Summoning condition
Summoning conditions refer to specific conditions that define how monsters can be Summoned.
Contents
- 1 Card text
- 1.1 Cannot be Summoned
- 1.2 Cannot be Special Summoned from
- 1.3 Must first be
- 1.4 Must be
- 1.5 Special Summoned by/while
- 1.6 Must be with the above materials
- 1.7 A Fusion Summon of this card can only be done with the above Fusion Materials
- 1.8 You can Ritual Summon this card with
- 1.9 Restricts requirement for Ritual Summon
- 1.10 Restricts Ritual Spell for Ritual Summon
- 2 List of OCG/TCG monsters with Summoning conditions
- 3 See also
Card text
Cannot be Summoned
Indicates the monster cannot be Summoned 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 structures that use "if" and "unless" respectively. They define additional parameters that, when applied, prevents or permits the monster's Summon with the listed Summoning mechanics.
"Cannot be Summoned if" conditions are only used on "Inspector Boarder", "Masked Chameleon" and "Bonze Alone" in the TCG. However, "Masked Chameleon" uses a different card text structure for the same condition in the OCG.
"Cannot be Summoned unless" conditions are only used on "Guardian" monsters, "Terrorking Archfiend" and "Vaalmonica" Link Monsters in the TCG. However, each of these categories of monsters use different card structures for the same condition in the 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)
Cannot be Special Summoned from
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]."
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".
Earlier card texts do not distinguish between "Must be" and "Must first be" distinctions.
- "This monster can only be Special Summoned by [Summon procedure]."/"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 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
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 Monsters.
- "[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
Only used on Fusion Monsters. Prevents a Fusion Summon that uses Fusion Substitute Monsters. 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 Cards 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
Restricts Ritual Spell for Ritual Summon
List of OCG/TCG monsters with Summoning conditions
Name | Japanese name | Primary type | Secondary type | Attribute | Type | Level/ Rank | Scale | ATK | DEF | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon | Effect Monster Fusion Monster | LIGHT | Machine | 10 | 4000 | 4000 | ||||
ABC-Dragon Buster | Effect Monster Fusion Monster | LIGHT | Machine | 8 | 3000 | 2800 | ||||
The Abyss Dragon Swordsoul | Effect Monster | FIRE | Wyrm | 8 | 3000 | 2900 | ||||
Aggiba, the Malevolent Sh'nn S'yo | Effect Monster | LIGHT | Fiend | 10 | 3000 | 3000 | ||||
Akz, the Pumer | ピューマン | Effect Monster | EARTH | Beast-Warrior | 6 | 1500 | 1000 | |||
Alba-Lenatus the Abyss Dragon | Effect Monster Fusion Monster | DARK | Dragon | 8 | 2500 | 2500 | ||||
All-Eyes Phantom Dragon | ゴッドアイズ・ファントム・ドラゴン | Effect Monster Pendulum Monster | LIGHT | Dragon | 10 | 0 | 3000 | 2500 | ||
Ally of Justice Field Marshal | Effect Monster Synchro Monster | DARK | Machine | 9 | 2900 | 2600 | ||||
Ally of Justice Thunder Armor | Effect Monster | DARK | Machine | 8 | 2700 | 2200 | ||||
Alpha, the Master of Beasts | Effect Monster | EARTH | Beast | 8 | 3000 | 2500 |
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