What is Neo Goat Format?

 Neo Goat Format idea originated from the Master Duel Trial Event: Time Travel 2004. That event was very similar to Goat Format but it felt more balanced and it had more deck options. This exact way of playing was introduced to local store tournaments and it was very fun. The format has been gaining popularity since then.

After some months of playing there were changes made to the original banlist (for example prohibitting Change of Heart and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning), since this is a format never seen before it is not known what ideas people will come up with, so the banlist is subject to periodic change, around every three months) to avoid the appearance of a very dominant deck.

Because of it's origin there are many differences with respect to the original Goat format, in short this format is played as it would be played in current Yu-Gi-Oh!, except for the rule that the first player draws a card in the Draw Phase of the first turn.

1. PLAYER STARTS WITH 6 CARDS IN HAND

If you want to play this format in Master Duel or any Yu-Gi-Oh! simulator, the player who wants to go first let his opponent begin, the first turn is just skipped, and the second turn has no Battle Phase. Don't use Extra Monster Zone.

In Duelingbook or Local Tournament you just begin with 6 cards in hand.

2. NO PRIORITY

When you summon a monster with an ignition effect that is not a quick effect, the opponent can first respond to the summon. 

3. ERRATA OF THE CARDS

Allowed cards are used with their most recent errata.

Example of cards that are affected by the rule: 

Ring of Destruction, Sinister Serpent, Crush Card, Rescue Cat, Brain Control, Dark Magician of Chaos, Night Assailant, and others.

4. THERE CAN BE TWO ACTIVE FIELDS AT THE SAME TIME.

Activating a field spell card does not destroy the opponent's face-up field spell card. 

5. FUSION DECK HAS A LIMIT OF 15 CARDS AND MAIN DECK LIMIT OF 60.

6. RULING UPDATES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE YU-GI-OH! CURRENT FORMAT ALSO ARE APPLIED IN THIS FORMAT.

Examples:

- The rule issued in 2019 that opponent doesn't have to show hand when Mnd Crush resolves.

- The rule issued in 2024 that a monster flipped face-down while equipped with Snatch Steal returns to the original owner.

- The rule that states that if a monster like Relinquished attempts to equip an opponent's monster and an effect is chained that causes Relinquished to be removed from the field or flipped face down, the monster selected by Relinquished will be sent to the Graveyard.

- The rule that you can't activate effects that search cards from the deck if there are no targets. (Reinforcements of the Army, Thunder Dragon)

- The rule that you cannot tribute summon a monster while Rivalry of Warlords is active if the type of the monster you are trying to tribute summon is not the same type as the face-up monster you control. 

[Remember that this format is played as modern Yu-Gi-Oh! with a limited banlist except for the first rule.]