In Effect as of February 28, 2026
BASIC INFORMATION
- Q: What is a NEURON: Engage! Event?
- Q: What is the attendance capacity for NEURON: Engage! Event?
- Q: How do I enter a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: What are the prizes for NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: What is the format for NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: What is Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON and how can it help me with obtaining or registering a CARD GAME ID?
- Q: Will I need to complete and turn in a Deck List?
- Q: What cards are legal for play?
- Q: Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?
- Q: Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?
- Q: If I’ve never been to a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament, what should I expect?
- Q: I want to judge at a NEURON: Engage! Event, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I apply?
- Q: How can I tell if my OTS is hosting NEURON: Engage! Event in-store or through Remote Duel?
- Q: Who should I contact for more information about a specific NEURON: Engage! Event?
- Q: I would like to provide feedback to KDE-US concerning NEURON: Engage! Event I attended, who should I contact?
- Q: What will I need to bring to a NEURON: Engage! Event TCG tournament?
- Q: What if I lost an item at a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: What do I need to know regarding a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: What will I need to have with me for a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event TCG tournament?
- Q: What will I need to prepare in order to register for the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
- Q: I’m under 13. Am I able to participate in a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
AT THE TOURNAMENT – IN-STORE INFORMATION
- Q: How long will NEURON: Engage! Event tournament last?
- Q: What is the time limit for each Round for NEURON: Engage! Event?
- Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 50 minutes?
AT THE TOURNAMENT – REMOTE DUEL INFORMATION
- Q: How long will the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament last?
- Q: What is the time limit for each Round for the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event?
- Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 55 minutes?
BASIC INFORMATION
Q: What is a NEURON: Engage! Event?
NEURON: Engage! Events are a day to celebrate Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON (NEURON). With NEURON, Duelists can register, check pairings, drop or re-enter, track Life Points, and even report their own Match results—right from the app. The NEURON: Engage! Event will be held as a one-day event scheduled to occur between Saturday, February 28, 2026, and Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Duelists will be able to participate in a Sanctioned tournament at all participating Official Tournament Stores (OTS), with exclusive prizes only available at an OTS. Only KDE-US-approved OTS are permitted to host a NEURON: Engage! Event.
Q: Where and when are NEURON: Engage! Events?
The NEURON: Engage! Event will be held as a one-day event scheduled to occur between Saturday, February 28, 2026, and Sunday, March 1, 2026 at select locations throughout North America. A list of locations and dates for NEURON: Engage! Event can be found online at:
https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/neuron_engage/
OTS have the option of running NEURON: Engage! Event either as an in-store event or as a Remote Duel event. Please reach out to your OTS to see what format they are using for their NEURON: Engage! Event.
Please contact your OTS for exact tournament start time.
If you are attending a NEURON: Engage! Event that is hosted as a Remote Duel event, you must have a valid shipping address in the country (United States or Canada) in which the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event is being held in order to participate in that specific Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event. Duelists in the United States cannot participate in a NEURON: Engage! Event hosted by a Canadian OTS and Canadian Duelists cannot participate in a NEURON: Engage! Event hosted by an OTS in the United States.
Q: What is the attendance capacity for NEURON: Engage! Event?
Each NEURON: Engage! Event’s attendance capacity may vary from location to location. It is advised that you reach out to your OTS early enough to register for NEURON: Engage! Event so that you can ensure a spot in the event. If you have any additional questions, please contact the OTS directly at the phone number that corresponds with the event on the NEURON: Engage! Event Locator page.
Q: How do I enter a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
Duelists will purchase three (3) booster packs (not OTS Packs) selected by the OTS to enter the NEURON: Engage! tournament. Sales tax and fees may be charged in addition to the cost of the packs purchased to register for the event.
For any Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournaments, OTS are allowed to charge a reasonable amount in order to ship out any prizing earned (Entry Packs and top prizing), should the prizing need to be shipped to the Duelist. Prizing can also be picked up in-store or curbside, in accordance with individual OTS policies. All shipping costs should be clarified with all participants prior to the start of Registration. OTS who are currently offering curbside pick-up at their OTS location may offer this service to local participants.
Q: What are the prizes for NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
In addition to the Entry Packs you receive upon entering the tournament, prize distribution will be as follows:
- Two (2) 100-ct packs of NEURON: Engage! Celebration Sleeves, one for the winner of the tournament and one to award as a door prize through a random drawing.
- Sixteen (16) NEURON: Engage! Celebration Field Center Cards as participation prizing to be handed out with entry into the event (while supplies last).
