Modern Worlds on YGOWB
Modern rules: Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum and Link in your own World
Every World on YGOWB picks its rules when it is created. Classic 2005 plays the game as it was before Synchro Monsters. Modern plays today's official rules, with all four newer Summons, and the engine enforces every one of them for you, custom cards included.
What changes from Classic 2005
| Classic 2005 | Modern | |
|---|---|---|
| First turn | The first player draws | The first player does not draw |
| Field Spells | One for the whole field; a new one destroys the old one | One for each player; a new one replaces only your own |
| Extra Deck | Fusion Deck, Fusion Monsters only, no size limit | Extra Deck of up to 15: Fusion, Synchro, Xyz and Link Monsters |
| Monster Zones | Five | Five Main Monster Zones plus two shared Extra Monster Zones |
| Special Summon zone | The first open zone | You choose the zone |
| Trap Monsters | Also hold their Spell & Trap Zone | Hold only their Monster Zone |
| Terms | Removed from Play, Fusion Deck | Banished, Extra Deck |
The rest is the same in both: 8000 Life Points, a 40 to 60 card Deck, Chains and Spell Speeds, the Damage Step, best of three matches with a match clock, and a Forbidden and Limited list for each World.
The four Summons
Synchro
Send 1 face-up Tuner and any number of face-up non-Tuners from your field to the GY, with Levels that add up to the Synchro Monster's Level. The monster comes from your Extra Deck.
Xyz
Stack two or more face-up monsters of the same Level. They become Xyz Materials under the Xyz Monster, which has a Rank instead of a Level. Its effects usually cost detaching a material.
Link
Send face-up monsters to the GY whose count matches the Link Rating, where a Link Monster may count as its rating. It lands in an Extra Monster Zone or in a zone another Link Monster points to, and always stays in Attack Position.
Pendulum
Activate a Pendulum Monster from your hand into your leftmost or rightmost Spell & Trap Zone as a Scale. With a Scale on each side, once per turn Summon any number of monsters whose Levels sit between the two.
The Extra Monster Zones
Two zones in the middle of the field, shared by both players, and each player can use one. Monsters from the Extra Deck can go there, and Link and face-up Pendulum Monsters from the Extra Deck must go there or to a linked zone.
Pendulum in the Extra Deck
A Pendulum Monster that would go from the field to the GY goes face-up to your Extra Deck instead. Both players can see it there, and you can Pendulum Summon it back.
Making Modern cards
In a Modern World the Card Studio adds Synchro, Xyz and Link to the card types, a Tuner checkbox, a Pendulum checkbox with its Scale, a Rank for Xyz Monsters and a Link Arrow picker for Link Monsters. Card faces use the matching frames: white for Synchro, black for Xyz, blue for Link, and the split Pendulum layout.
The Summon itself is built in, so you never write it as an effect. You only describe what the card asks for, such as "1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner Dragon monsters" or "2 Level 4 monsters". Try Card sets up a duel with the right materials so you can Summon your new monster at once.
Moving a World to Modern
The owner of a Classic 2005 World can move it to Modern from the World settings. Before you confirm, a report shows how many Decks have more than 15 Extra Deck cards, how many matches are still running, and what gets cancelled. The move is permanent, so you confirm by typing the World's name.
Cards are not changed, Decks are checked again under Modern rules, open matchmaking tickets and duel invitations are cancelled, and matches already in progress finish under Classic 2005 rules.
Questions
Which rules does a Modern World follow?
Konami's official rules as of the April 2020 revision of the Master Rule, the one that brought Fusion, Synchro and Xyz Monsters back to the Main Monster Zones. There is no Side Deck, and matches are best of three like in Classic 2005 Worlds.
Can I move my World from Classic 2005 to Modern?
Yes, if you own it. The World settings show a report first, and you confirm by typing the World's name. The move is permanent: there is no way back to Classic 2005. Cards stay exactly as they are, and matches already in progress finish under Classic 2005 rules.
Do my Classic 2005 cards still work in a Modern World?
Yes. Every Classic 2005 card is valid in a Modern World and plays under Modern rules. A card that says Special Summon covers Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum and Link Summons too, because they are all Special Summons.
Can I import cards between Classic 2005 and Modern Worlds?
Cards from a Classic 2005 World can be imported into a Modern World. Cards from a Modern World cannot go into a Classic 2005 World, because that World has no Extra Monster Zones or new Summons to play them with.
Does the AI opponent play Modern?
Yes. The practice AI makes Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum and Link Summons with any deck from your World, custom cards included, and the card studio's AI assistant writes Modern card text in today's wording.
Pick your era
Classic 2005 or Modern, every World chooses. Make the cards, build the decks and let the engine run the duel.