Editing Summoning condition

'''Summoning conditions''' refer to specific [[condition]]s that define how [[Monster Cards|monsters]] can be [[Summon]]ed.

==Card text==

===Cannot be Summoned===
{{Main|Cannot be Normal Summoned|Cannot be Normal Set|Cannot be Flip Summoned|Cannot be Special Summoned|Cannot be Fusion Summoned|Cannot be Synchro Summoned|Cannot be Xyz Summoned|Cannot be Link Summoned|Cannot be Special Summoned except by a specific method}}
Indicates the monster cannot be [[Summon]]ed or [[Normal Set]] with the listed Summoning mechanics, which may include Normal Set.

For monsters that cannot be Normal Summoned but can be Normal Set, earlier card texts like "[[Mystic Swordsman LV6]]" indicate this with the text "(but can be Normal Set)", while "[[Amaterasu]]" does not.

For monsters that conditionally apply a "Cannot be Summoned" condition, there are two written formats for such a condition that use "if" and "unless" respectively. They define additional parameters that, when applied, prevents or permits monster's Summon with the listed Summoning mechanics. In both cases, the monsters can be Normal Set.

Cards with "Cannot be Summoned unless" conditions are only used on "[[Guardian]]" monsters, "[[Terrorking Archfiend]]" and "[[Vaalmonica]]" Link Monsters in the English ''TCG''. However, each of these categories of monsters use different card texts for the same conditions in the Japanese ''OCG''.

* "This card cannot be [''Summon mechanic'']." → "Cannot be [''Summon mechanic'']."
* "Cannot be [''Summon mechanic''] [''if clause'']."
* "This card can only be Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned when [''clause'']." → "Cannot be Summoned [''unless clause'']." (as used on "Guardian" monsters; introduced in ''[[Legendary Collection 3: Yugi's World Mega Pack]]'')
* "Can only be Link Summoned [''while clause'']" (as used on "[[Lib the World Key Blademaster]]")
* "Cannot be Special Summoned, except by/with [''Summon procedure'']."
* "Cannot be Special Summoned except from [''location'']" (as used on "[[Felgrand Dragon]]")
* "Cannot be Special Summoned by [''effect'']".

===Cannot be Special Summoned from===
{{Main|Cannot be Special Summoned from the Deck|Cannot be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck|Cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard|Cannot be Special Summoned from the hand|Cannot be Special Summoned while banished|Cannot be Special Summoned from the Spell & Trap Zone}}
Indicates the monster cannot be Special Summoned (using card effects) from the specified location, usually the [[GY]].
* "This card cannot be Special Summoned from [''location'']."/"Neither player can Special Summon this card from [''location'']." → "Cannot be Special Summoned from [''location'']."
<!--"Cannot be Special Summoned unless..."; earliest iteration of Toon monster summoning condition (see Toon Blue-Eyes errata as an example). Extremely wonky. Uncertain if earlier card wordings indicated completely diffent gameplay functions (would they work like the Guardians?). Functions as Semi-Nomi in current PSCT, so not notable enough to cover in text. Making a note here as storage.-->

===Must first be===
Indicates the monster is a "[[Special Summon-only monster]]", or, unofficially, a "Semi-Nomi" monster. The monster can be Special Summoned using the described Summoning procedure, after which it is considered to have been [[properly Special Summoned]].

Before the monster is properly Special Summoned, it cannot be Special Summoned with card effects. After it is properly Special Summoned, it can be Special Summoned with card effects. A properly Special Summoned monster sent into a non-public knowledge location loses its properly Special Summoned status.

If written on a Main Deck monster, it is always preceded by "Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set".

Earlier card texts do not distinguish between "Must be" and "Must first be" distinctions.

* "This card can only be [''Summon procedure'']." → "Must first be [''Summon procedure'']."

===Must be===
Indicates the monster is what's unofficially termed a "[[Nomi]]" monster. The monster can only be Special Summoned using the described Summoning procedure.

If written on a Main Deck monster, it is always preceded by "Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set". [[Wicked God]] monsters use a similar card text for their [[#Requires special Tributes|3 Tributes]] condition.

Earlier card texts do not distinguish between "Must be" and "Must first be" distinctions.

* "This monster can only be Special Summoned by [''Summon procedure'']."<!--See Dark Paladin errata-->/"This card cannot be Special Summoned except by [''Summon procedure'']." → "Must be [''Summon procedure''] and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways." → "Must be [''Summon procedure'']." (changed in ''[[Battles of Legend: Light's Revenge]]'')

===Special Summoned by/while===

Only used in the context of "Must be" or "Must first be" as a clause of a Summoning procedure. Indicates the monster's Summoning procedure involves performing the action and/or fulfilling the clauses written after "by" or "while".

