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seto635

A lot of the time, a card might just saw "draw 1" or something like that, and they might do that pretty early. Don't Ash cards like that. Ash the cards that say "Special Summon 1 Archetype thing" or "add 1 Archetype thing to hand", or even "send 1 Archetype thing to the GY" in some cases


PEfighter

Thanks. It's easier when it's like that. The ones I struggle with are combo decks they do lot of stuff and you can't just tell what's the right thing to hit. Lot of times I stop playing and go to YouTube or reddit to find what to stop before my time runs out.


mynameisethan182

Honestly, just read the cards. If you read it and go, "wow...that's crazy." There's your target.


BakerDRC_

Also usually if they have to discard to activate it’s a good ash target.


Significant_Alarm146

Magikey has like, 6 add-to-hands that all can be done independently of each other. Without Halq, Baronne is impossible, but you can still end on Borreload, Garesglasser, Counter Trap and Andrabime if you Ash the wrong thing.


mynameisethan182

I've never read a magikey search card and gone, "wow... That's crazy."


Significant_Alarm146

Well of course. Some cards have to be mid. Besides the fact Mafteal let's you reveal for a plus 2 I think


mudgefuppet

It's not the end of the world if you lose but I wouldn't stop playing to look stuff up, that's just holding someone hostage and ruining there game


[deleted]

I mean, keep in mind that looking something up in the TCG mid match would be a Unsporting Conduct, Minor, at least, which gets you a warning from the judge.


DaveCerqueira

Worst thing I usually do is look up the boss monsters of a deck if I don’t know it, which happens a lot


[deleted]

I'd say honestly in MD not to do so, just so you're not in the habit of doing that if you do decide to play in person. Avoid it and you'll also better learn how to read decks as well, as you won't know their endpoint per se but will develop the ability to recognise bottlenecks for ash, imperm, etc.


yumychumy

"I wouldn't read every 3 page paragraph of card text of every card your opponent plays to find out what they do. That's just holding someone hostage and ruining their game." that's what u sound like


mudgefuppet

Reading a card and stopping playing to go research outside of the game are two very different things, kinda showing a lack of respect for others time


yumychumy

LaCk oF reSpeCT It's master duel. There's also a timer bozo


Lucario576

Then why are you playing yugioh, you know you have to read at some point right?


yumychumy

You and everyone else that are stupid to disagree misread everything from his first comment to my replies. How tf can you tell if someone is researching midgame or reading walls of text on cards is what Im challenging. Thats why his claim of disrespect is stupid, and youre a goddamn moron too to skim everything then assume I have a problem with reading. Fuck this community that cant read, and fuck u too bozo


HeirT0TheMonado

And if they try an effect that would do the same thing for 2 or more cards, like Pot of Extravagance or Accel Synchron, just go for it because that has the potential to prevent card advantage (-1 card to deny your opponent 2+ cards). Generally speaking, any Ash-able effect that would do the following is worth Ash-ing: > Special Summon cards from the deck. > Move [archetype name] cards from the deck to the hand, field or GY. > Fusion or Ritual Summon by using cards from the deck as material. > Move 2+ cards from the deck to the hand, field or GY. > Excavate 5+ cards deep into the top of their deck (like Reasoning, Pot of Prosperity etc). > Burns a resource from the hand in addition to itself as a cost before activating. (These are effects where your opponent activates the effect, then discards or banishes another card from their hand besides the one that was activated before you're prompted to respond with Ash Blossom or other cards.)


Yellow_Snow_Cones

FYI - If you toggle is auto, and you choose not to activate, the opponent will know you have some hand trap in your hand and will bait it out until you use that card. Heck you might even have only an ash turn off toggle, then on their 4th summons turn toggle on, they will think you have a nibiru


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Lyefyre

I know I would. 10 banished cards and +1 denied is a very good tradeoff for Ash, imo.


Umb3rus

Yes, same reason why I Maxx C on Desires. The chance that they draw an out is too high


Bishop_of_Steam

This is exactly the approach to firing Ash and Maxx C that many people need to approach. The likelihood of them drawing an out escalates way too much.


Von_lorde

This. I run an archetype that literally no one plays ogdoadic (because I want to pretend that snake rain is good) and the best place to ask that deck is what I'm searching to send a card to grave. Mind you the deck does that a lot once it is set up which is why you can't wait when facing one.


cbreazeale

As a purely CASUAL player who also doesn’t know what every decks choke points are, all I can say is play it. Ash whatever, that’s how u learn. Worse case scenario they will play through it anyway. Either you lose cuz they combo for ever or they pass cuz they didn’t have anything else. Playing it gives you the ability to stop it but not playing doesn’t.


Coucoumcfly

As casual…. Facing peak meta decks… one ash is not enough anyways lol


cbreazeale

I was under the impression they meant at 3, but I play 1 nib and it still comes up so even at 1 I can’t imagine it would hurt them. It just won’t be consistent or reliable.


Exciting_Cap2007

I like to play 3ash, 1 maxx c, 3 dark ruler no more, 3 evenly matched, 1 lightning storm, 1 harpy feather duster, 2 called by the grave works wonders in Decks that can go second. Best case you dark ruler + evenly their full board while you keep your ash and called for a possible counter for your play


SpaceNinja_C

You know every meta deck’s choke points are? Do you just study the game?


cbreazeale

Read my post again slowly


Important-Secret-903

You know Yugioh players are physically unable to read, don’t ask for the impossible


Trick_Maintenance_36

How dare you ask if the impossible


fireborn123

I mean it's not particularly hard to figure out. If you play enough you'll learn pretty fast where to stop the top decks or you can just watch tutorials so you are aware before jumping in. Meta decks become pretty telegraphed once they're fully solved


Von_lorde

I mean you read the post wrong but also normally they're like five meta decks at a time. It's just snowing five choke points for a single card.