Q: What is the format for NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
The NEURON: Engage! Event is a Constructed – Advanced Format event. It will be a Tier 1 event, with Swiss Rounds. The format details provided here supersede any tournament details found in other official KDE-US policy documents.
| Number of Participants* | Number of Swiss Rounds | Playoff Top Cut |
| 4 – 8 | 3 Rounds of Swiss | None |
| 9 – 16 | 4 Rounds of Swiss | None |
| 17 – 32 | 5 Rounds of Swiss | None |
| 33 – 64 | 6 Rounds of Swiss | None |
| 65 – 128 | 7 Rounds of Swiss | None |
| 129 or more | 7 Rounds of Swiss | None |
*The Number of Participants is based on how many total participants are enrolled in the tournament once Registration closes. All Duelists added to the event after registration closes should not affect the number of Swiss Rounds.
- Example: After registration closes, 15 Duelists have registered for the tournament. This means that the tournament will have 4 Rounds of Swiss, with no Playoff cut. Two Duelists register late, beginning the tournament with a Round 1 Match Loss. Even though this brings the attendance total to 17, only 4 Rounds of Swiss are played, with no Playoff cut.
Q: What is Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON and how can it help me with obtaining or registering a CARD GAME ID?
NEURON is an app for iOS and Android Smart devices and can be found on the app store. This app is the best way to obtain a CARD GAME ID if you are new to participating in events. You can also register an already existing CARD GAME ID if you already have one.
For those joining our events for the first time, obtaining a CARD GAME ID is as easy as downloading the app. Once downloaded follow the steps below:
- On the bottom menu screen, select Data.
- Once there, your CARD GAME ID will appear at the top of the screen.
This CARD GAME ID will be used when registering for any TCG Sanctioned events which includes our Tier 1 local events, Tier 2 Regional Qualifiers and OTS Championships, Tier 3 YCS events, and even Tier 4 World Championship Qualifier events.
If you already have a CARD GAME ID and would like to register it on the NEURON app, please see one of the registration staff members on-site and they will be able to assist you.
If you previously had a COSSY ID, that same number will carry over as your CARD GAME ID.
If you do not remember your 10-digit CARD GAME ID, please reach out to us-opsupport@kde-us.com for help in getting your correct CARD GAME ID into NEURON before the event. Duelists should avoid acquiring new CARD GAME IDs if the previous ID can be found.
Additional details and features of the NEURON app can be found here:
https://www.konami.com/yugioh/neuron/
Q: Will I need to complete and turn in a Deck List?
You may have to turn in a completed Deck List in order to participate. Please check with your OTS if they are conducting NEURON: Engage! Event as Constructed – Advanced Format and will be requiring Deck Lists for their event and for additional information regarding the Deck List collection process.
If required to submit a Deck list for the Tournament, Duelists should submit the Deck List through the official Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG companion app, NEURON. To do so, please follow the instructions found in the Registering for Events in Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON guide found at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/downloads/neuron/NEURON-Registering_for_Events.pdf.
Q: What cards are legal for play?
The cards that are legal for play for NEURON: Engage! Event will depend on the format selected by the OTS.
If the OTS conducts the event as an Advanced Format tournament, all rules for such events will apply. Please check the “Products” page online at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products/ for an updated look at the legality dates of Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME product releases, prior to preparing your Deck for the event.
Advanced Format tournaments use a specific list of playable cards. Some cards are forbidden from use, or limited to a set number in the Deck, in order to better balance tournament play. The Advanced Format list changes periodically. Duelists can view the most current Advanced Format card list by visiting this link: https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/limited/
In addition, if you are attending a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event, additional rules apply. Remote Duel tournaments include additional cards that are forbidden from use due to the cards being unable to successfully resolve. The Remote Duel Forbidden List can be found in the Remote Duel Best Practices Guide at this link:
https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/downloads/remoteduel/EN_Remote_Duel_Best_Practice_Guide_V_1_2.pdf
Constructed Decks for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments must meet specific guidelines for use in the event. Duelists must ensure that their Decks meet these requirements before entering an event. A Duelist’s Deck includes their Main Deck and may include a Side Deck and/or an Extra Deck.
A Duelist may not have more than three (3) copies of any card included in their Main Deck, Side Deck, and Extra Deck combined.
Cards that have been altered from their original appearance with surface decoration may be used for play only if the alterations do not obscure any portion of the card text, make the illustration difficult to recognize, or make the card distinguishable from other cards in the Deck while it is face-down.
