Changes

| image name = LastTurn-TF05-JP-VG-artwork.png | image size = | image caption = "Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi" and "Yamata Dragon" in the artwork of "Last Turn"

| kanji = スピリット(モンスター)<ref group=Notes>The parentheses here specify what part is not shown on the cards' [[Type]]/[[Ability]] line.</ref> | romanji romaji = Supiritto (monsutā) | japanese translated = | english = Spirit Monsters(monster) | french = (monstre) Spirit | german = Spirit (-Monster) (Geister Monster in the anime) | italian = (mostro) Spirit | korean = 스피릿 (몬스터) ''Seupirit (Monseuteo)'' | spanish = (monstruo) Spirit | portuguese = Monstro (monstro) Espírito<br/>Formerly: Spirit | spanish chinese = 靈魂(怪獸) ''Línghún (Guàishòu) / Ling4 wan4 (Gwaai3 sau3)''

{{Infobox/Yu-Gi-Oh!/Archetype/List | sets =* [[Mythological Age]]* [[Threat of the Dark Demon World]]* [[Duelist Legacy Volume.5]]* [[Legacy of Darkness]]* [[Pharaonic Guardian]]* [[Dark Crisis]]* [[Structure Deck: Zombie Madness]]* [[Dark Revelation Volume 1]]* [[Dark Beginning 2]]* [[Expert Edition Volume.1]]* [[Structure Deck: Spellcaster's Judgment]]* [[Tournament Pack 6]]* [[Structure Deck: Invincible Fortress]]* [[Structure Deck: Revival of the Great Dragon]]* [[The Duelist Genesis]]* [[Retro Pack 2]]* [[Duel Terminal - Charge of the Genex!!]]* [[Extra Pack Volume 2]]* [[Absolute Powerforce]]* [[Storm of Ragnarok]]* [[Duel Terminal - Xyz Startup!!]]* [[Hidden Arsenal 4: Trishula's Triumph]]* [[Photon Shockwave]]* [[Battle Pack: Epic Dawn]]* [[Hidden Arsenal 6: Omega Xyz]]* [[Hidden Arsenal 7: Knight of Stars]]* [[Shadow Specters]]* [[Legacy of the Valiant]]* [[The Dark Illusion]]* [[Raging Tempest]]* [[Circuit Break]]* [[Dawn of Majesty]]* [[Cyberstorm Access]] | anime = * [[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh!Duel Monsters]] * [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX|Yu-Gi-Oh! (Duel Monsters) GX]] | list = List of Spirit Monstersmonsters | support list = List of Spirit Monster Support Cardsmonster support cards | anti-support list = List of AntiSpirit monster anti-Spirit Monster Support Cardssupport cards

'''Spirit Monstersmonsters''' (スピリットモンスター ''Supiritto monsutā'' all ) are [[Effect Monster]]s with the [[ability]] "Spirit". Usually, they cannot be [[Special Summon]]ed, and have effects an effect that return returns them to their owner's the [[hand ]] during the [[End Phase ]] of turns the turn they are [[Normal Summon]]ed or [[flip]]ped [[face-up]] (whether by [[Flip Summon]], surviving battle or any other method). This would seem to symbolize the monster "being spiritual" turn they are Special Summoned, in case of Spirit monsters that its physical body is temporary (barring player interventionsmust be Special Summoned). The They debuted in ''returning[[Mythological Age]]'' effect also triggers if the Spirit Monster and first received support in general becomes under the control of the opponent during the turn it would return or is summoned by your opponent after winding up in the opponent's '[[handThe Duelist Genesis]] via effects like "[[Exchange]]". This makes them appropriate fodder for getting rid of monsters like "[[Brain Jacker]]" or for using "[[Creature Swap]]"'', almost 7 years later.

The original run designs of released most Spirit Monsters also could not be [[Special Summon]]edmonsters are based on beings from Eastern mythology, primarily Japanese ones. HoweverThey all have very similar purple backgrounds, new Spirit Monsters starting with and often feature ''[[The Duelist Genesiswikipedia:Onibi|onibi]] have been released of which (so far) can be Special Summoned for a cost'' lights on their card artworks.