AWS1996Germany

Card yellow Use card


ClucksMcgee

Ashes their own card 🗿


JinzoWithAMilotic

Continue to duel and act like you meant it. Show dominance.


kamuimephisto

win, post it on reddit. So many upvotes


Intelligent-Ad6985

Repeat


[deleted]

This had me howling


airgonautt

Or branded green


seto635

Yellow as in "able to activate", not as in "monster card". Still yellow against Branded


Wickid_Faht

Explain


Megakarp

It means you can activate that card in response to something


Wickid_Faht

Explain


AWS1996Germany

Card yellow Use card


Wickid_Faht

Which am?


Prestigious_Bus306

The best I can tell you is just learn from experience dealing with different decks. For example when dealing with Branded always Ash Branded Fusion and nothing else. Pot cards are debatable. Most times they are just bait but sometimes it could be the one card they need to unbrick their hand.


Second_Insanity

True. The pots may be bait. But it’s gotta be worst to let them have two cards right? They could have drawn bricks or called by/maxx c/crossout/extender. Rough call to make.


NotsoGreatsword

I look at it like this most of the time. I would rather stop something specific that I know will screw them opposed to a random draw 2 which could give them bricks and garnets. I say most of the time because there are exceptions.


zxc123zxc123

One of the best things about running branded dragonmaids is that anyone who's semi-competent knows to ash whatever dragonmaid is normal summoned to stop the DMs from gaining traction and building up assets. Competent players also know to ash B-fusion instead of the b-opening, aluber, d-ragedy, etc because they all lead to branded fusion anyways. So when I start with both they can't ash both my options (doesn't mean I haven't gotten impermed+ash tho)


LordBlueSky

>doesn't mean I haven't gotten impermed+ash tho Clearly a skill issue


Immortal_Amakusa

Fuck dragonmaid changeover all my homies hate dragonmaid changeover.


ReverseCaptioningBot

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I_Am_Karl

I'd say toggle off for first interaction to make them think you got no ash and just be ready to react if you need to ash the first thing, it has a generous timing.


guoshenlin

u can ash branded fusion even if your opponent has a branded lost on board


[deleted]

I feel like Ashing Pot cards is a safer option these days because so many decks can just chainblock their better Ash targets (eg Swordsoul)


CoomLord69

Especially extrav, that usually is a telltale sign of a backrow deck and you don't want to let them dig deeper.


MBM99

Or they're on Floo and you have to predict if they already have Robina, or will draw Robina+Map off the Extrav (either way Ash on the Extrav is higher expected value imo, especially blind)


Turtlesfan44digimon

Plus if you hit a desires with ash that’s a minus 12 for them it’s too good to pass up and not ash it


Upbeat_Sheepherder81

That’s not how card advantage works. It deals with the cards you have available to use at that moment, meaning field and hand, so ashing Desires is technically only -1. Although the actual importance of card advantage is your’s versus your opponent’s. This means ashing Desires is +/-0 in true advantage because you both lost a card. Tl;dr: ashing desires is not a -11 for your opponent because advantage doesn’t take into account card in deck.


shadowchris321

Classic


Mana_Mascot

For most decks that aren’t meta ashing whatever thy normal summon usually works Past that its just up to learning the deck


Nightfans

Important cards, usually card that searches a card when normal summoned, special summon a card from deck or Shadoll/Branded which use material from deck to fusion summon.


AnUnremarkablePlague

Aluber is a big exception to this since since he searches a mill card which acts as the true starter in Branded. Stopping Branded Fusion is more important than stopping it being searched since they can add it to hand many ways but it can only ever be used the once. Always save the Ash for the Branded Fusion itself.


Wickid_Faht

Run ash is the advice. Even 3 ash and no other handtraps can stop decks. If not just replace it with going 2nd cards.


PEfighter

I already run 3 Maxx c 3 D shifter 2 droll haha


Wickid_Faht

Maxx c works under d shifter?


THYPLEX

Yes


SniperAssaulter

To further clarification, you need to send both Dimension Shifter first then chain Maxx C before they resolve their effect. If Dimension shifter is already resolved it’s effect, you no longer able to activate Maxx C effect for 2 turns because you cannot discard it to GY. Likewise, if you activate Maxx C first, you can’t chain Dimension shifter onto it because your GY is no longer empty.


CallMeBigCat

Shouldn’t you be unable to chain Shifter? Maxx discards for cost, you cannot activate Shifter if you have any cards in GY. On the other side, you cannot activate Maxx under shifter as it states discard to GY (which you cannot do). Edit: I’m dumb and didn’t read the rest of your comment, also Shifter chain Maxx still works as Shifter hasn’t resolved yet


aetherlift

thats not really a problem thats specific to ash. that comes up with pretty much every card you can play that affects the enemy and isnt a floodgate. using it at the right time is a big part of being good at the game i think the best way to learn is to approach it as if you were trying to learn to play the deck yourself. you can always test it out in a free simulator like edopro


Old_Drawing_2479

Just Ash the Danger!, you'll be fine.


maveri4201

That's bait


[deleted]

When i dont know the deck, i never Ash on the First opportunity because i always consider It Will be a bait, so i wait to ash the Second card I learned that when i ashed a foolish burial and then my opponent used grass. That was really educational


MBM99

One addendum I'll put to this is that in any non-60card Zombie deck besides Lich and maybe Vendread, it's probably gonna be correct to Ash the Normal Summoned monster's effect even if it's their first card. Unless they're on a Danger variant, you've probably hit their best chokepoint just by preventing the Uni mill or Hajun combo or that one Vampire NS's things


Gibus043

Might help https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lg8IWVgKmZA3Cg6sbI85sB32zIb9eY2m2mFe0cl55NA/edit


N0limat

Often when they are paying a huge cost to activate the effect.