If a card’s surface decoration renders the card unrecognizable at first glance, then the card is not allowed for tournament play.
The Head Judge of the event has final arbitration on whether or not altered cards may be used at the tournament. Duelists are responsible for determining whether or not their altered cards are acceptable for use before the start of the tournament.
Q: Can I use OCG cards (cards printed for use in Japan and other Asian territories) in my Deck?
No, cards printed for Asian markets are not legal for play in TCG tournaments, even if you have a translation available. This includes Asian English cards.
The best way to determine if a card is legal for TCG tournaments is to check the card back. Located at the bottom right of the card back is the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME logo. Please see the table below for more clarification:
| TCG Logo Legal for TCG Tournaments | Japanese OCG Logo Not legal for TCG Tournaments | Asian-English Logo Not legal for TCG Tournaments |
 |  |  |
Q: Can I use foreign language cards in my Deck?
You can use foreign language copies of legal-for-play cards printed for the TCG market, as long as you can show an official translation of the card, kept outside of your Deck and Deck box, when asked to do so by an opponent or tournament official. If an opponent or tournament official has difficulty reading the card text, make sure to have the full local language card name ready to ensure it can be found quickly in NEURON or the official Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database.
Q: If I’ve never been to a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament, what should I expect?
Read over the list of things you will need for the tournament, and make sure you have everything.
You will need to register for the event in order to play. You should contact your OTS ahead of time to learn how registration will work. For this event, you will be required to have the NEURON App installed on your phone.
If you have a CARD GAME ID, make sure it is linked to your NEURON App.
If you don’t have a CARD GAME ID, please refer to the Q: What is Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON and how can it help me with obtaining or registering a CARD GAME ID? section of this FAQ.
Please show up, either in-store or on the Discord Server, early enough before NEURON: Engage! Event is scheduled to start, to ensure that you will be properly registered for the tournament. Registration generally closes 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. You may register late (assuming the event has not reached capacity) for an event and will begin the event with a Round 1 Match Loss.
You are responsible for paying attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on. If you have questions about the event, either before or during the event, you should check with the OTS.
Before participating in the event, you should read over the KDE-US Tournament Policy and Penalty Guidelines carefully. These documents tell you what you can and cannot do at an event (even if the event is occurring remotely) and give you a good idea of what to expect. You may find these Guidelines by clicking the following links.
KDE-US Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy:
https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/downloads/penalty_guide/YGOTCG_Policy_v_2_5.pdf
Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy:
https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/downloads/penalty_guide/Penalty_Guidelines_v_2_3.pdf
If you observe an issue during the event, you should ensure they follow the instructions found in Section H of the Tournament Policy covering expectations of Spectators during an event. A helpful guide for how to handle potential issues you observe can be found at https://yugiohblog.konami.com/2021/03/40576/.
When you compete in a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament, you will be held to high standards of play and sportsmanship. You should know how the cards in your Deck work. Duelists must pay attention to information from judges and/or tournament staff in order to understand what is going on. Duelists are expected to know and understand the information provided in the above policies and guidelines while at a NEURON: Engage! Event or any other Official or Sanctioned event.
Q: I want to judge at a NEURON: Engage! Event, instead of competing as a Duelist – how can I apply?
If you are interested in judging, you should contact the OTS for NEURON: Engage! Event as soon as possible (use the contact number provided in NEURON: Engage! Event Locator listing). Most OTS are always on the lookout for Judge Staff, so be prepared to provide your full name, contact information (including e-mail and phone number), and a description of your previous judging experience.
Q: How can I tell if my OTS is hosting NEURON: Engage! Event in-store or through Remote Duel?
Please contact your OTS directly to ask about whether NEURON: Engage! Event will be in-store or Remote Duel. You can find the full list of participating OTS at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/release_celebration/sdwd_event_locations/#northam
Q: Who should I contact for more information about a specific NEURON: Engage! Event?
Your best source for answers about a specific NEURON: Engage! Event is the contact number listed on NEURON: Engage! Event Locator. KDE-US won’t be able to answer questions such as “When does registration start?,” and so forth. For questions such as these, you will need to contact the OTS directly.
If you have more general questions about NEURON: Engage! Events, you can send them to us-opsupport@kde-us.com. Please be as detailed as possible, so we can try to provide you with the answers you’re seeking!
Q: I would like to provide feedback to KDE-US concerning NEURON: Engage! Event I attended, who should I contact?
