So: You want to speedrun Forbidden Memories. Great! Welcome to the community, and I want to help you get started.

Q: What do I need to start a run?

A: A starting deck REQUIRES a raigeki, and requires a decent equip. Dragon Treasure, Invigoration, Horn of Light, Beast Fangs, and Dark energy are those equips. Optional stuff for a good run: Umi/Mountain, Dragons, Electrics, Beasts, Fires, and females.

Q: What fusions should I know?

A: Well, this will come with time. Essentially, the most important fusions you'll need to know are dragon fusions (and sometimes, this will be also which ones have which star signs too!).

All fusions are based on Attack points and Monster Types. You cannot fuse a monster to create a monster of lower or equal attack points. Some types are not apparent- for example certain cards have types simply in their images- either they are "Dark" or "Female". Some beasts are not full beasts. You'll figure this out as you go along, but here's some simple formulas for you.

Beast + Winged Creature (usually Fairy types such as Skelengel)= Garvas (2000 attack with Pluto) Beast + Female = Nekogal #2 (1900/2000 Beast warrior) Beast + Pyro = Flame Cerberus (2100 Pyro, also has pluto!) Pyro + Bird >1300 Attack= Crimson Sunbird (2300 Winged beast, Mercury)

Dragons fuse with a lot. This will take lots of practice to get all of them. Most importantly, they make twin headed thunder dragon. The main piece of a twinheaded is a thunder or dragon of 1600 or greater, and the opposite applied. Example: Kaminari attack (1900 thunder) + Dragon= twinheaded thunder dragon.

Essential dragon Fusions (this is assuming dragons >1600 attack points)

Dragon + Thunder= Thunder Dragon (1600 Thunder/Dragon) [This fusion can become twin headed by adding a dragon OR a thunder] Dragon + Water= Spike Seadra (1600 dragon) Dragon + Water + Spellcaster= Kaminari Attack (1900 thunder) Dragon + Machine= Metal Dragon (1850 Dragon, counts as a pyro [useful for Flame Cerberus/Crimson Sunbird]) Dragon + Water+ Water= 1800 Dragon (has mars) Dragon + Plant= B. Jungle Dragon King 2100 dragon Dragon + Zombie= Dragon Zombie (1600 Dragon)

There are some unique fusions with these- A dragon or zombie with dragon zombie= Skelgon, 1700/1900 dragon. One more dragon and zombie will make Curse of dragon, and has pluto!

All of the above combinations when combined with a thunder will make Twinheaded.

Now, there are many other fusions that aren't mentioned, or are specific. You'll learn these as you go, but mostly come with experience.

Q: Okay, How about the route? Where do I go, and where do I farm?

A: I'll give you the TL;DR for the game.

Pro tip- if you hold square while in text, you can rapidly skip text. Sometimes you have to tap square to get it to reactivate.

After you found your deck, you'll determine quickly based on your deck what you need. Most times, you will go straight back to Simon Muran at the palace, select Pass on the Duel option, and then Go back to your room.

From there, you'll pretty much smash x while holding square until you fight Heishin. Purposely lose this battle, then select to shatter the puzzle.

From there, Fight Rex after the Text. You most likely want an S/A pow, but BCD can drop Beast fangs. After completing this duel, save, and return to the title screen. Select Free Duel, And fight a few fights against Rex. You're looking to obtain at least one dragon or electric, or possibly a beast fangs if you're lucky. After about five ish fights, you'll have enough to buy an electric. You generally want to buy electrics more than dragons, as dragons are easier to attain.

From there, proceed through the world tournament. IMO, B, C, or D's are preferable on most fights, as most can drop traps. You can obtain a "B" rating by having 27 or less cards in your deck, and using at least one magic, trap, or equip card successfully.

Once you beat Kaiba, you'll return to the past.

Once in the Past, go to the valley of the kings- Speak with Sadin and ask to see the Forbidden Ruins. He'll tell you that he has no idea what that is. Go back to the old duel grounds, talk with Jonochi, and then decline duels. You'll be able to save your game at the hidden card shop. At this point, you should return to the Free Duel Screen. Depending on your deck: If you obtained a trap, awesome- after a few dragons and thunders in your deck, you can probably start the A-tec strat against Pegasus for Megamorph/Bright Castle.

If you haven't: Farm either Isis or Kaiba on B, C, D. Isis yields decent dragons, and widespread ruin and dragon treasure.
Once you have a decently consistent deck, you'll have to make determination what to do. Mage soldier drops dark energy, one of the best drop rates for an equip, if you have no equips or traps, but decent fusions, you can farm meadow mage (low) on S/A pow. He drops some really, really good monsters.

After you get either: 2-3 Equips, an MBD, a megamorph, or something like that, continue on to the Valley of Kings. Talk to Sadin, go to the ruins, and scroll text. Then, proceed to beat the High Mages one by one. Usually Mountain and Sea are easiest.

After two mages, go back to the duel grounds. Jono will say that Tea is in trouble, and you'll have to go save her. You'll duel Labyrinth mage and Seto 2- The maze route is right, right, left, right.

After completing this, complete the rest of the mages. From there, you'll have to duel the final Six.

Good luck.