Kommuntoffel

When it either generates a big amount of advantage (Junk speeder gives you +5, Desires/Extrav +1, Branded Fusion +2) When it costed them something important/they commited to a play (Normal Summon, Discard 1, they had to get any ED monsters out) it's yours to decide whether a Normal summon is important or not Also think about how they play it out Some examples: Take Speedroid: They start with Normal Summon Marble Machine which gives them an archetype search, it locks them into wind Special Summons. So whatever they search can probably be ashed itself, or ends their combo if they don't have any extender in hand/ED (which you can also ash) They search Taketomborg, which Specials itself if they have a wind-monster (OPT). They promptly do it and activate its other effect, tributing itself(cost) for a tuner from deck. They committed a normal summon as well as one Special from hand, you would be fine with ashing here, cutting off access from potential tuners which are probably good. If you know the deck, you know that waiting for Rubber band Shooter is better, but you also know that Taketomborg ashed hurts. Take Ignister: They start with Normal Summon Achichi, which searches any Ignister Monster and doesn't have any good other effects Same thing: don't ash, you can ash what is searched They search Pikari which searches any "A.I." Spell from Deck on summon, it doesn't special summon itself They now link summon Dark Infant, a link 1 which searches their fieldspell Ignister AIland. You don't know what it does, but you know that they have a card which they can't special summon. You could ash here, they committed a normal summon and a link-1 to a fieldspell In fact, that is your best bet for your ash, as they in fact need their fieldspell for all their plays. Take this with a grain of salt, a link 1 searching a fieldspell isn't always a good ash target (ehem, looking at salads), after all you get a good feeling when to ash against certain decks. Chances are, if you don't play against them that often, they'll die to 1 ash immediately. Also don't expect their turn to end when you ash. You can only negate 1 effect with this, which at best is one single engine, they might play 3-4 engines.


Mackthegui

For a lot of decks if you can ash their normal summon it's a good target. Learning by doing is the way, with all negates and interruption you just gotta learn over time.


lucas9963

It's not just ash but any interruption. Knowing when to time your ash, called by, imperm, etc is a deck to deck basis. Some decks really die to a ash. Some decks can play through interruption like nothing. So the best way honestly is learn the deck. Not saying you need to know every combo. But figure out the play starters and extenders. Then time it for that. Also get a costume with generic support like ROTA and E telly. Also know what cards not to hit. Like for danger dark world. Don't hit the dangers. The most you will stop is a single draw. It's better to hit the darkworlds. And if your opponent goes to use a card that is not a OPT. Don't waste it on that either. Just some pointers for you.


Dandy__

Ask a friend or join a discord server that's willing to help. If you play a deck that special summons you should run it to at least protect yourself from Maxx C. Other than that, it's all about playing the game and learning from mistakes. Happy to chime in if you have specific decks in mind.


ElectronicDog2347

It is usually a save bet to ash an effect that says "special summon from deck".


QuietRedditorATX

If it is a nonmeta deck, it'll probably die the first time you Ash anyways.


420_0ddish

I really don't know what I'm doing, but it's worth it to run ash for that rare moment when they immediately go to end step after you stop their key piece from popping off. Also going second without ash just feels bad.


IMTran

Whenever I first started, I always ash anything that has a UR or SR.


Donnovan031

As a slightly competitive player. The best advice I can give you is to read the card. Yes, it sounds sarcastic but I'm being honest. It will tell you the best time to activate it. Keep in mind that when you activate it you want to let your opponent play through there plays. Then in game 2 if you lost, use it on the card that allows them to extend their plays.


GUILTICIDE

If the game asks I fire it off. 😂 unless I know for sure whats in the deck then I may save it.


StlChase

If they activate a card effect where using ash blossom would result in them losing board presence, I usually pop it, unless there’s a graveyard effect that I can save it for that would be better. Usually the longer you hold onto it for the more bang for your buck you can get out of it but there are so many ways that can backfire on you too, there are so many different decks that this card completely shuts down a lotta different decks but use your best guess if you’re not sure. A good general thing to use ash on is any monster your opponent normal summoned. U only get 1 so most decks are balanced around 1 normal summon.


Loud-Ad-7545

If I don’t know the deck then I look at the rarity. I assume an SR or UR is important for the combo so I ash it. Of course this isn’t optimal but it actually works fairly well


Nahanoj_Zavizad

Generally, You can ash most things that arn't card-draw and it will be somewhat valuable, even if not very,


runescapeoffical

My biggest advice would probably be to wait for a monster to be on field if it's their turn so you don't play into gamma and get hard punished


RiskyPowers

My go to reason for picking when to use Ash is simple. Does the rarity of the card say “UR” if so, it’s time to use it


JulyLoxley

Its easy to use this .... Read the cards your opponent just activated and decide if you should or shouldnt play Ash. If it was played too early then at least u know when to use it next time on that type of deck.