If you participated in one of our NEURON: Engage! Events and would like to send us feedback, you can send us an e-mail about your specific event by e-mailing us at us-opsupport@kde-us.com, with the header line “North America NEURON: Engage! Event Feedback [Store Name, City, & State]”. All feedback, including comments about the OTS, the Judges, or the event itself, will be welcome! All feedback is always kept confidential. Please make sure your e-mail includes which NEURON: Engage! Event you attended, including store name, city, and state.
PREPARING FOR THE TOURNAMENT – IN-STORE INFORMATION
Duelists who wish to enter a NEURON: Engage! Event must meet the following criteria
- Have the NEURON App installed on your phone.
- Have a CARD GAME ID number linked to your NEURON App (See the What is Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON and how can it help me with obtaining or registering a CARD GAME ID? section of this FAQfor instructions on how to get one) and be in good standing
- Have read and understood the following documents. These documents can be found at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/organizedplay/
- KDE-US Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy
- KDE-US Official Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy
- Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Official Rulebook
Any tournament official associated with or working an event cannot play in that specific event. This includes, but is not limited to, the Judge Staff, Scorekeeper, Event Staff, Store Owner, and Tournament Organizer.
Event Staff or Judge Staff who participate in a tournament for which they are listed as staff will be subject to penalties, up to and including suspension from KDE-US Organized Play.
Duelists who have been suspended from Organized Play by KDE-US are not considered to be in good standing and may not register for nor compete in Official or Sanctioned events.
Suspended persons are required to apply for reinstatement with the KDE-US Penalty Committee via us-penalty@kde-us.com. Once their applications have been reviewed, and their reinstatement accepted, their name will be removed from the list. Until that time, they are considered to be Suspended Persons.
Q: What will I need to bring to a NEURON: Engage! Event TCG tournament?
You will be required to registered to the event on the NEURON App. You will be required to present their CARD GAME ID number along with a form of ID in order to register for the event. Acceptable forms of ID include current-year School ID cards, driver’s licenses, passports, or other government-issued identification documents.
If you are under the age of 16, you can bring in a copy of your birth certificate as proof of ID. Duelists under the age of 16 are required to have a child account linked to a Parent Account on the KONAMI ID website, https://my.konami.net/, in order to be eligible to participate in a NEURON: Engage! Event. Instructions can be found in the Child Account Guide located here: https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/products/neuron/.
Duelists who register or attempt to register under another Duelist’s name or CARD GAME ID number will be disqualified from the event, and risk suspension from KDE-US Organized Play events. Duelists are required to register with their legal name, as it appears on their form of ID. Nicknames may not be used when registering for a NEURON: Engage! Event. Initials to replace the First or Last Names may not be used when registering for a NEURON: Engage! Event.
Q: What if I lost an item at a NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
You are responsible for looking after your own belongings at the event. KDE-US, Tournament Organizers, Staff, and Judges bear no responsibility for, and cannot be held liable for, any loss, theft or damage to the person or personal property of any attendee.
If you have lost items, you should seek the Lost & Found on-site. If the item is not found on-site, you are encouraged to contact the OTS within a 60-day period on the chance the lost item has been turned in.
PREPARING FOR THE TOURNAMENT – REMOTE DUEL INFORMATION
Duelists who wish to enter a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event must meet the following criteria
- Have the NEURON App installed on your phone.
- Have a CARD GAME ID number (See the What is Yu-Gi-Oh! NEURON and how can it help me with obtaining or registering a CARD GAME ID? section of this FAQfor instructions on how to get one) and be in good standing
- Have read and understood the following documents. These documents can be found at https://www.yugioh-card.com/en/events/organizedplay/
- KDE-US Official Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Tournament Policy
- KDE-US Official Tournament Infractions and Penalties Policy
- Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Official Rulebook
- Have read and agree to abide by the Remote Duel Best Practices Guide
- Have a valid shipping address in the country (United States or Canada) in which the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event is being held
- Have a functional Remote Duel setup
Any tournament official associated with or working an event cannot play in that specific event. This includes, but is not limited to, the Judge Staff, Scorekeeper, Event Staff, Store Owner, and Tournament Organizer.
Event Staff or Judge Staff who participate in a tournament for which they are listed as staff will be subject to penalties, up to and including suspension from KDE-US Organized Play.
Duelists who have been suspended from Organized Play by KDE-US are not considered to be in good standing and may not register for or compete in Official or Sanctioned events.
