Yu-Gi-Oh!'s latest core set, Duelist's Advance, is here with some of the latest and greatest cards and strategies to take your decks to the next level. Duelist's Advance is the 3rd core set of 2025 following Supreme Darkness and Alliance Insight, sets that included huge waves of support for top decks such as Maliss, Ryzeal, and Mitsurugi. So, what does Duelist's Advance offer for those looking to compete at the highest level or for those who are looking for significant upgrades for their favorite strategies? Let's look at some of the cards you may want to pick up from this set so you can stay on top of your game (and high-five the sky)!

Vanquish Soul Hollie Sue

Let's jump straight into the action with the card from the archetype based off a fighting game - Vanquish Soul Hollie Sue. Hollie Sue is arguably the best card in Duelist's Advance because of the way it elevates Vanquish Soul to a whole other level and for its turn-zero capabilities. Fans of the Vanquish Soul strategy are aware that Justice Hunters, the next deck-builder set, is coming with K9, a new Rank 5 archetype that works well with Vanquish Soul.

Whether you're looking to mix the two strategies or play Vanquish Soul pure, you'll definitely put the pressure on your opponents when Hollie Sue hits the field. Its effect allows you to quick-effect special summon it during the main phase by revealing another Vanquish Soul monster. Its other effects allow you to either (quick effect) take control of 1 monster your opponent controls with the lowest attack or special summon a non-psychic Vanquish Soul monster from your deck. This allows you to quickly establish field presence and adapt to your opponent's strategy on the fly, potentially even on their first turn if you're going second.

Sky Striker Ace = Zero

Sky Striker is another strategy that bursts onto the scene in Duelist's Advance with the new boss monster Sky Striker Ace = Zero. A fan-favorite archetype that has received a steady amount of support over the years now gets a huge upgrade with this apparent fusion of the deck's protagonists, Raye and Roze. Sky Striker Ace = Zero allows you to add 1 "Sky Striker" Spell from your deck or Graveyard to your hand on special summon. Its next effect allows you to (quick effect) tribute itself to special summon 1 Sky Striker Ace - Raye and 1 Sky Striker Ace - Roze from your deck and/or GY, then you can destroy 1 card on the field. The only caveat is that you can only use 1 of Sky Striker Ace = Zero's effects per turn, and only once that turn.

Being able to fetch the best card in the deck, Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage, is truly a godsend in Sky Strikers because it allows you to then grab any Sky Striker Spell you may want while also filling up the GY with more Spells to increase the potency of their effects. Zero's other effect to bring out Raye and Roze helps further set up your link plays and continue to break your opponent's board. The "destroy 1 card" effect does not target either, which is a nice bonus.

Finally, it is worth noting that Sky Striker also gets a new Spell, Sky Striker Special Maneuver - Lemnisgate! Lemnisgate is an amazing card that allows you to return cards to the hand; another great way to clear your opponent's field and go for game. Overall, the new Sky Striker cards really elevate the deck's one-turn-KO potential when used in tandem with existing cards like Sky Striker Mobilize - Linkage!

Medius the Pure

Lore fanatics also have much to enjoy from Duelist's Advance with the new Artmage theme. Following in the footsteps of the Fallen of Albaz, Visas Starfrost, and Diabellstar the Black Witch, Medius the Pure is the main character of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s newest lore archetype; a story that is expected to bridge several main sets and encompass many new themes and characters in an interconnected story, much like the previous arcs.

Medius is not alone. He is accompanied by his fellow companions of the Artmage Academic Arcane Arts Acropolis. Each Artmage monster has a unique utility in their attempt to support Medius. For now, the strategy culminates in summoning powerful fusion monsters such as Nerva the Power Patron of Creation, which can transform other Artmage monsters' effects into a full board wipe for your opponent's cards. We'll only see the Artmage theme get more powerful from here on out, so they are definitely worth checking out.

Lunalight Liger Dancer

Lunalights get a huge revival in this set with a few new main deck and extra deck Monsters. They get a new card searcher with Lunalight Gold Leo and also a new Spell/Trap card negate with Lunalight Silver Hound. But the cherry on top is one of the new boss monsters, Lunalight Liger Dancer. This massive 3800 ATK Beast-Warrior is unaffected by card effects, except Lunalight cards. It can make a second attack each battle phase and can (quick effect) send a Lunalight Monster from the Extra-deck to the GY to destroy all of your opponent's special summoned monsters.

Summoning Liger Dancer is usually a death sentence for your opponent. Even though its fusion requirements are Lunalight Leo Dancer and 3 additional Lunalight Monsters, the deck has ways to accrue several resources in the hand and GY and fuse from either location. The deck is strong enough to wonder if Konami maybe should have made some of these Lunalight effects once per turn.

Honorable Mentions

As the cover card suggests, Utopia/Onomat gets more support in Duelist's Advance that makes "feeling the flow" all the easier. Dodododo Warrior is a great new starter or extender that has even seen play in some Ryzeal variants. Psychics are back with a whole slew of main deck and extra deck monsters, like Silent Psychic Magician, which combine to pull the synchro strategy into the modern day. Lastly, Primite got a new fusion with Primite Dragon Nether Berzelius which can negate the activated effects of your opponent's monsters under the right conditions. Slot it into a Blue-Eyes deck and you have a pretty good way of shutting down decks like Yummy.