Upstart Goblin: The Ultimate Perspective Shift
No card represents the evolution of competitive Yu-Gi-Oh thinking better than Upstart Goblin. For years, it flew under the radar, only seeing play in Exodia decks and niche strategies. But in reality, duelists recognized its power early on—it even spent time Limited and Semi-Limited between 2002 and 2007.
So why did it take so long to dominate the meta? The shift came when duelists embraced the idea of a “37-card deck”, using Upstart to improve consistency and maximize their chances of drawing key plays. By 2013, it was everywhere—so much so that Konami had to Limit it again just to force duelists back to 40-card decks.
Now, Upstart Goblin is Unlimited once more, but the 37-card deck era has faded. It still finds a home in Sky Strikers, Runick, and Spellbooks, but it’s no longer the must-play staple it once was.
What’s your take on Upstart Goblin? Should duelists give it another shot, or is its time in the spotlight over?
