Pendulum Scale

Pendulum Scale symbols

Japanese

Ｐ（ペンデュラム）スケール

Japanese (ruby)

ペンデュラムスケール

Japanese (base text)

Ｐスケール

Japanese (romanized)

Pendyuramusukēru

English

Pendulum Scale

Other names
French: Échelle Pendule German: Pendelbereich Italian: Valore Pendulum Korean: 펜듈럼 스케일 Pendyulleom Seukeil Portuguese: Escala de Pêndulo Spanish: Escala de Péndulo

A Pendulum Scale (Japanese: ペンデュラムスケール Pendyuramu Sukēru, abbreviated Ｐ（ペンデュラム）スケール in card text) is a set of indicators unique to Pendulum Monsters. Two of them are located above the "Monster Effect" text box of the Pendulum Monster, with the "Pendulum Effect" of the Pendulum Monster placed between them. All Pendulum Monsters have two Pendulum Scale values, signified by the blue symbol and the red symbol.

The Scales of "Stargazer Magician" and "Timegazer Magician".

Pendulum Scales are used in Pendulum Summoning. If there is a Pendulum Monster in both of the two Pendulum Zones, once per turn monsters in the hand and/or Pendulum Monsters that have been sent face-up to the Extra Deck can be Pendulum Summoned as long as their Levels are in between the Pendulum Scales of the two monsters. (Therefore, monsters cannot be Pendulum Summoned if the monsters in the two Pendulum Zones have the same Scale or Scales that are only one number apart.) In the anime, the Pendulum Scale appears as a glowing number below the Pendulum Monster when it is in the Pendulum Zone.

The official rulebook states that a Pendulum Monster placed in the left Pendulum Zone applies its left Pendulum Scale value and a Pendulum Monster placed in the right Pendulum Zone applies its right Pendulum Scale value, implying that the two Pendulum Scale values written on the card may be different. However, no Pendulum Monsters seen to date (either released or in the anime) have two different Pendulum Scale values on their card.

As with a monster's Level/Rank, ATK, and DEF, there appear to be some unofficial 'rules' that govern how high or low a monster's Pendulum Scale values may be. A monster's Pendulum Scales may be as low as 2 or as high as 7 in normal cases; a monster having a Scale of 1 or lower or a Scale of 8 or higher requires that the monster's Pendulum Effect have negative effects or conditions that restrict its use.

As with all four of the above, a monster's Pendulum Scale may change from its printed number during a Duel due to other card effects. Currently in the OCG/TCG a monster's original Pendulum Scale may range from 1 to 10, with effects being able to raise the Scale to as high as 12, while in the anime original Scales of 11 and 12 have been seen.

A Pendulum Monster. The blue and red symbols at either side of the card, just below its artwork, indicate its Pendulum Scale. This monster has a Pendulum Scale of 1.

Examples: