A playmat is an awesome accessory to help keep your cards protected during fast, competitive duels. It is also a must have in competitions and locals alike.
They will make picking up and playing your cards much easier, as well as help protect them from accidental card bends. If you have yet to purchase a playmat, or are looking for a new one, you have came to the right place.
Playmats come in a wide array of images, styles, and quality which can make it very hard to pick the right one. The best playmats are the ones that offer the best functionality are made with high-quality materials that last.
In our comprehensive guide to the best Yu-Gi-Oh playmats, we’ll show you the top mats on the market and give you some advice when it comes time to choose. Let’s get started.
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…
| Name | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Top Pick: Deluxe 2 Player Pendulum Zone Competition Playmat | 4.5/5 | Click for Price |
| Master Rule 4 Link Zones Playmat | 4/5 | Click for Price |
| Blue Eyes Ultimate Playmat | 4/5 | Click for Price |
1- Blue Eyes Ultimate Playmat
The first playmat we will be looking at is the iconic Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon. We decided to put this in our top list due to the sheer fact that this monster is awesome.
There is no outline of the playing field on this playmat, but it makes up for it with the high-quality Blue-Eyes image. The image quality is fantastic, there is no blurring or pixelation on the final product.
This playmat is made out of a polyester cloth surface with a thick black open-cell sponge rubber base.
What we like
- Awesome high quality image
- Good price
- Rubber sponge base to prevent slipping
- Cloth top
What we don’t like
- No outline of the playing field
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
2- Black Luster Soldier Playmat
The next playmat on our list is the Iconic Black Luster Soldier. This mat’s artwork is beautiful. It offers a full-size, high quality image that will protect your cards in style.
This mat is a full-size which means it is 24 inches wide and 14 inches tall with a 1/16 inch thickness. Do not get this confused with a half playmat. This is big enough to support both duelists.
There is no playing field, so keep that in mind if purchasing this product. It is an artwork only playmat. This mat also works great for many other card games as well, not just Yu-Gi-Oh.
The top is made of a smooth cloth surface, while the bottom is a non-slip base to prevent it from moving while dueling.
What we like
- Iconic Black Luster Soldier
- Full-size playmat
- Non-slip bottom
- Smooth cloth top
What we don’t like
- No playing field outline
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
3- Deluxe 2 Player Pendulum Zone Competition Playmat
This competition style playmat by The Gaming Mat Company is our top pick in our review list. At first glance, it’s beautiful. Not in the artwork kind of way, but in the serious competitor kind of way which we think is awesome. Although it isn’t an image of your favorite monster, it brings a lot to the table.
To start, it has high quality printed images to help keep the mat bright even after machine washing, which we don’t recommend. The entire mat is covered in a waterproof coating to help protect against accidental drink spills, or any other type of spills.
If you end up spilling anything on this playmat, you can simply just wipe it off. The outlined playing field that this mat offers is relevant in the most current meta of the Yu-Gi-Oh card game which means its great for beginners and advanced players.
The playmat is created out of durable, environmentally-friendly, odorless, and non-toxic materials and is built to last. It has a soft cotton top, with a non-slip bottom.
One of the most noticeable differences of this mat that distinguishes it from almost all the others on the market is its thickness. It is 4mm thick which is about twice the thickness of all other mats on the market. This adds extra sturdiness and durability.
What we like
- Full-size playmat with card outlines
- Built with high quality materials
- Non-slip bottom and smooth cotton top
- Waterproof
- 4mm thickness
- Machine washable
What we don’t like
- High price point
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
4- Master Rule 4 Link Zones Playmat
The Master Rule 4 Link Zones Playmat is one of our recommended picks right under our top pick. It offers many of the same features and designs as The Gaming Mat Company’s mat.
This is a half-playmat which means it is only good for your side of the field. The cool thing about this mat is that it has an awesome looking universe artwork which also has an outline of the playing field.
The top of the mat is made out of a high quality cloth for smooth play, as well as a natural rubber bottom for maximum grip.
This playmat can also double down as a mat for your keyboard and mouse when not in use for dueling.
What we like
- Outline of playing field
- Good Price
- Cloth top
- Rubber bottom
- High quality materials
- Great artwork
What we don’t like
- Not a full-size playmat
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
5- Egypt Mural Competition Style Playmat
This Egypt Mural Competition Style Playmat is another full-size playmat that you can use for two players. It has an awesome Yu-Gi-Oh egyption theme to it which is awesome.
It also has an outline of the field with all the meta relevant zones on it which makes it beginner and experienced player friendly. It has a cloth top with a rubber bottom to prevent sliding during play.
It’s priced in the middle which makes it an interesting choice as a budget pick if you really want an awesome full-size playmat.