Spirit Monster Cards There are designated by having "no [[archetype]]s focused on Spirit" in monsters, but the place where "Effect" would be[[Shinobird]] and [[Martial Art Spirit]] [[series]] do. They While most Spirit monsters are also the second secondary type not members of Effect an archetype, a few Spirit monsters belong to have this indicator the "[[Ice Barrier]]" ("[[Sacred Spirit of the Ice Barrier]]") and "[[Flip Effect MonstersGishki]] prior to them simply had "FLIP:("[[Gishki Natalia]]" and "[[Gishki Emilia|Emilia]]" at ) archetypes, both of which exist in the beginning [[Duel Terminal]] card storyline; these Spirit monsters are not based on mythological figures, but instead represent revived spirits of deceased characters in their effects)storyline.

Many of the ==Characteristics=====Shared effects===Most Spirit Monsters' designs were based on icons from Japanese mythology and they all have very similar backgrounds, supposedly of monsters share the spirit worldfollowing two effects:* Cannot be Special Summoned. Their OCG names would be given in [[Wikipedia:Kanji|kanji]]* Once per turn, but during the [[WikipediaEnd Phase, if this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up this turn:Furigana|furigana]] would be given in [[Wikipedia:Katakana|katakana]] which normally would indicate a foreign-language wordReturn it to the hand.

One Spirit monster The effect to return to the hand during the End Phase only activates during the turn they are Normal Summoned or flipped face-up. If they do not return to the hand in particular, that End Phase (such as due to "[[Dimensionhole]]" or "[[Yata-GarasuForbidden Chalice]]"), is infamous for its complete lockdown of the opponent's hand when combined this effect does not activate in subsequent turns. If a Spirit monster with "this effect was [[Chaos Emperor Dragon Special Summon]]ed face- Envoy of up (which would usually require an effect that [[Ignoring the EndSummoning conditions|ignores the Summoning conditions]]"), then this effect does not activate, however both of these monsters are on the latest ban listas it was not Normal Summoned or flipped face-up.

These effects are not universal among all Spirit monsters. Notable exceptions include:* The [[Martial Art Spirit Monsters often had effects that would ]]s can be used when [[Special Summon]]ed. They return to the hand during the End Phase of the turn they were played, Normal Summoned or had combatflipped face-based effects but would be vulnerable due to low attackup, making the returning to hand ability a boonlike most Spirit monsters. Examples of the former include * "[[TsukuyomiYamato-no-Kami]]" and , "[[MaharaghiKonohanasakuya]]", and examples the [[Shinobird]] Ritual Monsters cannot be Normal Summoned/Set; they must be Special Summoned by their own Summoning procedure or [[Ritual Summon]]. They return to the hand during the End Phase of the latter include turn they were Special Summoned.* "[[Yata-GarasuAmaterasu]]" and "cannot be Normal or Special Summoned; it must be [[Inaba White RabbitNormal Set]]", and it still returns itself to hand during the End Phase of the turn it is flipped up.