"[[Nekroz of Sophia]]" has a [[#Restricts requirement for Ritual Summon|Ritual Summon restriction condition]] with different functionalities that is written in a similar way in the English ''TCG'', but not in the Japanese ''OCG''.

* "[Must be/Must first be] Special Summoned (from your [''location'']) by/while [''action/clause'']."

===Must be with the above materials===
{{Main|Must be Fusion Summoned with listed Fusion Materials}}

Only used on Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Monsters, and only in the context of "Must be" or "Must first be" as a clause of a Summoning procedure. Prevents the monster from being Special Summoned using its listed Summoning mechanic but without its listed materials, such as by an effect that Special Summons and is treated as the listed mechanic. For Fusion Monsters, also prevents a Fusion Summon that uses [[Fusion Substitute Monster]]s.

* "[Must be/Must first be] [Fusion/Synchro/Xyz] Summoned with the above [Fusion Materials/materials]."

===A Fusion Summon of this card can only be done with the above Fusion Materials===
{{Main|Must be Fusion Summoned with listed Fusion Materials}}

Only used on Fusion Monsters. Prevents a Fusion Summon that uses [[Fusion Substitute Monster]]s. Unlike "Must be Fusion Summoned with the above Fusion Materials", its lack of a "Must" text allows it to be Special Summoned with card effects outside of its proper Summoning procedure, even if they don't use its listed Fusion Materials.

* "A Fusion Summon of this card can only be done with the above [Fusion Materials/materials ("[[Arcana Knight Joker]]"-only)]."

===You can Ritual Summon this card with===

Only used on Ritual Monsters. Indicates the card(s) that can be used to Ritual Summon the monster. Though older versions of the condition specifies "only", the condition does not restrict the Ritual Summon to only those card(s), meaning that [[Nonspecific Ritual Spell Card]]s can always be used for Ritual Summoning these monsters. 

Older versions of the condition (at different points in time) also include the requirements for Ritual Summoning that are described on the corresponding Ritual Spell ("You must also Tribute monsters whose total Level Stars equal [level] or more from the field or your hand"), or "Must first be" conditions ("Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. Must first be Ritual Summoned").

* "This monster can only be Ritual Summoned with [''card/category of cards'']" → "You can Ritual Summon this card with [''card/category of cards'']" (introduced in ''[[Hidden Arsenal 5: Steelswarm Invasion]]'')

===Restricts requirement for Ritual Summon===
{{Main|Restricts requirement for Ritual Summon}}

===Restricts Ritual Spell for Ritual Summon===
{{Main|Restricts Ritual Spell for Ritual Summon}}

===Requires special Tributes===
{{Main|Requires specific Tributes for its Tribute Summon|Normal Summon with 3 Tributes}}

These conditions all specify non-standard requirements for Normal/Tribute Summons. It is written in four different ways, each with their own specific gameplay implications:

* "This card can only be Normal Summoned by Tributing 1 "Flamvell" monster you control." ("[[Flamvell Commando]]"-only)
** Only affects Normal Summoning face-up, regardless of the monster's Level. If the monster is Normal/Tribute Summoned face-down, the requirement does not apply.
* "If you Tribute Summon this card, the Tribute must be [''property'']."
** Only affects Tribute Summons. If the monster is Normal Summoned but not Tribute Summoned (i.e. if its Level in the hand becomes 4 or less), the requirement does not apply.
* "Requires 3 [''property''] Tributes to [Normal Summon/Set / Normal Summon (cannot be Normal Set)]."
** Affects all Normal Summons, regardless of the monster's Level.
** Always either contains a required property, or contains "Normal Summon (cannot be Normal Set)". "Requires 3 Tributes to Normal Summon/Set" would be mechanically identical to the condition written below, but such a condition has not been printed in the ''TCG''.
* "Must be Normal Summoned/Set by Tributing 3 monsters." ([[Wicked God]]-only)
** Affects all Normal Summons, regardless of the monster's Level.

==List of OCG/TCG monsters with Summoning conditions==
{{Card query|[[Effect type::Summoning condition]]|limit=10|medium=official|type=monster}}

==See also==
* [[Summon monster effect]]s
* [[Ignoring the Summoning conditions]]

{{Gameplay}}

[[Category:Gameplay]]