What we like
- Well priced
- Full-size playmat
- Meta relevant outline of playing field
- Cloth top and rubber bottom
What we don’t like
- Not as high quality as other brands on the market
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
6- Ultra PRO Playmat
It wouldn’t be a proper review or roundup without having Ultra PRO in this list. We feel that they deserve a spot in this list since they have done so much in terms of products and innovation in the trading card community.
This is a great playmat to use for numerous different card or board games. The size of the mat is 13.5 inches x 24 inches. It is machines washable as long as you don’t add detergent and place it on a cold, delicate cycle. Do not put it in the dryer. Air dry only.
This is a pretty standard and basic playmat and is perfect for new players. It can be used for many types of card games and activities. It works great as a mouse pad or as a playmat for board games.
As with most Ultra PRO products, it is great quality for the price, but there are usually better options on the market for more advanced players and veterans alike.
What we like
- Very low price
- Full-size playmat
- Great generic playmat for multiple games
- Superb quality and brand name
What we don’t like
- Pretty plain looking
- No playing field outline
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
What to Look for in a Yu-Gi-Oh Playmat
To find the best Yu-Gi-Oh playmat for your needs, consider the following major aspects before finalizing a purchase.
Size of the Playmat
There are essentialy two different sizes of playmats that you need to look out for. There are half playmats, and full-size playmats. The half playmat is only big enough to accompany the cards on your side of the playing field.
Full-sized playmats are able to support the playing field of both players for a more smooth and seamless duel. There is no right or wrong playmat to use.
A full-size playmat is excellent to use in tournaments and locals, while a half playmat is a great playmat to use to show off your uniqueness or style. Both can be used in either situation and is purely based on player preference.
Image and Design
The image or design on a playmat is what makes it unique to the others on the market. There are various forms of artwork on them that try to appeal to the player’s taste.
Some playmats even have an outline of the playing field to help keep your cards more organized while dueling. This is the type of playmat that we recommend since it keeps your field looking professional and clean.
If you play multiple different trading card games, then it would be wise to select a playmat that is playfield neutral, meaning that it only has artwork on it and not an outline of a playfield.
On the other hand, you can also purchase multiple different playmats based on the types of games you will be playing.
Quality
The type of material used and the thickness of the mat may differ from brand to brand. The best playmat will have a thick, quality rubber bottom mixed in with a high quality cotton or cloth top that is smooth and sometimes waterproof.
Keeping your cards safe with a high quality playmat on the battlefield is just as important as protecting your cards when they are off the battlefield. When your cards are not in use on a playmat, they should always be kept safe and secure inside of a deck box.
Best Yu-Gi-Oh Playmat Brands
The Gaming Mat Company
The Gaming Mat Company crafts their mats using only the highest quality of materials. They do not take shortcuts when it comes to materials or size when it comes to creating the best play playmats.
Most of the playmats in the space are 2mm in thickness, while their mats are a whopping 4mm which is double. Not only are their mats thicker, but they are also wider and deeper.
The top of all of their playmats are super smooth so your cards will not get damaged in the heat of the moment.
The entire staff at TheGamingMatCompany are always trying their best to bring cool and unique images to the table for their customers playmats. They try to find unique images that you won’t find anywhere else.
Ultra PRO
Ultra PRO is already very well known in the trading card industry. They excel in card accessories which is no surprise why they also have playmats.
They are the leaders in the industry by sheer volume and popularity. They started their venture in 1952 and has been growing ever since. Their top-tier network of over 130 distributors is used to market and sell their products all over the world.
Ultra PRO is a family-owned company with a head office near Los Angeles, California.
FAQs
What Are Playmats Made Of?
A playmat can be made of various different materials. They are commonly made with paper, rubber, cloth, and foam. They are built with a smooth cloth cop, and a rubber bottom for grip.
How Big Are Playmats?
There are two types of playmats. The half playmat, and a full-size playmat. Half playmats are usually 24″ x 7″ while a full-size playmat is double that.
Can You Wash a Playmat?
We advise against washing a playmat in a laundry machine. The safest way to clean a dirty playmat is to gently hand wash it in a sink with small amounts of cold water.
Putting a playmat into a machine to be washed can cause colors to fade, the top cloth to separate from the rubber, or wear out the edges.
Final Thoughts
The Deluxe 2 Player Pendulum Zone Competition Playmat by The Gaming Mat Company is our top pick due to its superb quality and design. The main downside to this playmat is the cost.
On the other hand, the Master Rule 4 Link Zones Playmat is priced very low and offers a lot of the features that The Gaming Mat Company offers, but it is only a half-playmat.
Whichever Yu-Gi-Oh playmat you choose for your cards, we hope this guide has been helpful in your purchasing decision. Thanks for reading!