The two most powerful ==Design==Most Spirit monsters are "based on specific beings from Oriental mythology, which includes both Japanese [[Hino-Kagu-Tsuchiwikipedia:Yōkai|Yōkai]]" and "various other Asian folklore. The only Spirit monsters not specifically based on Oriental mythology are the [[Yamata DragonMartial Art Spirit]]". They are counterparts of each other. They are both two tribute monsters with high attack and defense, and have hand-based effects. The first empties your opponents hand when it deals damages, and the second fills yours when it deals damage. The primary weakness is their returning to your hand, due Spirit monsters belonging to the requirement for tributes[[Duel Terminal]] storyline. The fact that they are counterparts [[Shinobird]] [[series]] is emphasized , as a whole, based on "the story of the ''[[Last Turnwikipedia:Tanabata|Tanabata]]", where a battle between them is depicted''.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ {{nowrap|Mythological Spirit monsters can only remain on }}! Spirit monster !! Origin|-| [[Konohanasakuya]] || [[wikipedia:Konohanasakuya-hime|Konohanasakuya-hime]]|-| [[Amaterasu]] || [[wikipedia:Amaterasu|Amaterasu]]|-| [[Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi]] || [[wikipedia:Kagu-Tsuchi|Kagutsuchi]]|-| [[Yamata Dragon]] || [[wikipedia:Yamata no Orochi|Yamata no Orochi]]|-| [[Dark Dust Spirit]] || [[wikipedia:Shinigami|Shinigami]]|-| [[Yamato-no-Kami]] || [[wikipedia:Susanoo|Susanoo]] and the field temporarily (unless they are faceheads of [[wikipedia:Yamata no Orochi|Yamata no Orochi]]|-down during the End Phase they would be returned | [[Fenghuang]] || [[wikipedia:Fenghuang|Fenghuang]] or removed from the field temporarily during the the same time), and thus their controllers run into a major problem of maintaining field presence, but many Spirit monsters have devastating special effects to make up for this deficiency. "Hou-Ou"|-| [[Mirror of YataGreat Long Nose]] || [[wikipedia:Tengu|Red Nose Tengu]]|-| [[Susa Soldier]] || [[wikipedia:Susanoo|Susanoo]]" and "[[Izanagiwikipedia:Kusanagi|Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi]]|-| [[Yaksha]] || [[wikipedia:Yaksha|Yaksha]]|-| [[Rasetsu]] || [[wikipedia:Rakshasa|Rakshasa]]|-| [[Amano-Iwato]] || [[wikipedia:Amano-Iwato|Ama no Iwato]]" keep |-| [[Hebo, Lord of the spirits on the field permanently River]] || [[wikipedia:Kappa|Kappa]] or until they are removed[[wikipedia:Hebo|Hebo]]|-| [[Asura Priest]] || [[wikipedia:Asura|Asura]]|-| [[Maharaghi]] || [[wikipedia:Dogū|Shakoukidoguu]]|-| [[Fushi No Tori]] || [[wikipedia:Phoenix|Phoenix]]|-| [[Izanami]] || [[wikipedia:Izanami|Izanami]]|-| [[Tsukuyomi]] || [[wikipedia:Tsukuyomi|Tsukuyomi]]|-| [[Gundari]] || [[wikipedia:Kuṇḍali|Kuṇḍali]]|-| [[Aratama]], making these cards a must for any spirit deck. "[[Spiritual Energy Settle MachineNikitama]]" also does this, but it costs a discard per turn. Other ways to make up for the returning to hand is to make your opponent's monsters return to their hand whenever a spirit does, such as with "and [[Sakitama]] || [[wikipedia:Mitama|Mitama]]|-| [[Spirit's InvitationInaba White Rabbit]]", or to gain life points whenever this happens, such as with "|| [[Spring wikipedia:Hare_of_Inaba|Hare of RebirthInaba]]".|-| [[Otohime]] || [[wikipedia:Oto-hime|Oto-hime]]|-| [[Yata-Garasu]] || [[wikipedia:Three-legged crow|Three-legged crow]]|-| [[Kinka-byo]] || [[wikipedia:bakeneko|Bakeneko]]|}

In addition, there is a '''loophole''' with spirit monsters that lets them stay on the field regardless of their return{| class="wikitable" style="text-toalign: center" |+ {{nowrap|Spirit support}}! Support card !! Origin|-owner's hand effect. The exact text on Spirit Monster cards states they must return to their owner's hand "''during the End Phase of the turn | [[they areIzanagi] Normal Summoned or flipped face-up''". Therefore, if they stay on the field for more than one turn you don't have to worry about them returning to your hand. For instance, a "] || [[Hino-Kagu-Tsuchiwikipedia:Izanagi|Izanagi]]" monster equipped with "|-| [[Mirror of Yata]]" who then had its Mirror destroyed (e.g. by "|| [[wikipedia:Yata no Kagami|Yata no Kagami]]|-| [[Heavy StormSword of Kusanagi]]" or "|| [[Mystical Space Typhoonwikipedia:Kusanagi no Tsurugi|Kusanagi no Tsurugi]]") would stay on the field the subsequent turns. Another card that can help bypass the common effect |-| [[Orb of Spirit monsters that returns them to the hand is "Yasaka]] || [[Future Visionswikipedia:Yasakani no Magatama|Yasakani no Magatama]]". When Spirit monsters are Normal Summoned, and afterward removed from play by the card, the End Phase would have already passed when they return so they can no longer return to the hand.|}

A commonly used card with Spirits is "Spirit monsters, as an individual Spirit-focused deck, are focused on overcoming their negative self-restrictions, and utilizing Spirit support cards to bring out powerful individual Spirit monsters and use their strong effects in the one turn they stay on the field. Due to their Main Deck nature and Special Summoning restriction, Spirit-focused Decks are primarily focused on [[Mausoleum of Normal Summon|Normal]] and [[Tribute Summon]]ing; however, Spirit Decks focused on the Emperor[[Shinobird]]", which allows users to pay a life point cost to get high-level Ritual Spirit boss monsters out without tribute. focus on [[Trap MonstersRitual Summon]] are also often used either as tributes or as a method of maintaining a field defense when the Spirits leave the fielding instead.