Suspended persons are required to apply for reinstatement with the KDE-US Penalty Committee via us-penalty@kde-us.com. Once their applications have been reviewed, and their reinstatement accepted, their name will be removed from the list. Until that time, they are considered to be Suspended Persons.
Q: What do I need to know regarding a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
A Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event should be run using the Discord app. You will need a webcam, smartphone or tablet to display your field to your opponent. The camera needs to be flipped/upside-down, so it displays correctly, for the opponent.
You can find more details on Remote Duel on our website:
Duelists should read the Remote Duel Best Practices guide, which also includes a list of cards Duelists cannot use during Remote Duel events. The list of cards Duelists cannot use only applies to events being run as an Advanced – Constructed tournament.
Duelists are required to have a valid shipping address in the country (United States or Canada) in which the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event is being held, in order to participate in that specific Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event.
Duelists from Latin America, Europe, or Oceania can participate in the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Events happening in their territory. Please visit the link(s) below for more information on Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event in your territory.
Q: What will I need to have with me for a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event TCG tournament?
You need to have a functional Remote Duel setup and any tournament supplies you will need, such as a tournament legal Advanced Constructed Deck, dice or counters for card effects, extra sleeves to replace any that become damaged, and so forth.
Q: What will I need to prepare in order to register for the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
You will be required to register with the OTS. You should contact the OTS to determine exactly what they will need in order to register you for the event.
Duelists who register or attempt to register under another Duelist’s name or CARD GAME ID number will be disqualified from the event and risk suspension from KDE-US Organized Play events. Duelists are required to register with their legal name, as it appears on their form of ID. Nicknames may not be used when registering for a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event. Initials to replace the First or Last Names may not be used when registering for a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event.
Q: I’m under 13. Am I able to participate in a Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament?
You can participate, but your parent or guardian must register you for the event and you must ensure you are following Discord’s age requirements. Additionally, the parent or guardian must set up a Child Account registered on the KONAMI ID site. For more information on Child Accounts, click here: Due to the nature of Remote Duels, Event Staff will need to verify your parent or guardian is registering you and understands you will be participating in the event using cameras to capture your field and using Discord to communicate with other Duelists and Event Staff. Verifying your parent or guardian’s consent will need to happen through video communication. Text-only verification will not be enough.
AT THE TOURNAMENT – IN-STORE INFORMATION
Q: How long will NEURON: Engage! Event tournament last?
The number of Swiss Rounds is determined by the number of Duelists enrolled in the tournament. Tournament Rounds for this event will be 50 minutes long. Since you can play all Rounds in a Swiss tournament, you should expect to be at the event for several hours.
Q: What is the time limit for each Round for NEURON: Engage! Event?
Each NEURON: Engage! Event TCG Swiss Round will consist of best 2-out-of-3 game Matches, with a 50-minute time limit.
Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 50 minutes?
If the Match does not finish within 50 minutes, the result will be a double loss.
- When time ends in the Round, the Match is over. Neither Duelist may begin or continue any action that may take place in the Game.
- If time expires and the Match has not finished it will be a double loss.
- A Match is considered finished when one of the Duelists has either won two Duels or lost 2 Duels.
- If a Duelist has won 1 Duels and the Match has not concluded after 50 minutes, the Match is a double loss.
- If the Duelists have completed 3 Duels without a winner, and there is time remaining in the Round, the Duelists will go into a 4th Duel.
AT THE TOURNAMENT – REMOTE DUEL INFORMATION
Q: How long will the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event tournament last?
The number of Swiss Rounds is determined by the number of Duelists enrolled in the tournament. Tournament Rounds for this event will be 55 minutes long. Since you can play all Rounds in a Swiss tournament, you should expect to be at the event for several hours.
Q: What is the time limit for each Round for the Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event?
Each Remote Duel NEURON: Engage! Event TCG Swiss Round will consist of a best 2-out-of-3 game Matches, with a 55-minute time limit.
Q: What happens if I am not done with my Match after 55 minutes?
If the Match does not finish within 55 minutes, the result will be a double loss.
- When time ends in the Round, the Match is over. Neither Duelist may begin or continue any action that may take place in the Game.
- If time expires and the Match has not finished it will be a double loss.
- A Match is considered finished when one of the Duelists has either won two Duels or lost 2 Duels.
- If a Duelist has won 1 Duels and the Match has not concluded after 50 minutes, the Match is a double loss
- If the Duelists have completed 3 Duels without a winner, and there is time remaining in the Round, the Duelists will go into a 4th Duel.
