Hand trap

A hand trap is an unofficial term used to describe cards (usually Monsters, but more rarely Traps) with effects that can be activated from the hand in the opponent's turn in order to disrupt the opponent's actions. These effects are usually Quick Effects that activate in response to an opponent's action, but can also be Trigger Effects that activate following certain actions taken by the opponent.

Being activated from the hand, hand traps are more flexible and less vulnerable than normal Trap Cards, as they do not need to be first placed onto the field to be used. They can also be freely used during the opponent's first turn when they go first, mitigating some of the going-first advantages in Yu-Gi-Oh!.

Hand traps have a wide array of effects. Most hand traps provide battle support and situational effect negates, while some have rarer and more powerful effects like monster removal, Graveyard hate, and even Lingering effects.

Hand traps are usually staples that can be freely used regardless of the deck played, but some hand traps (e.g. "Nekroz of Trishula", "Miscellaneousaurus") only work with specific archetype decks or other themed decks. There are also some archetypes and series made up primarily or exclusively of hand traps, such as ""C"", "Yo-kai Girl", and "PSY-Frame".