Tournament, it is recommended you use cards not just for your metagame, but against numerous types of decks.

Step 2: Picking the Type of Side-deck

The cards in your side-deck should try not to be too abstract from the actual deck. Side-decking unnecessary cards will result in an extra 15-card heap in your deck box. For example, don’t add too many Beast cards to a Warrior deck; instead try more Warriors for a synergetic feel.

Side-Note: The only time you can overkill on a different type of cards is when your side-deck is actually a deck conversion, changing your deck to a new type. The problem with this is there is little to actually counter a deck, just to try something different and experiment its effectiveness versus your prior deck’s. Usually this isn’t too good of a idea and will result in wasted space to the valuable side-deck. The only time this is decent is for a minor change, such as a secondary deck type conversion in hybrid decks. For example, a Warrior-Chaos deck could not easily change to a Beast deck, but could change to an all-out Warrior Swarm deck or a Chaos-Phoenix deck. Hybrid decks are always more versatile but must sacrifice focus for this advantage.

Step 3: The Ideal Side-deck

Though there are neither real requirements nor staples to a side-deck, there are some ideal cards to use. King Tiger Wanghu, Dust Torndao, Mobius the Frost Monarch, and Kinetic Soldier are very useful cards for nearly any players’ side-deck. The Wanghus destroy all pesky problems from Scapegoat or Defensive decks, while Dust Tornado rips apart Water or Burn decks by destroying their spell-reliant defenses. Mobius will easily deliver the final blow necessary to win a game with its breaking effect. Also Kinetic Soldier can easily dismantle a Warrior deck, easily knocking down a Black Luster Soldier – Envoy.

Side-Note: Keep in mind when side-decking Wanghu, side-out your own monsters with ATK < 1400. If not, you’ll cause more synergetic problems within your deck. Also for Kinetic Soldier, remember you have the option of setting the card so your opponent’s Blade Knight will run into a trap and take massive damage, and then take even more damage next turn as Kinetic will go on the offensive.

Now, I’ve shown my knowledge on this, and I’ll show my personal side-deck:

1 Mobius the Frost Monarch
1 Silent Swordsman Lv 5
2 King Tiger Wanghu
1 Enraged Battle Ox
2 Swarm of Locusts
1 Kinetic Soldier
1 Exiled Force

1 Nobleman of Crossout
1 Creature Swap
1 Giant Trunade
3 Dust Tornado

Now I’ll compile this to make some sense:

Anti-Burn
Mobius the Frost Monarch – The most required Anti-Burn card in the game

Silent Swordsman Lv 5- This is my personal flavor where I use it to rip through Swords of Revealing Light, Level Limit Area – B, and Messenger of Peace.

King Tiger Wanghu – This can get rid of your opponent’s Scapegoats, and makes it harder for them to summon some monsters.

Swarm of Locust – This is my favorite card in the side-deck. Once you draw one of these against a burn, you’ve won. They can’t keep up with their resource depletion.

Nobleman of Crossout – Most Burner Monsters are set than rather summoned, so at least 1 Nobleman will be required to help.

Giant Trunade – This is my final assault card. Clearing up the field to deliver a massive attack is required sometimes. Saving this card and waiting patiently will deliver results.

Creature Swap – If my opponent hands me a Lava Golem, I can give it right back to them.

Dust Tornado – Obvious choice to destroy pesky Burner cards.

Misc.
Enraged Battle Ox – Sometimes extra damage is required against annoying defensive decks.

Kinetic Soldier – Anti-Warrior card. Self explanatory.

Exiled Force – Extra removal in the side-deck that can blend in with a deck is always helpful.

Well this is my short piece, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. Please feel free to add on ideas, comment my first article, or flame away. Thanks for reading.

Its hard for me to really compose a side deck. I've made many decks and even experiment some new ones but I can never make a side deck thats why I always lose. I could really use some help in that department.


P.S What is a good side deck material to support a Cost Down deck?

my side deck is for one thing mainly - burn decks. the rest i can mostly deal with or just get dealt a beating. either way.

mobius
mobius
mobius
swarm of locusts
swarm of locusts
swarm of locusts
spell canceller
mataza the zapper
king tiger
king tiger
berserk gorilla
knobleman of x-out
wave motion
wave motion
wave motion

Ovasdos - A Cost Down deck would be something like a Tribute Monster deck, right?

Well, start with basics and put in some anti-burn cards and then put in cards that can make your deck stronger against different types. Give me more info. What type of decks do you usually lose to? Can I see a basic deck-list/strategy?

urinalboy - See, this is where many people falter. They overkill on one thing in their side-deck, usually like you in anti-burn. you need more cards than just anti-burn in an good and successful side-deck. Put in cards to add different angles to your deck. Show me a deck-list/strategy and I can improve upon that side-deck.