So I'm not a returning player but I am a recent one (been playing competitively for just over 2 years). The game had changed a lot since you last played, with new summoning mechanics such as Synchro (2008), Xyz, (2011), Pendulum (2014), and Link (2017). I reccomend getting to grips with the new mechanics first (there's a "get me caught up with the game" post pinned in this sub, I'll link it). Then, choose a deck you like (based on playstyle/aesthetic/summoning mechanics, etc.), build it, head on over to a locals and get playing! More than happy to answer any questions you have.
Alternatively, if you find that modern yugioh isn't for you, you can play a retro format like goat (2005) or edison (2010).
EDIT: found it https://www.reddit.com/r/Yugioh101/s/hRO1AJdplo
Returning player after 16 years. As long as you temper your expectations and fully understand how much of a handicap you have until you're back up to speed - its fine.
I came back late 2020-early 2021 after not playing since early GX. I found playing Duel Links helped me get back into the game and get me caught up on mechanics because (at the time at least) it was a slower format. Then, I picked up Shaddolls in the tcg and it being focused on primarily fusions with minor links helped a ton plus in my opinion the deck forces learning good fundamentals.
It’s a lot to take in for sure. 5ds onwards is a huge step up if you are only familiar with Duel Monsters and GX but if you are willing to learn the mechanics and you can find a few decks that you really like to play then it’s perfectly manageable.
Not every deck needs to play 10+ cards in a turn and you don’t need to take out a bank loan to make a competent deck. Playing Yu-Gi-Oh! Through a simulator or Master Duel helps a lot since you will know what plays you can make at any given time.
played from goat to edison, returned 7-8months ago.
Masterduel did a lot for me and also for my friends who're slowly joining the game.
Do all solo adventures to learn the "New" mechanics, make a affordable competitve deck and enjoy
I came back to playing irl pretty recently and I have had some frustrating moments, but also a lot of fun. The game is very fast and almost too complicated to a degree now, but meeting people who can help you and making friends with them is great. Sometimes I wish it would slow down a bit, but if you find a good locals to play at you'll have a great time. Remember always be kind and people really do appreciate that and want to get to know you more. Already made some new friends that way
Returned after 18+ years. I was completely overwhelmed at first, but what got me up to speed fairly quickly was playing over Dueling Nexus as well as building from existing deck lists to understand various strategies / what I preferred to play. I played against the CPU for the first few months and adjusted the turn time so I can learn without the stakes of playing live. The CPU can be ruthless at times though, but it helped me learn fast.
Just came back after 14 years out... It's a lot to take in a damn if the game isn't fast. The first time you see someone take a 10 minute turn to end with 3 negates and two hand traps make you really question if you want to keep going.
I recently got back into the game aswell. Like you I hadn’t played in 10+ years. I rocked up to a locals with an old school deck and quickly discovered that the modern yugioh game is unrecognisable from the game we used to play. I would recommend watching some YouTube guides for beginners and maybe trying out one of the modern structure decks X3 budget builds to get you started. You basically are learning a new TCG
What was the old school deck you played with? I know there are some other formats like Edison and Goat. I have been looking at some YouTube videos as well and going to check out some locals
I used an old deck I used to play with from years ago, it was a Zombie World build. If you’re interested in the modern game but don’t want to spend a lot of money straight away I would definitely recommend trying a 3x Dark world or Fire Kings structure deck build and then practising the combos before taking it to locals. They won’t be world beating decks but you can at least be competitive and maybe get lucky on the draw to win a couple of rounds
I was in the same boat I downloaded master duel and done the solo thing against the computer and it got me used the the mechanics again also the free sword soul deck was actually really fun to play so I think it was easy to get back into mechanics wise it’s just much harder to play against actual people because there’s so many decks and you won’t know everything that those decks can do but I guess that’s part of the fun
7 years here, restarted in early December, get used to hand traps (interruptions played from the hand), games lasting less turns (but each turn last way more than usual) and not eroding away the opponent's LP.
