Replica
Replica is a term in the TCG and OCG that is printed on reprints of tournament promotional or prize cards. While used on many cards in the OCG, in the TCG it is exclusively used for reprints of Match winners.
This was an early attempt to track the value of cards for Duelists in the OCG, as "replica" cards would be worth less compared to Original Print cards that were originally only obtainable by participating in or even winning an official tournament.
Contents
Usage
In the OCG, replica is used on reprints of cards that were originally printed as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark duel Stories Duelist Legend in Tokyo Dome invitation cards, all reprints of the original Egyptian God Cards, and all prints of Match winners (except "Victory Dragon"), even their first prints in the OCG.
In the Japanese and Asian-English OCG prior to Structure Deck: Yugi Muto (June 2016), and in the Korean OCG from Millennium Deck (December 2015) until June 2016, replica was used on reprints of cards that were originally printed as attendance, participation, or prize cards for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters II: Dark duel Stories Duelist Legend in Tokyo Dome tournament; for reprints of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters III: Tri-Holy God Advent Official Tournament Street Duel Legend of Power prize card; for the Ritual Monster counterparts of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters National Tournament prize cards; and (seemingly mistakenly due to being included in Premium Pack 3) all reprints of "Meteor Dragon" and "Black Magic Ritual". However, starting with the Japanese release of Structure Deck: Yugi Muto, these cards are no longer marked as replicas.
In addition to their original print, reprints in the Asia Championship 2001, Structure Deck: Yugi, the Anniversary Pack, and the Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions Duel Set are not marked as replicas. All Japanese and Asian-English prints of Match winners (except "Victory Dragon") and the Ritual Monster counterparts of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters National Tournament prize cards are marked as replicas, including the original OCG prints. Additionally, Official Proxies of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters National Tournament prize cards were printed in a Japanese magazine with the replica text.
In the TCG, it is exclusively used on reprints of Match winners, such as the ones printed in World Superstars and given away as prize cards at Japanese National Championships.
Card layout
In languages except Japanese, replica is formatted "REPLICA", except on TCG Link Monsters, on which it is formatted "Replica". In the Japanese OCG, replica is formatted "Replica", except on Match winners (that are not Pendulum or Link Monsters); on Match winners other than Pendulum and Link Monsters, it is instead formatted "REPLICA".
On cards that do not have limitation text, replica is placed in the bottom left corner in lieu of the password (the cards simply lack a password altogether).
For cards with limitation text (except Pendulum and Link Monsters) and a lore box, due to the limitation text being printed where the password would normally be, REPLICA is instead printed on the left side of the card between the artwork and lore box, where Edition text (such as "Limited Edition") is printed in the TCG and Korean OCG prior to Series 9.
For Pendulum Monsters with limitation text, due to the limitation text being printed where the password would normally be and no room between the artwork and lore box, REPLICA is placed below the horizontal line inside the lore box, to the right of the Card Number. If a Match winner Pendulum Monster would have Edition text and is a replica, the Edition text is simply omitted (even if the other cards in the same set are not Unlimited Edition).
For Link Monsters with limitation text, due to the limitation text being printed where the password would normally be and Link Arrows disrupting the area between the artwork and lore box, REPLICA is placed below the horizontal line inside the lore box, where the Card Number is printed on Pendulum Monsters.
For non-game cards with limitation text but no lore box, REPLICA is instead placed directly above the limitation text.
In the TCG and Korean OCG, if a replica card that is not a Pendulum Monster also has Edition text, REPLICA is listed before the Edition text, separated with a slash.
Cards printed as replicas
The following are cards that are marked as replicas in the OCG.
Legal cards
These are legal cards whose reprints are marked as replicas in the OCG prior to Structure Deck: Yugi Muto (June 2016). In the Korean OCG, they were not marked as replicas prior to the Korean release of Millennium Deck (December 2015).
Illegal cards
These are illegal cards whose reprints (and original OCG prints in the case of Match winners) are marked as replicas.
Example
Japanese OCG
Korean OCG
TCG
Japanese OCG Pendulum Monster
Korean OCG Pendulum Monster
Japanese OCG Link Monster
Korean OCG Link Monster
TCG Link Monster
Japanese OCG non-game card
Korean OCG non-game card
