I just started playing yesterday and every deck seems to need cards from Ultimate Rising to be competitive, which you can't buy any more.
Am I doomed? Should I just give up on making a good deck?
That's the problem with the new player, UR have staples that just can't be replaced like OtC, Mask of the Accursed, SONIC FRIGGIN BIRD, other staple like sphere kuriboh can be replaced by e-con, fusion gate by fusion sage etc. I hope they will somehow made the discontinued pack cards obtainable in the future. The new pack isn't bad, like magic drain will pretty much be a staple in any deck
No, don't give up yet. There are f2p players who don't spend a single gem and still reach kog. Check out these decks: http://www.duellinksmeta.com/home/new-player-3-zero-gemf2p-king-of-games-decks
I would suggest that you go for spellcasters or dragons from these packs(flame of the tyrant - new impact - valkyries rage- wonders of the sky) you dont need the newer pack. For Dragons { 3 or 2 white horned dragon - 3 dwellers - 3 twin headed bahemoth - 3 element dragon or 3 sonic duck - 2 sergant electro \ spells : 2 De-Spell(from kaiba) 2 continuous spells of your choice \
traps : wind storm (from mai) mirror wall 2 golden apples or 1 golden apple and a trap jammer mainly for mirror wall since twister is gone now.
Note : i suggest you farm kaiba and try to at least get one enemy controller (2 is better).
For spellcasters : 3 skilled red magician - 3 or 2 mythical beast cerb - 2 legion the fiend jester - 2 black magician - 1 summoned skulls or dark magician girl - Neo the magic sword man (tho i am not sure if new players gets it or not but if not rogue doll should do the job) // spell cards mostly equips and traps mostly magician cirle 2 at least.
I forgot that Fiend could be better if you want to go for high attack but you cannot really make a full fiend deck with you missing on bakura first part of the event.
NewGuy
Thex
