Fans of theYu-Gi-Oh!franchise know that eachYu-Gi-Oh!character, especially the protagonists, stand by an ace monster they trust the most. This is evident when Yami Yugi has a heavy spellcasting deck for the Dark Magician, Seto Kaiba has a dragon-themed deck for his Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and Jaden Yuki is Fusion-reliant for his Elemental HEROs. In turn, fans of the game are encouraged to build decks surrounding themes and their own “ace” monsters - something practiced in hardcore adaptations likeYu-Gi-Oh! Master Duelas well as the newYu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duelgame.
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Contrary to faster-pacedYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Linksand more TCG-accurateMaster Duel, players can enjoy a more streamlined format withCross Links. At its core, the game has players engage in a four-way deathmatch against three (3) other players, or even as pairs. However, an integral component that makesCross Duelmechanics truly unique is its inclusion ofAce Monsters. However, how exactly do they work in the game?
What’s An Ace Monster?
Before players get into the intricacies of choosing anAce Monster, it’s important to understand just exactly what they are and what they imply in the game. At its core, Ace Monsters are exactly what they literally mean - they are themost integral monster in anyYu-Gi-Oh!deck. Here are ways they generally impact gameplay:
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How To Choose An Ace Monster
While players can technically use another deck and another Ace Monster once they acquire another UR Monster, it’s this first Ace Monster choice that defines the player’s initial playthrough of the game. Seeing as howCross Duelis extremely fast-paced, being practical about the choice of an Ace Monster can help players have a more smooth-sailing time while they build a deckaccording to theirYu-Gi-Oh!playstyle. Here are important considerations when choosing an Ace Monster:
What Are The Available Ace Monsters At The Beginning?
Players who have a better background of how to choose an Ace Monster in the game may want a quick runthrough of the available Ace Monsters that they can choose on the get-go. Special mechanics of these Ace Monsters range from simple to complex, so it’s important for players to understand what they’re getting into whenusing them in theYu-Gi-Oh!game. Here’s a rundown of each Ace Monster and their general effects:
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Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duelwas released last July 19, 2025 for iOS and Android.