Their effects range from [[Beatdown]], [[Direct Attack]], hand control, and even field control, making a dedicated spirit deck very flexible regardless of what the opponent has. However, due to their habit of returning to the hand, cards that make you discard will be a serious hamper, as Spirit Monsters in general are rather useless in the Graveyard. Cards that recover discarded cards are thus suggested, but not recommended as While Spirit Monsters do not have much in the way of deck thinning. Once the problem of field presence is resolved, spirit monsters can be quite annoying played as well as devastating, since it is hard for the opponent staple monsters in historical Decks due to destroy them, and even with cards having relatively strong effects that forces discards, it is hard made up for their negative effects (relative to target a particular spirit monster (unless something like "[[Card Destruction]]" is usedtheir contemporaries). This is particularly true for "[[Inaba White Rabbit]]", most Spirit monsters have become obsolete as it can attack directly while avoiding opponents' counter-attacks, making it quite annoying as well as devastatingthe metagame progressed.: ''See also [[Card Rulings:Spirits]]''

==Example==Spirit monsters have a wide variety of effects. Key Spirit monsters that provide consistency include "[[Aratama]]", a monster searcher, "[[Nikitama]]" and "[[Image:Yata-GarasuLODSakitama]]", who grant extra Normal Summons to Spirits, and "[[Konohanasakuya]]", a Special Summon extender with a GY effect to let a Spirit monster stay on the field (by preventing its return-ENto-ScRhand effect from activating).jpg|center]]

* "[[Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi]]" empties the opponent's entire hand before their Draw Phase if it inflicts battle damage.* "[[Yamata Dragon]]" fills its controller's hand with up to 5 cards if it inflicts battle damage.* "[[Dark Dust Spirit]]" destroys all other face-up monsters when Normal Summoned.* "[[Fenghuang]]" destroys all of the opponent's Set Spell/Traps when Normal Summoned.* "[[Amaterasu]]", which can only be [[Normal Set|Set]], will [[Banish]] every card on the field other than itself if it flips face-up.* "[[Amano-Iwato]]", which prevents all non-Spirit monsters from activating their effects. It is arguably the most powerful Spirit boss monster, as it can be easily summoned, and provides a strong continuous lockdown effect, providing real field presence in the opponent's turn if the player manages to have "Amano-Iwato" stay on the field. The Ritual Spirit monsters "[[Shinobaron Peacock]]" and "[[Shinobaroness Peacock]]", despite their status as Ritual monsters, are arguably the most accessible, powerful, and relevant Spirit monsters in the game. Being Ritual monsters, they have access to large amounts of Ritual support, including the powerful "[[Pre-Preparation of Rites]]". Their Ritual Spell, "[[Shinobird's Calling]]", can use GY Spirit monsters as resources for their Ritual Summon. Once Summoned, they can both remove up to 3 opposing cards and Special Summon a Spirit monster [[ignoring its Summoning conditions]] (typically "[[Amano-Iwato]]", which will stay on the field), and after they return to the hand in the End Phase, will float into two tokens. These two Ritual monsters are easily accessible and instantly provide removal and board presence upon hitting the field, making them extremely effective Spirit boss monsters. In terms of supportive Spell/Traps, Spirits lack efficient consistency Spell/Traps, and mostly have obsolete battle-focused Spell/Traps or conditional card effects that remove their self-return effects. Two Spirit support Spell/Traps that still have some relevancy are "[[Shinobird Power Spot]]", which provides stat boosts and conditional searches, and "[[Shinobird Salvation]]", which destroys an opposing card when a Spirit monster returns to the hand. ====Monsters=Recommended cards=== {{Decklist|Recommended cards

* [[Fushi No ToriFenghuang]] * [[Great Long NoseHebo, Lord of the River]]

* [[MaharaghiKinka-byo]]* [[OtohimeNikitama]]* [[Spirit ReaperRasetsu]]* [[Susa SoldierSakitama]]* [[Shinobird Crane]]* [[Tsukuyomi]] (Traditional format)* [[Tsumuha-Kutsunagi the Lord of Swords]]* [[Yaksha]]