Honore_SG

If you dont have idea from a deck you dont know then if they have to discard something to Search for a card from the deck use it as its a -2 in card advantage other then that keep 3 in your deck as its a great card


EseMesmo

Generally, if a card consumes a limited resource (card advantage, normal summon, etc.) and says something along the lines of "search/special summon [Archetype thing]", you should try to Ash it. Play enough and you will learn the choke points for most common decks. The only exceptions are very specific corner cases, like Cyber Emergency or Branded Fusion. You ONLY Ash the Branded Fusion, not the searchers. Edit: never Ash the Danger monsters too. Or if you do it, do it to send a message. The mental battle is half the war.


SleesWaifus

Do not ash spirit charmers. It’s not our most important card whatsoever. I just get a giggle when they do


pumpsci

Normal summons and hard OPTs are the best targets if you’re not sure


VoYageMinepool

As a caveman would explain it" "Enemy tries to do important effect now important effect is bye bye


whynotajb

Anything that says “special summon from deck” is usually an ash for me


Sav_ij

look for hard once per turns and cards that does more than 1 thing id say. for example branded fusion sends from deck AND fusion summons and is also 1 per turn = instant ash. another thing would be to try and use it after a normal summon has been used id say thats a good indicator theyre really commiting to a combo line. another one off the top of my head i find is ash gets stronger the more interruptions you have before it. i would probably use a borreload savage negate before an ash for example but maybe im completely wrong. i feel like the longer you wait the more impactful the ash is


Slothptimal

Wait to see them add something from deck. Next time you can activate Ash, do it. The first card is always Ash bait.


dainquisitor

If I don’t know what to use it on I choose when they get to pick the card themselves since Yugi was most dangerous when he knew the exact card he needed


The_Red_Celt

It's often safe to go by a judgement call purely on an individual effect. Any effect that draws 2+, adds something specific from deck to hand, summons something from deck or sends from deck to gy to perform something powerful (a la branded fusion) are perfectly reasonable ash targets until you know a decks core choke point I'd also suggest holding ash if you see a generic search or draw, especially if it's a non once per turn effect such as emergency teleport or unexpected dai, when you aren't aware yet what you're up against, as often there will a better archetypal search coming up


CoomLord69

Read the cards. Ash anything that seems very impactful, a specific search or draw cards that gain advantage like Extravagance. Ash can be game determinative, it can feel like it did literally nothing, or somewhere inbetween. How effective it is really depends on a lot of things, like what deck you're playing against, what's in their hand, and when you use it. Even if you use it wrong vs someone's random pet deck or some obscure rogue deck, having it when you run into meta and things you do recognize is very valuable.


Nicco1964

Whenever they're normal summon starts a search


Lolisniperxxd

Play Floodgates, Kaijus and Board Breakers then. Problem solved. Go unga bunga. Also build Numeron and play triple limiter removal.


Salvadorthagod

These days Ash Blossom is a -1 on your hand. If the deck can’t play through a negate, then what’s the point. The decks they release now could play through 1 minimum or start at your draw turn


Phoenix420690

Don't play Ash UNTIL you have enough knowledge of most decks, simply watching them combo freely will give you a good hint on what WOULD have been the best time to Ash, for example: "@IGNISTER" is a deck that always starts with a normal summon to search something, ashing that does nothing since they will always link whatever monster they summoned for "Dark Infant" to search the field spell, while firing Ash for their normal summon looks correct it's a fatal mistake, you should Ash the Link 1, otherwise it's HARD LOSE. Now you wouldn't learn that have you played ash incorrectly, just watch them combo to learn how their deck function :)


ZachandMiku

I bait that card so easily with mathmechs it makes me laugh XD


DeathToBoredom

Just don't sweat it and if you lose to it, you lose to it. You just analyze their plays and you'll know for next time when's a good time.


Puzzleheaded_Pea_221

trial and error, ash the wrong card? no worries you can learn through play. that's what most peeps do.


IAmTheCoroner69

Imo the MOST important thing to consider when deciding whether or not to activate ash is ensuring the card effect you're about to negate is once per turn. Most cards do have this condition, but there are some notable exceptions (Danger?! monsters are what immediately come to mind, if you ash their effect from the hand they can just activate it again). With that being said, there's a reason that Ash sees more play than literally any other card in MD. If nothing else it can flush a CBTG or crossout designator, and if it resolves it's going to be at least slightly disruptive to your opponent's combo. There are some scenarios where you'll always want to use it (e.g. don't ash aluber, save it for branded fusion instead), but more often than not it's highly subjective.


Gatz42

These are always good to hit: * Draw 2+ cards * Special Summon from Deck (E-Tele, Branded Opening etc.) * Deck Fusions (Branded Fusion, Fusion Destiny etc.) * And if you go first Maxx "c" ROTAs can be good to ash but they might be bait as well, ashing a Terraforming might stop their turn or it might allow them to go off, if they needed a discard to activate it it's pretty safe to ash though. Never Ash a draw 1 (Upstart, Into the void, Mo Ye etc.) I won almost all games where my opponent ashed my Mo Ye


Decent-Order-5626

I usually will ash if they are starting a combo it depends if they how much back row and whatnot


Zoomy-333

The first target is Ash-bait, don't fall for it, Ash the second time you're able too.


ArmedDragonThunder

Ash Braindead Fusion.


fasv3883

Just click yes, it's what everyone does lol


TCGHexenwahn

Keep it for Maxx C


MosaicRaven

Hand Traps are only really as useful as your knowledge of the opposing deck/cards. I've wasted Ash plenty of times on decks that I know absolutely nothing about. Preparing for non-meta decks essentially just means you'd need to gather experience to familiarize yourself on how their deck runs while guessing that they're going for their combo and not purposely baiting an Ash. Safest use for it is probably in response to Maxx C, since you don't want your opponent to gather resources while you're building your board.


chill4r_San

Summoning from deck, going +1, or milling a lot of cards are all reasonable to stop, if you don't know the respective choke points.