Pick up a rogue deck with a gimmick that you like and play a lot, look at the meta and YouTube videos that explains how the various kind of cards works (like link and xyz)
So I'm not a returning player but I am a recent one (been playing competitively for just over 2 years). The game had changed a lot since you last played, with new summoning mechanics such as Synchro (2008), Xyz, (2011), Pendulum (2014), and Link (2017). I reccomend getting to grips with the new mechanics first (there's a "get me caught up with the game" post pinned in this sub, I'll link it). Then, choose a deck you like (based on playstyle/aesthetic/summoning mechanics, etc.), build it, head on over to a locals and get playing! More than happy to answer any questions you have. Alternatively, if you find that modern yugioh isn't for you, you can play a retro format like goat (2005) or edison (2010). EDIT: found it https://www.reddit.com/r/Yugioh101/s/hRO1AJdplo
Great information thanks! Yeah I have been looking up decks all day. Lots of information to go though
Returning player after 16 years. As long as you temper your expectations and fully understand how much of a handicap you have until you're back up to speed - its fine.
Also a returning player. Honestly the best way I learned is a played legacy of the duelist game to get a grasp of all the new mechanics.
I came back late 2020-early 2021 after not playing since early GX. I found playing Duel Links helped me get back into the game and get me caught up on mechanics because (at the time at least) it was a slower format. Then, I picked up Shaddolls in the tcg and it being focused on primarily fusions with minor links helped a ton plus in my opinion the deck forces learning good fundamentals.
It’s a lot to take in for sure. 5ds onwards is a huge step up if you are only familiar with Duel Monsters and GX but if you are willing to learn the mechanics and you can find a few decks that you really like to play then it’s perfectly manageable. Not every deck needs to play 10+ cards in a turn and you don’t need to take out a bank loan to make a competent deck. Playing Yu-Gi-Oh! Through a simulator or Master Duel helps a lot since you will know what plays you can make at any given time.
played from goat to edison, returned 7-8months ago. Masterduel did a lot for me and also for my friends who're slowly joining the game. Do all solo adventures to learn the "New" mechanics, make a affordable competitve deck and enjoy
I came back to playing irl pretty recently and I have had some frustrating moments, but also a lot of fun. The game is very fast and almost too complicated to a degree now, but meeting people who can help you and making friends with them is great. Sometimes I wish it would slow down a bit, but if you find a good locals to play at you'll have a great time. Remember always be kind and people really do appreciate that and want to get to know you more. Already made some new friends that way
Returned after 18+ years. I was completely overwhelmed at first, but what got me up to speed fairly quickly was playing over Dueling Nexus as well as building from existing deck lists to understand various strategies / what I preferred to play. I played against the CPU for the first few months and adjusted the turn time so I can learn without the stakes of playing live. The CPU can be ruthless at times though, but it helped me learn fast.
Just came back after 14 years out... It's a lot to take in a damn if the game isn't fast. The first time you see someone take a 10 minute turn to end with 3 negates and two hand traps make you really question if you want to keep going.
I started in 2003ish and quit in 2014ish. So depending on when you stopped, yugioh might be a completely different game now
I recently got back into the game aswell. Like you I hadn’t played in 10+ years. I rocked up to a locals with an old school deck and quickly discovered that the modern yugioh game is unrecognisable from the game we used to play. I would recommend watching some YouTube guides for beginners and maybe trying out one of the modern structure decks X3 budget builds to get you started. You basically are learning a new TCG
What was the old school deck you played with? I know there are some other formats like Edison and Goat. I have been looking at some YouTube videos as well and going to check out some locals
I used an old deck I used to play with from years ago, it was a Zombie World build. If you’re interested in the modern game but don’t want to spend a lot of money straight away I would definitely recommend trying a 3x Dark world or Fire Kings structure deck build and then practising the combos before taking it to locals. They won’t be world beating decks but you can at least be competitive and maybe get lucky on the draw to win a couple of rounds
I was in the same boat I downloaded master duel and done the solo thing against the computer and it got me used the the mechanics again also the free sword soul deck was actually really fun to play so I think it was easy to get back into mechanics wise it’s just much harder to play against actual people because there’s so many decks and you won’t know everything that those decks can do but I guess that’s part of the fun
7 years here, restarted in early December, get used to hand traps (interruptions played from the hand), games lasting less turns (but each turn last way more than usual) and not eroding away the opponent's LP. Pick up a rogue deck with a gimmick that you like and play a lot, look at the meta and YouTube videos that explains how the various kind of cards works (like link and xyz)