card-catalogs

Consult the handtrap.md catalog, which lists universal hand traps like Ash Blossom (14558127) and Maxx \"C\" (23434538) with their banlist limits, weaknesses, and typical counts. Match the hand trap to the opponent's deck type, such as search-heavy or graveyard-reliant strategies.

A hand trap must activate from the hand during the opponent's turn to interfere with the opponent; all three conditions are required. Cards that only self-summon, only search, or need a monster on field to activate are excluded.

Generic extra deck monsters have non-specific summon conditions any deck can meet, such as requiring only effect monsters or a tuner plus non-tuner. Examples include S:P Little Knight (29301450) and Baronne de Fleur (84815190); archetype-locked monsters are excluded.

Read enginepatterns.md, which documents recurring shapes like synchro ladders, grave-fusion engines, and trap recursion loops. Each pattern lists the one-card starter, end board, and the exact interruption point such as Ash on the first search or Dimensional Shifter against pile decks.

Counter traps like Solemn Judgment (41420027) have spell speed 2 and negate activations, while generic traps like Torrential Tribute (53582587) interfere from the field at spell speed 1. Choose counters for chainable negation and generic traps for board wipes or floodgate lockdown.