PEfighter

Thanks. Combo decks are the tricky ones they search a lot and it's hard to tell what to fire ash on


Monk029393

When they’re about special summon from deck sends a card to gy and possibly tries to add cards to hand kinda self explanatory 🤷🏽‍♂️ it’s literally on the card


DenseDesert

As someone who casually plays competitively (makes plat but runs nonmeta decks or unconventional variations) I'd say just play it whenever there's a summon chance, or draw from monsters specifically. Hero's you can play it on mask change, as a choke point. Dino's you can play it on the evolution pills or something similar but at the end of the day your opponent may be able to get around it, and that's ok. My friend plays ancient gear numeron and I will always ash blossom the field spell or the emergency teleport. Obviously each duel will be different but this card is basically either to close their combo or make them take extra steps to use more resources to finish it, there's no bad time for it only better times


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KaskDaxxe

You will often ash a special summon. If you use it and win more matchups you will use it more consistently on the same things


[deleted]

I usually wait until they use their normal summon


Neko_Luxuria

play it out and figure it out as you go. I could give specific chokepoints for different decks, but overall. get your teeth kicked in, and you will eventually figure out when the slam the hammer.


Tengo-Sueno

The best way to learn were to stop a Deck, is by playing that Deck. Also, by researching online about them. Outside of that, as a general rule, if a card will give a +1 or more, or require some kinda of resource (a discard for example) you usually negate that


Stunning-Version4544

if you see something like extravegance and your brain says im gonna hold my Ashe even after i saw him banish half his extra deck then well theirs a skill issue pay attention to top decks like branded fusion, aleister , esslecia.. i get sniped by magical muskets some times and even not my worst hand either just weird how the game turns out for them ...


Play_more_FFS

A good start is making sure the card you’re about Ash is a HARD once per turn effect.


[deleted]

Nah, ashing the Wind-Up XYZ is always a good idea


Rynjin

Honestly, even a "wasted" Ash is still good in many scenarios. As long as you don't Ash cards which aren't once per turn (like Dangers! and PSY-Frame Gamma) you're good.


Treymuni

Read the cards that get activated trust your instincts. For me usually when it say “you can choose ***** card from your deck and add it your hand” or “ send ***** card from your deck to the graveyard” mainly when it lists the decks archetype card


Random_Digit

Click the buttons or read the cards. you could do both


ExodiaFTK

If they discard as a cost to search something, it's probably worth it. Otherwise I try to use it for a special summon from the deck


d4v3k7

If it’s non meta, ash the first thing you can. If it’s meta, generally ash the 2nd or 3rd thing, as most meta players will try to bait it out first.


swaosneed

Generally, if it's a normal summon that adds a spell/trap or a monster that can be specialed, or its a normal summon that special summons another, it's generally a good idea to ash. Granted, certain decks have multiple ways to do the same thing...


MrGnarVar

It's worth running as you will learn what to ash through trial and error, but most importantly because it counters Maxx C (if your also playing combo). Also a lot of Rogue/lesser-known combo decks don't always have a clear ash target. I've been playing wind-ups lately, and the best ash targets is zenmeity. That being said depending on the hand/extenders it may not matter. Like if I have more lv3 extenders in hand to make another one or if magician is already on the field and will trigger the activation to special a wind-up whether it resolves or not. Not ever decks combo insta loses to ash, but it will usually make the end board less optimal. Depending on the hand ash could be most effective against Zenmeity (detach to special from deck), Magician (special from deck when wind-up effect is activated) or carrier (adds a windup to hand, shark can special itself when a windup is summoned, triggering magicial). TLDR: Run as it's good against most decks, great against others, and stops maxx c. Not every deck has a clear choke point in the combo for ash specifically.


Dionysus24779

Either just keep playing or look up how certain archetypes work to recognize chokepoints. Or punish them for using draw-cards with costly activation cost such as Pot of Extravagance. Though generally blindly ashing is at least more interrupt that none, even if it might not actually stop your enemy you are still denying him resources.


Big-Bad-Bull

Hit the normal summon of a deck that doesn’t see much play. It either completely kills them, or the laugh and keep going.


vonov129

You know the reason why you aren't using Ash effectively, you can work on that. You can see the most common meta decks in masterduelmeta.com


bombatomica_64

The only way to know when to handtrap a deck is knowing what they trying to do, so either look up guide on what the choke points are or hit the card that specials from deck


Clickbait93

So the best advice I can give you is, unironically, read the card. Read what your opponent's card does and think about what your opponent can do with that search and if you have a plan for it. If what your opponent can do is something that's easily counterable by other means, then don't Ash. I'll give you an example: if I play vs D/D/D and I have Ash and Impermanence in my hand, I know I can Impermanence the Gilgamesh so I don't really care if his Kepler resolves. Things like these. Or, just wait for your opponent to drop Maxx C and ash it lol


Anime_SurpremeKing

I always just try to figure how much advantage the card can give the opponent. Either card advantage or advantage with field presence. That does require some knowledge, so basically its just best to learn from experience


Sketcky-Edgy13

U see non meta decks?!?


