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A new Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel chart reveals the most-played cards of July 2025, with Artifact Lancea rising fast to counter the dominant Maliss deck. Here’s the full breakdown.

The Duelist Meta Just Got Hit with a Trap Card

Hold onto your sleeves, duelists — the Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel meta just got a spicy twist. A new chart just dropped for July 2025, showcasing the most-played cards in the game, and there’s one surprise entry that’s got the community talking: Artifact Lancea.

Yeah, that anti-banish tech card you maybe forgot about? It’s suddenly the third most-used card in the entire game — and it’s all thanks to one deck: Maliss.

Let’s break down who’s dominating the format and why your deck might need a side-deck upgrade yesterday.

July 2025’s Most-Played Cards in Master Duel

Here’s the current power lineup according to Master Duel Guide:

The top two aren’t shocking. Maxx “C” is basically glued into every duel these days, and Ash Blossom is still the queen of “Nope.” But Artifact Lancea pulling an 83% play rate? That’s a meta read with teeth.

Why Artifact Lancea Is Suddenly Everywhere

Let’s talk Maliss, the latest menace in Master Duel. This deck’s all about fast Link plays and banishing like it’s going out of style. But the second Artifact Lancea hits the field? All that banishing nonsense gets shut down like a duel in episode one of any Yu-Gi-Oh! series.

Lancea’s a hand trap that prevents all banishing for the turn when activated — the kind of card that doesn’t just slow Maliss down; it hard-counters it.

Side Effect: Crossout Designator Gets a Bump

When a card like Lancea floods the field, you can bet your life points that counters are coming. Enter Crossout Designator, rising up with a solid 64% usage rate. It’s the “reverse Uno card” for hand traps — including Lancea.

What’s Next for the Meta?

If you think this format’s already spicy, just wait. Konami’s got two new archetypes queued up:

🔥 Ryzeal – The Xyz Challenger

This new Xyz-focused archetype is already clashing with Maliss in the physical TCG. Expect Ryzeal to hit Master Duel soon and challenge the throne.

💧 Mitsurugi – The Ritual Wave

A Ritual-based theme that dropped hot in the paper format right after Maliss. It’s got high consistency, boss monsters, and that “oh no” energy that makes duels feel like boss fights.

By the end of the year, Master Duel could look completely different — so now’s a good time to fine-tune your tech cards.

Pro Tip: How to Keep Up With the Meta

• Stay updated on new Selection Packs. Konami adds powerful cards every month.
  
• Build your deck toolbox. Cards like Lancea, Nibiru, and Evenly Matched can change a duel in one turn.
  
• Watch tournament replays. Learn what the top players are running — and how they counter it.
  
• Use Crossout Designator wisely. In a hand trap-heavy format, this is your “get out of trap free” card.
  

Meta at a Glance

• Maxx “C” and Ash Blossom still top the meta charts
  
• Artifact Lancea jumps to #3 thanks to Maliss dominating the format
  
• Crossout Designator rises to deal with all the hand trap spam
  
• New archetypes Ryzeal (Xyz) and Mitsurugi (Ritual) expected soon
  
• Deck variety is shifting — stay flexible, or get steamrolled
  

Adapt or Get Banished

In Yu-Gi-Oh, the only constant is change — and this month, Artifact Lancea proves that even sleeper cards can become meta staples overnight. Whether you’re climbing the Master Duel ladder or just trying to keep up, now’s the time to adapt, tech smart, and maybe put your banish-happy combo deck on ice… at least for now.

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