* [[Yata-Garasu]] (Traditional format) |tuner monsters =* [[D.D. Sprite]] |pendulum monsters =* [[Disablaster the Matchless Turret]] |ritual monsters =* [[Shinobaron Peacock]]* [[Shinobaroness Peacock]] |synchro monsters =* [[Ancient Sacred Wyvern]] |xyz monsters =* [[Constellar Ptolemy M7]]* [[Gauntlet Launcher]]* [[YakshaPhoton Strike Bounzer]]

|normal spells ====Spells====<!-- This is not an exact Decklist. Do not add multiples or staples.-->* [[Book of Moon]]* [[Cold Wave]]

* [[Dark HoleMystic Box]]* [[FissureSoul Exchange]]* [[Forbidden Chalice]]* [[Future Visions]]* [[Giant Trunade]]* [[Infinite Cards]]* [[Lightning Vortex]]|equip spells =

* [[Soul ExchangeSword of Kusanagi]] |ritual spells =* [[Shinobird's Calling]] |continuous spells =

====Traps===|quick-play spells =<!-- This is not an exact Decklist. Do not add multiples or staples.-->* [[Forbidden Chalice]]* [[Bottomless Trap HoleThe Monarchs Stormforth]] |normal traps =* [[Compulsory Evacuation DeviceLegacy of Yata-Garasu]](Combine with "Creature Swap", "Mystic Box", or "Hebo, Lord of the River")* [[Cyber Shadow GardnaSoul Transition]]* [[Dark Mirror ForceThe Golden Apples]] |continuous traps =

* [[Mirror Force]]* [[Sakuretsu Armor]]* [[Scrap-Iron ScarecrowShinobird Salvation]]

* [[Zoma There Can Be Only One]]}} ===Weaknesses===* Despite having several strong boss monsters, the lack of consistency support for Spirit monsters, and their inability to swarm the field for combo plays, still makes it difficult to quickly summon Spirit boss monsters. Most Spirit decks thus play extremely slowly, and their plays can be easily disrupted.* Because Spirit monsters have return to the hand during the End Phase, Spirit Decks have very little field-staying power, leaving the player's board wide open to the opponent's attacks.* "[[Rivalry of Warlords]]" and "[[Gozen Match]]" can slow this deck down, since Spirit monster Decks typically uses Spirits of different Types and Attributes. ==Examples=={{Show card image gallery| Amaterasu | Effect Spirit Monster| Shinobaron Peacock | Ritual Spirit Monster| Kuro-Obi Karate Spirit | Pendulum Spirit Monster}} ==In the anime==In the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! (anime)|Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' anime, in episodes [[Yu-Gi-Oh! - Episode 117|117]] and [[Yu-Gi-Oh! - Episode 118|118]], [[Noah Kaiba]] used Spiritmonsters in his duel against [[Yami Yugi]]. According to him, the Spirit monsters were created by [[Maximillion Pegasus]] when he was traveling to Eastern Asia and drew inspiration from the religions and mythologies from that region. In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'' and ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V]]'', "Asura Priest" and "Dark Dust Spirit" had cameo appearances, in episodes [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX - Episode 111|111]] and [[Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V - Episode 021|21]], respectively. ==Trivia== * All [[Pendulum Monster|Pendulum]] Spirit Monsters in the game are part of the "[[Backup SoldierMartial Art Spirit]]" series.** They are the only Spirit Monsters that can be Special Summoned under any given circumstances, in which case it does not trigger their effect that returns them to the hand. * The Spirit monster "[[Yata-Garasu]]" is infamous for [[Yata-Garasu Lockdown|its complete lockdown]] of the opponent's hand when combined with "[[Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End]]"; thus, Yata-Garasu was [[Forbidden]] from 2004 until 2022. * "[[Izanagi]]" is the only non-Spirit Monster that has ''Spirit World'' in its background and is the only non-Spirit Monster that directly supports Spirit Monsters. * "[[Soul Resurrection]]" is the only card that has the ''Spirit World'' in its background with absolutely no relation to Spirit Monsters. * The effect that returns Spirit Monsters to the hand, as well as their transparent appearance, may be a reference to them not being able to stay on the physical plane for long. ==See also==* [[Card Rulings:Spirit monster]] ==Notes==<references group="Notes" />

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