No Link or Pendulum Monsters
All other card categories are available. GENESYS uses the original field layout, without Extra Monster Zones or Pendulum Zones.
Format guide
Yu-Gi-Oh! GENESYS Format Rules
GENESYS is an official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG format that replaces the standard Forbidden & Limited List with a point-based deck building system. Learn the legal card pool, 100-point cap, deck construction rules, and how to check a deck before an event.
The four official GENESYS rules
These are the core rules published by KONAMI. Individual event details can change the point cap, so confirm the organizer's cap before finalizing your list.
No standard ban list
The standard Forbidden & Limited List does not apply. The normal limit of three copies of any card still applies across your deck.
Point-based deck building
Selected cards have a point value, while most legal cards cost zero. Every copy contributes its listed value to the combined deck total.
One cap across all three decks
Points in the Main, Extra, and Side Deck count together. The standard cap is 100, but an event may announce a different cap or a zero-point cap.
How GENESYS points work
- 1. Check each card. Find every pointed card on the current official list.
- 2. Count every copy. Two copies of a 10-point card contribute 20 points.
- 3. Include every zone. Add pointed cards from the Main, Extra, and Side Deck.
- 4. Stay under the event cap. A standard event allows a combined total of up to 100 points.
Point values can change. Our current card data uses the official list effective 2026-10-05.
GENESYS deck construction
- Main Deck
- 40–60 cards
- Extra Deck
- 0–15 cards; no Link or Pendulum Monsters
- Side Deck
- 0–15 cards; pointed cards count toward the cap
- Copy limit
- Maximum three copies of a card across the relevant deck zones
GENESYS vs. Advanced Format
The main difference is how powerful cards are controlled: Advanced Format restricts individual cards, while GENESYS gives selected cards a deck building cost.
| Rule | GENESYS | Advanced Format |
|---|---|---|
| Card restrictions | Point list and event cap | Forbidden & Limited List |
| Link Monsters | Not allowed | Allowed unless restricted |
| Pendulum Monsters | Not allowed | Allowed unless restricted |
| Default build limit | 100 total points | No point cap |
Yu-Gi-Oh! GENESYS Format FAQ
Quick answers to the rules players check most often.
What is the Yu-Gi-Oh! GENESYS format?
GENESYS is an official point-based Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG format. Instead of using the standard Forbidden & Limited List, selected cards have point costs and each event sets a total point cap for the Main, Extra, and Side Deck combined.
What is the standard GENESYS point cap?
The standard point cap is 100 points. Tournament organizers may use a different cap, including a zero-point event, so always confirm the event details before submitting a deck.
Are Link and Pendulum Monsters legal in GENESYS?
No. Link Monsters and Pendulum Monsters are not allowed. GENESYS uses the original field layout without Extra Monster Zones or Pendulum Zones.
Does the normal Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden & Limited List apply?
No. The standard Forbidden & Limited List is not used in GENESYS. Cards from that list can be played if they otherwise meet GENESYS rules, and the usual maximum of three copies of a card still applies.
Do Side Deck cards count toward the GENESYS point cap?
Yes. Pointed cards in the Main Deck, Extra Deck, and Side Deck all count toward the event point cap, including every copy of each card.