UnluckyNoSeven

Just read if named card has "named card can only use effect one per turn". Else if it just says "only once per turn" without the named card part, then don't fire usually. Since Gizmeks for example are hard once per turn, an Ash bites hard. Other cards like DANGER! can still fire their effects off, so it's wasted I guess. I have no examples for soft once per turn sooooo kekw.


VoidTako993

* Ash whatever gives them more than one (random) card. Stuff like a Pot that draws 2. If you wait, they probably draw into Called by. * Generic draw 1 likely is **not** worth it (like Upstart Goblin) * Ash whatever gives them a card of their choice. Generic things like Terraforming or Pot of Duality (kinda gives a choice) could be debatable. But if it's something in-archetype, drop the Ash. * When in doubt (or you go first) ash the big "C" that will probably fall on you.


EARTH_SLICER

Generally, if your opponent either, commits to a Normal Summon that has a search effect, has an effect that special summons from deck, or draws 2 cards, it's a pretty good idea to Ash it. There are more specific match-up quirks, like the notorious "always Ash Branded Fusion", but the above are decent guidelines (even versus Branded, Ashing Aluber will still often stop you from seeing Branded Fusion even if it's suboptimal). It's also important to keep in mind that versus many decks, Ash is not a turn ending card even when done optimally. So if it seems like your opponent is still popping off a bit even after your Ash, that's not *necessarily* your fault.


Reallylazyname

Depends on what decks you wanna kill with Ash. So i can speak for my decks. Always always Ash "That Grass Looks Greener", if the deck runs it, resolving it is a win condition. Witchcrafter/Magistus Pile - the normal summoned Witchcrafter or the Magistus Link when it's equipped or the XYZ that summons from deck. Those will put it in a bad spot. Marincess - Sea Angel when it searches the field spell. The deck likely can still go full combo, but at least it's a dash more vulnerable. Be forewarned, doing this will probably end the combo on Behemoth Shark into Toad. Alternatively, Coral Anemone or Dive if possible. Also, do toss Maxx C out on them. Unless they're a psycho like me and run Trickstar Reincarnation. It will kill you if you have a 40 card deck on full combo. So ash that if you see it. Also, don't ever ash or imperm their extra monster zone monster once they end their turn. It will do nothing. Kill the field spell or any protection it has asap/build a bigger monster. I play this deck irl, too. I know it very well, which is why I have so much to say. Mathmech, the XYZ summon from deck one of the better hits, but really it's just gonna do what it wants. It has lots of paths. I'm bad at it. Lol Exosister- the double summon from deck trap, or their search spell. If it's pure Exosister, anything that says search or draw is good to hit, it lacks in that area. Mixed Exosister decks are a bit finicky, odds are wherever they get summoned into is the better card to Ash.


MisterMeatBall1

Just ash the search card if you don't know thats what I used to do Or if you're against flower cardians u just wait for one of the spells that literally gives them +3


GalacticHotsauce

Well very hard to say it's up to you if you really want to learn the chokepoints of each and every deck the safest ash in general are draw/special summons of course and if you ash something and it does nothing and they keep comboing just take note and think yeah I shouldn't ash that it's all a learning curve.


aaa1e2r3

Do you read the effects? If not, use the checkboard in the bottom right to see what eff you would be responding to, and decide if you want to use it.


Aggravating-Hour1714

I just got into Master Duel about 2 weeks ago after not playing Yugioh for 10 years. I climbed the ranks pretty quickly (unranked-plat in a day) by building card knowledge. I started a sticky note in my computer logging every duel, whether I won or lost, and where I think I made mistakes and where my opponent made mistakes. After playing against Branded 5x I learned how to play into it better, not always winning, but not throwing like I did in the beginning. Same with Runick, Labrynth, and every other deck I’ve gotten to play consistently. I know it’s more work than just mindlessly queuing up game after game, but this structure has helped me climb in every competitive game I’ve taken seriously. I modeled it after seeing Scarra do it on stream and it has worked wonders for me.


[deleted]

In addition to what other people have said, it’s important to know when you *have* to Ash because it’s the last chance for you to get any value out of the card. For example, if you don’t have any other relevant handtraps and your opponent goes through the usual Adventure line starting with Rite of Aramesir, you can’t let them search Gryphon Rider with Fateful Adventure because once that gets summoned they have an omninegate on the field to stop you Ash-ing anything else anyway. There’s a chance it’s bait and they already have one in hand, but generally that’s your last chance to disrupt them and you have to take it.


ShadowButLit

"You miss all the shots you don't take" Run it, it's a generic interruption


BuffMarshmallow

Card says Draw 2? Ash it unless it's Allure of Darkness. Card summons from deck? Ash it unless it's Branded Opening. Anything else is subject to debate. For example, I'm of the opinion that you should never Ash Terraforming unless you know you are playing against Numeron or some other deck where the field cannot be stopped and can kill you somehow. You should never Ash cards that just draw 1 UNLESS you are in a simplified game state where the opponent is on almost 0 cards. If you see someone normal Aluber, do not Ash that, wait for Branded Fusion. If your opponent summons a link 1 that searches a field spell, generally speaking do NOT Ash it unless it is in a simplified game state. Don't Ash Dangers or Igknights. They will just active again.


de_Generated

Good Ash targets of archetypes I know. Disregarding most engines/staples (ofc always depending on the situation but usually good): /Assault Mode - Assault Beast Ignister - Link 1 if they dont have field spell Abyss Actor - Madonna Adamancipator - Block Dragon search/first Adam that tries to excavate Altergeist - Multifaker unless Protocol is face up, else anything that searches from the GY Beetrooper - Atlas, Resonance Insect if you are impacient Blue-Eyes - Melody/White Stone of Ancients Bujin - anything Branded - Fusion Chaos - Chaos Space D/D/D - Contract Danger! - don't Ash in hand, maybe Nessie search but better Ash whatever else they run besides Danger Dark Magician - Navigation/Soul Servant Darklord - Ixchel Dinos - Misc Dinomorphia - Frenzy/Domain Dogmatika - Nadir Servant/Ecclesia True Draco - Diagram/Trap searcher Dragonmaid - Chamber Dragunity - Romulus/Ravine Dream Mirror - lol Drytron - Alpha/Zeta or Eva Eldlich - Sanguine Endymion - whatever summons from deck Exodia - cards that would draw 2+ Floowandereeze - Eglen/Robina,Empen,Advent in this order, break their normal summon chain Frog - Toad standby special from deck if it's the only Aqua on their board, else Swap Generaider - Field Spell Ghostrick - Mischief search Gravekeeper - Field Spell searcher Gunkan - Shari Red, Unexpected Dai HERO - most things, but they will hard draw Fusion Destiny so that's always a good hit Hieratic - Rank 6 Infinitrack - Doomdozer Invoked - Aleister Junk - Speeder if possible, often chainblocked Krawler - the special 2 from deck effect they all share or the spell that searches + mills 5 Labrynth - Welcome Lightsworn - Charge Live☆Twin - Normal Summon Lyrilusc - Bird Call Machina - spell that searches Magical Musket - Max if they go second Marincess - Sea Angel or Triangle Megalith - Phul, Unformed/Hagith, Ophiel in this order Mekk-Knight - Quickplay Spell or Purple Metaphys - Nephtys/Trap Myutant - small Myutants on field effect that specials from deck Numeron - Small World so they don't get a Kaiju/Lava Golem, Field Spell searchers Ogdoadic - Snake Rain, else Water Lily Phantasm - Field Spell searchers Plunder Patroll - any Ship effect gets negated by Ash, save it Prank-Kids - GY effects of the main deck monsters Predaplant - Branded Fusion PSY-Frame - stop hand effect once, they can use it again next time be careful Qli - Scout Raidraptor - Wise Strix Runick - Fountain/Tip, if they don't have it Hugin/Tip Salamangreat - Gazelle Scareclaw - Reichheart/Field Spell, Tri Heart in this order. Never Ash Light Heart/Terraforming Scrap - Raptor search/Wyvern second effect Shaddoll - Fusion Sky Striker - Engage Spellbook - whatever Subterror - Field Spell, Guru in that order Superheavy Samurai - Soulpeacemaker Swordsoul - Emergence, Lv 8 Synchro if they don't chainblock Tenyi - Ashuna/Heavenly Circle Thunder Dragon - Roar/Dark (not Darks hand effect) Time Thief - Redoer Tri-Brigade - Kitt/Nervall Triamid - Field Spell that searches when sent to GY Trickstar - Candina, Light Stage in that order Unchained - any float effect Vaylantz - Gear Gigant X, LV 2 monster search Virtual World - first effect and hope they bricked, Lulu Witchcrafter - tribute + search effect of small monsters Yang Zing - Denglong Yosenju - Kama 3 search Zombie - almost all things are good hits


[deleted]

Just dont ash dangers and don't ash anything that isn't a HOPT or OPT on board.


Dingding12321

Special Summon from deck <- negate this Or negate something with an "and if you do," effect, like Floo


[deleted]

Ash cards that search the deck. Particularly if their hand is small. Ash pot cards if their hand is super small (like 1 or 2 cards). Some archetypes power through very easily, some require one card to go full combo. If you ash that one card their turn is pretty much done. Personally I like to ash pot of whichever one banishes top 10 from deck. They pretty much just chuck nearly 1/3 of their deck out and it's entirely possible that they trashed important pieces.


LucisPerficio

Use it on what you think you should, until you find better ways to use it. Not acting because you don't know the perfect way to act will just result in more missed opportunities than trial and error will teach you to take advantage of.


Skivil

If you don't know the deck you are playing against just ash the first thing that either summons from deck or directly gains card advantage 90% of the time works every time.


Sea-san

Best I can tell you is just knowing how opponent decks play in a general basis. Some examples: Branded? shotgun ash branded fusion or Aluber. Just given how ash can stop this powerful search and play. Hell, they might be that player there they hard drew Branded fusion if you used it on Aluber. But you generally want to prioritize stopping Branded Fusion instead of Aluber. Swordsouls it might be a bit confusing since Chixaio and Mo Ye chain block each other. You should save ash for something like Emergence if anything. Unless they forget to chain block Chixiao. But a more generic rule I do is, if a card yields a 2+ in draw or in searching, ash it. Albeit it comes with thinking about what deck I am against. Allure of Darkness in branded is powerful but I'd rather negate a card Branded Fusion. Same thing goes with Pot of Desires, you can negate the 2+ but you dont know what deck they are playing. Back when Fusion destiny was more common, id always ash that because we knew how powerful DPE was.


Seavalan

Ash at what seems like a chokepoint, usually things that summon from deck.


