TCG vs OCG: four checks before you copy a deck

01First, check where you are playing

You find a deck online and want to try it at locals. Before copying it, ask the organizer which format the event uses. Then check whether the list you found matches.

TCG and OCG have separate official card restrictions. Digital games and special events can use different rules again. A strong result in one setting does not make the same list legal in another.

Use the official TCG page for TCG checks. For OCG, use the source for your event’s territory; Japan’s official OCG list is one example, not a stand-in for every OCG region.

02Check the date and count all your copies

An old screenshot may show a card at three copies when your event allows fewer. A newly announced list may not be in effect yet. Find the official list that applies on the day you play.

For standard TCG play, count copies of the same card across your Main, Extra, and Side Decks together:

• Forbidden: no copies.
• Limited: up to one copy.
• Semi-Limited: up to two copies.
• Not restricted: normally up to three copies.

If a card is Limited, putting one in your Main Deck and another in your Side Deck still exceeds the limit. Moving it between sections does not create another allowance.

Check the deck sizes as well: standard TCG uses a 40–60 card Main Deck and up to 15 cards each in the Extra and Side Decks. Other event types may differ.

03Check the actual cards going in your deck box

The card’s name is only part of the check. Make sure that card has been released for your event and that the physical printing is allowed there.

For example, an Asian-English OCG card has English text, but that does not make it a TCG card. KONAMI’s European Regional Qualifier FAQ explains that OCG printings, including Asian-English cards, are not legal in those TCG events.

That differs from a foreign-language TCG printing. The same FAQ allows eligible TCG copies with the required official translation available separately. Check the current policy for your event, especially before buying a card you are unsure about.

If you have a printing or card-text question, ask the organizer or Head Judge before the event starts. It is easier to fix a problem while you still have time to swap a card.

04Use the app for a first pass, then pack the right list

Select TCG or OCG in CHAINZERO and review the deck’s warnings. Compare any flagged cards with the official list, then check the copies you will actually bring.

The current catalog is still growing. A missing card is not automatically forbidden, and an included card is not automatically event-legal. The app cannot inspect the printing in your deck box or make an official ruling.

Before you leave, make these four checks:

• Your saved deck matches the event’s format.
• Your card limits match the date you will play.
• Your Main, Extra, and Side Deck counts are correct.
• The physical cards match your final list and are allowed at the event.

Then get back to the fun part: practicing the deck. The collection guide helps you organize your list, and the opening-hand guide helps you plan your first turn.