The module for Duelist levels also provides a brief explanation of the corresponding duelist skills at each level.
Generally speaking, the strength of average duelists is around 1 to 4 stars. Above 3 stars is considered decent, and 4 stars might mean reaching the top eight or even winning local tournaments if luck is on their side.
Of course, this assumes everyone is using a Normal Deck from the DM era without considering deck strength, only the duelist's skill.
Levels 5 to 6 might already be among the elites of duelists, with the potential to win international championships. Like the cannon fodder duo Dinosaur Lyuzaki and Insector Haga in Yu-Gi-Oh! DM, they might be at this level.
Levels 7 to 8 are basically the human limit. Level 7 generally belongs to the world's top duelists, and if someone reaches level 8, they likely have "Yugi" in their name or have strange, colorful hairstyles...
Jonouchi, who was dubbed a "Legendary Duelist" at the end of DM, is probably at level 8. In the mid-stages of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Yuki Judai before awakening the power of The Supreme King might also be around this level.
Above that is already non-human territory. Levels 9 to 12 have no description in the system introduction, but one can imagine they are cheaters among cheaters.
Youyu personally speculates that Dark Yugi might be level 10 according to the system's evaluation standard, and should be higher when he fully regains his lost name and strength.
In that state, even if Dark Yugi were a full 12 stars, Youyu wouldn't be surprised.
This level division will, of course, greatly impact a duelist's performance, but the outcome of a card game is not solely dependent on draw luck. Deck strength is also a significant factor.
This is the main reason Youyu has been able to thrive in this environment so far. He has invested over a hundred thousand Crystal Stones in the System Card Pool and bought a bunch of domestic cards.
Although he personally feels the deck is just passable, its strength surpasses the typical decks of this era by multiple levels.
In his previous life, he never heard of such a system, and no player had ever unlocked it. Maybe this is a unique new feature of the NPC template?
...But level 3 does seem a bit shabby.
In other words, without relying on the strategic awareness brought by playing Physical Cards and future cards acquired from the System Card Pool, based on duelist talent alone, he might just be considered mediocre.
To use the president's words, it might just be a Normal Monster...
Eh, wait a moment.
Didn't the Dark Magician Girl just say that as a spirit, she also has a "force" similar to that of a duelist?
So, could the "force" held by the spirit be shared with her holder?
Thinking about this, Youyu directly chose to switch decks, replacing his main deck in the Duel Disc from "Elemental Hero" to his other "Black Magician."
The Dark Magician Girl's card is in this Black Magic Deck.
Then when he opened the panel again, a miracle happened—the three measly stars suddenly turned into four!
What? So spirits can be used like this? They can even boost card luck?
This is truly a treasure discovered!
Thinking this, Youyu couldn't help but turn his gaze towards the floating Dark Magician Girl beside him, and his target became fervent.
The Dark Magician Girl was a bit startled: "...Master?"
"It's nothing," Youyu smiled warmly, "I just suddenly realized how wonderful you are."
The Dark Magician Girl's little face turned a bit red: "Tha... Thank you, Master."
The girl fiddled with the small Magic Staff in her hands with her head down... but judging from her curves, she probably couldn't see her toes even with her head down.
No help for it, they were just too big and blocking her view.
Youyu was in a great mood.
He felt like he had finally discovered the correct posture for using spirits!
No wonder in the original everyone worked so hard to pursue those high-status, mysterious cards that had little practical use—their use was indeed magical.
It makes sense. Youyu always felt it was ridiculous; in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, the user of the Crystal Beast Deck, John Anderson, had only seven Crystal Beasts before obtaining Rainbow Dragon, and each one was unique without repeats.
In other words, his forty-card deck had only seven monsters total, and the remaining thirty-three cards were all Magic Trap Cards supporting the Crystal Beasts, without many cards for drawing speed. Yet, he never experienced hand bricking, starting hands with only magic traps and no monsters to summon.
Why do you think that is?
Of course, it's because all seven of those monsters are spirits!
Youyu thought about it and quickly took out the newly rewarded Slifer the Sky Dragon from the system, adding it to his deck.
Then he opened the panel again, and unsurprisingly, his duelist level soared to five stars!
From an extra unworthy of a name in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime, he upgraded to an important supporting character level!
However, Slifer the Sky Dragon is already one of the strongest cards reigning at the peak of Duel Monsters. Without considering practicality and combat power, from the aspect of "force," there should be very few entities stronger than God in this world view, right?
Looking at it this way, just one Sky Dragon only raised his level to 5, which seems a bit low?
Maybe it's because this is the trimmed physical version of the Sky Dragon, which actually only contains a fragment of Divine Power?
Thinking of this, Youyu took out the real Slifer the Sky Dragon, snatched from Marik's hands.
If he adds this True God Card to his deck, wouldn't he soar on the spot?
According to the original story, as long as you don't try to summon the Egyptian God during a duel, you won't incur divine punishment. So, if I put it in my deck as a mascot to boost card luck, that should be fine?
Exchanging one card slot for a godly starting hand is always a huge gain!
Youyu held his breath, added the second Sky Dragon to the deck, shuffled, and reinserted it into the Duel Disc.
Then when he opened the panel again...
...Alright, still at level 5, not a single dip of movement.
It wasn't completely unexpected, but the disappointment was inevitable.
After all, he wasn't the Pharaoh or a Priest, even though he held the Sky Dragon card, he hadn't gained divine recognition.
Simply put, he got the body but not the heart...
Youyu helplessly pulled the True Sky Dragon out from the deck, for now, it seemed it could only gather dust in the Deck.
If only there was a way to make the Sky Dragon willingly follow him, then he could duel relying on Bonds, drawing powerful cards with ease.
As he was pondering this, voices came from not far away.
"Eh, what happened? I thought I just saw the Sky Dragon here?"
"I think I saw it too..."
"...Wow, isn't that Youyu-san!?"
Youyu turned his head and saw a large group of silly people bouncing and hopping towards him, the scene was like a kindergarten dismissal...