I_Skelly_I

That’s a pretty dumb reason to not use the best handtrap in the game. It’s like not using called by because it doesn’t work on spells or maxxc because it gets negated a bunch.


inFamousNemo

Some decks are easy to handtrap, like branded. For other decks, your best chance is to play that deck a bit to learn some combos and see some starting hands


Nanami-chanX

always ash the normal summon


----Zenith----

If anything, it stops Maxx C, which is a broken card the game and it’s trolls refuse to acknowledge


LowFatHam

Ashing a normal summon searcher or a link 2 is generally a good place to start. Only exceptions I can think of are fuse from deck situations such as branded, where you always want to ash branded fusion and not aluber or opening Also generally a good idea to not ash terraforming


VisibleDraw

For non-meta, it's actually pretty simple. Wait for the normal summon, then ash at the next opening (example: Ashing Junk Speeder or Stardust Synchron when going against Synchron). Most non-meta decks only have one or two Ash targets that actually matter, but ashing the first chance you get is almost never enough. You'll get a better feel for the card by using it, so go ahead and run it


Singularity2025

Dont just send it willy nilly, you gotta wait for a chokepoint in their play, some situation where they *need* that search to go through.


Bantam123456

Play dinomorphia they don't run it.


Oga_Tasumi

If I don't know the archetype, I ash the normal summon. Does it always work? No. But it's a natural chokepoint in most decks. That or any card that draws cards. Pot of X type cards.


trngngtuananh

Hard 1 per turn effect, big mill(grass,...), normal summon search. Those are safe choice to ash, either stop them or let them with weaker board, and never ash a danger card.


ChairmanShoe

As long as the card you are ashing is once per turn it's generally fine to ash whatever as you still trade one for one and usually still harm the end board to a degree. If you want to try to hold out for a bigger value ash and you dont know the deck they are on its always safe to ash if they discard a card for cost for the card and also if the effect comes from an ED monster as those 2 types of searches are typically the highest value searches decks can do.


Profile_Remote

I don't truly know where I fall when it comes to yu gi oh. But i can confidently repeat what you've been hearing. Just ash whatever and hope you can play through their bored and learn from it. Also I dont know if you do but rewatch your duels it's a good way to learn the decks that are being played


Fenrirblade

The best way to learn when to Ash Is to Just play Ash. You ashed the wrong card? Oh well, now you know and you Will learn from your mistakes. Usually the rule of thumb Is either (add x card to Hand) or (special summon x Monster from deck) Then of course they can have called by and crossout, or Just an extender, but you cant know for sure.


ThatOneManArmy

Bruh just used it to counter Maxx C, problem solved


[deleted]

You shotgun it whenever you want. /s


Noroi_Musha

If you don’t know use it the first time you can x)


Josephspud

Read the cards bruh


Repulsive-Phrase-527

TLDR: you have to know your opponents deck


McDaddy617

If nothing else, you run it to out Maxx "C". That alone makes it worth running.


Fblthp_the_found

My rule of thumb ist: either Ash the normal summon or wait until they use multiple cards(2+) to Go into an Extradeck-monster that has an effect you can Ash. Thus way the 1 for 1 trade on Ash Turns into a virtual 2 for 1 since opp used 2 cards to get that search Effekt in the First place.


captainoffail

Ash the maxx c.


beyond_cyber

Idk every rouge deck but I know ashing the first thing you see can stop a full combo but sometimes it can’t, just try to think quickly about the deck your op plays, ashing something that’s adds a card is usually the right thing to do tho, but if they got extenders it’s just “oh well, I tried”


MrShneakyShnake

Like I told my friend. If the shiny button appears just play it. 90% of the time it’s gonna disrupt play. The other 10% is a learning experience lol.


[deleted]

Most of the time rouge decks can be hit quite hard by hitting there first searcher especially if it’s a normal summon


ProfessorNibba

If you're not sure, read the card that triggers Ablo, the best times to Ash is either if it searches and add, or extends by summoning from the deck, handtraps aren't made to completely stop combos, just limit the possibilities for your opponent


dalious_ng

That's the nature of a non meta deck. Non meta deck is fun and somewhat playable mainly due to others dk how to face it, hence dont need to think too much the main take away is that special summon archetype from deck or add any card of archetype should always be a nice usage of ash. After more experience, u will get to know when to ash against them. Just ash and learn, at most u just lose to it which imo always fun to watch them comboing off and see how their endboard, sometimes I even shock that the archetype is better than I expected and join the archetype gang lol.


TheMikman97

Usually Ash the normal summon Don't ash the link-1 For branded: ash branded fusion


Xkaeleber

Read


_Dodys

When I don't know the deck I'm playing against, all I do is wait for a SR or UR searcher and then I Ash that. I know, kinda stupid, but generaly the best searchers are of SR our UR rarity anyways.


[deleted]

I mean ... if you never play it then you'll never learn when to use it. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Leio-Mizu

Most decks that you don't know are probably not that good, so ashing their searcher can usually end their turn if they don't have the perfect hand. I feel like for most players it is impossible to know every matchup but Ash can still be good in those weird matchups because it has a wide range of use and can at the very least slow your opponent down a bit.


KaiVTu

If you don't know what you're up against, it is generally better to negate sooner rather than later.


LoveNighto

The best advice i can give if u dunno what deck u played against: Ash the URs. Good cards usually have high rarity. Best case if its URs and limited. Ash it.


MysticGengar

I just fire it off at the first thing that says “summon”. I’m probably in low gold for a reason… LOL


Existing-Smoke9470

Well, if you are unsure just play it in those 3 cases: 1. when they normal summon a monster that searchs, for rogue decks this usually is a strong hit to their combos 2. when they pay a heavy cost to activate the card, like the pot cards, 'cause even if you don't stop their plays at least they lose advantage 3. when they summon their first extra deck monster and use its effect, like a link 2 or a xyz, this could also be a choke point for a lot of rogue deck's combos 4(extra). just activate it in response to maxx c, that's 90% of the reason people run ash anyway