Tribute

"Sacrifice" redirects here. For the card named "Sacrifice" in the OCG, see "Relinquished".

Tribute
Artwork of "Ectoplasmer", depicting a monster being Tributed
Japanese	リリース (formerly 生（い）け贄（にえ）に捧（ささ）げる)
English	Tribute Formerly: offer as a Tribute or offer as Tributes Noun: Tribute (Monster)
Other names French: Sacrifier Noun: (Monstre) Sacrifice German: als Tribut anbieten Noun: Tribut(monster) Italian: offrire come Tributo Noun: Tributo Korean: 릴리스 Ribeoseu Formerly: 제물로 바친다 (祭物 ????) Jemullo Bachinda Portuguese: oferecer como Tributo Noun: (Monstro) Tributo Spanish: Sacrificar Noun: (Monstruo de) Sacrificio Traditional Chinese: 釋放 Shìfàng / Sik1 fong3 Formerly: 犧牲祭品 Xīshēng Jìpǐn / Hei1 saang1 Zai3 ban2

Tributing, called releasing (Japanese: リリース Rirīsu) in Japanese media and the English dub of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, is a method of sending cards from the hand or field to the Graveyard. In the TCG, "Tribute" is used as a verb; previously, it was phrased as "offer as a Tribute", called sacrifice (生（い）け贄（にえ）に捧（ささ）げる Ikenie ni Sasageru) in the OCG and the Yu-Gi-Oh! and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime.

Cards can be Tributed in two ways:

1. As requirement for a Tribute Summon/Set.
2. By card that specifically uses this term (as a cost or effect).

Unless a card specifically permits a player to Tribute monsters in their hand or under their opponent's control (such as "The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode", "Soul Exchange", and "Black Luster Ritual"), they can only Tribute monsters they control. While normally only monsters can be Tributed, some cards (such as several "True Draco" cards and "Kiryu") allow Spell and Trap Cards to be Tributed.

While Tributed cards are normally sent to the Graveyard, some card effects can cause Tributed cards to be moved to another location instead. Even if they are not sent to the Graveyard, they are still considered to be Tributed. For example, even while "Macro Cosmos" is active, monsters can still be Tribute Summoned and the cost of cards such as "Horn of Heaven" can still be paid.