Basic FAQ: Summoning Rules & Conditions

Summoning Rules are basic rules that dictate how the vast majority of monsters can be Summoned. They are primarily dictated by Level, but may also be influenced by inherent limitations in their Summoning Conditions.

Level 4 or lower monsters can be Normal Summoned to the field or Set unless a card condition specifically prohibits it and/or implies a special condition in which it must be Summoned another way, such as for "Rare Metal Dragon".

Level 5 or 6 monsters can be Tribute Summoned by Tributing 1 monster unless a card condition specifically prohibits it and/or implies a special condition in which it must be Summoned another way.

Level 7 or higher monsters can be Tribute Summoned by Tributing 2 monsters unless a card condition specifically prohibits it and/or implies a special condition in which it must be Summoned another way.

You must only Tribute 3 monsters if the card allows it (such as to activate the effect of "Moisture Creature") or the card's Summoning Conditions require it (such as with "Victory Dragon" or "Obelisk the Tormentor").

Summoning Conditions refer to specific conditions that must exist before certain monsters can be Summoned.

Different Summoning conditions include:

Special Summoning Conditions
Special Summoning Conditions refer to specific conditions under which certain monsters must be Special Summoned.

Cannot be Special Summoned
This is a blanket Summon Condition that forbids the card from being Special Summoned by any means, be it from the hand, Deck, Graveyard, or Banished Zone.

Cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard.
A less limiting restriction than the one above. This allows cards to be Special Summoned from the hand, Deck, or Banished Zone, but not from the Graveyard. That said, you could use "Monster Reincarnation" to move cards with this limitation to your hand from your Graveyard.

Must be (first) Special Summoned by...
This places a restriction on how the card must be first Special Summoned. The card cannot be Special Summoned by an external effect until the summoning condition has been properly fulfilled, after which, the monster in question may be Summoned with cards such as "Monster Reborn". If the card was sent to the Graveyard before being Summoned correctly, it cannot be Special Summoned; likewise, if the card was Special Summoned correctly the first time, but is then sent from the field or the Graveyard back to the Deck, the Summoning Conditions are then reset. These cards are referred to as Special Summon-only monsters or sometimes incorrectly referred to as Semi-Nomi monsters.

Must be Special Summoned by [...] and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways
This is much like the first example, but this time, it prevents the card from being Special Summoned by any effect other than the one on its effect, preventing it from being Special Summoned by cards such as "Monster Reborn". "LV" monsters' support cards, such as "Level Modulation", get around this by including Ignoring the Summoning conditions in their card text. However, even with this restriction lifted, such cards can only Special Summoned from the Graveyard if they have been properly Summoned first. "Level Up!" is able to bypass this completely, since it Special Summons directly from the Deck. These cards are referred to as Nomi monsters. Cards such as "Dark Armed Dragon" and "Destiny HERO - Plasma" are Nomi monsters and can only be Special Summoned with its Summoning Condition from the hand. "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" is also a Nomi monster and can only be Special Summoned from the Deck with "Assault Mode Activate".

Normal Summoning Conditions
Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.
Blanket statement: In no circumstances can the card either be Set face-down, or Normal Summoned/Tribute Summoned. This is included on all "Special Summon-only" cards.

Cannot be Normal Summoned.
Slightly different to the first condition, a monster can still be Set face-down with this limitation.

Must be Normal Summoned or Set by [...] and cannot be Normal Summoned or Set by other ways
This is much like the first two examples, but this time, it allows the card to be Normal Summoned or Set by one effect or conditions only and cannot be Normal Summoned without fulfilling this requirement. This is typically used to prevent the card from being Normal Summoned by Mausoleum of the Emperor. However, as with that card, any Summon performed this way will not be considered a Tribute Summon, even if Tributing monsters is specified by the effect.

To Tribute Summon this card, you must Tribute 3 monsters
This is a two-pronged condition. It prevents you from Normal Summoning or Setting this card except by Tributing 3 monsters. It also prevents you from using the effect of "Mausoleum of the Emperor" to Normal Summon the monster by paying 3000 Life Points.

If you Tribute Summon this card by Tributing 3 monsters...
These cards grant you the option of Tributing 3 monsters for the Tribute Summon to activate an effect, such as those of "Gilford the Lightning" and "Moisture Creature". However, you still can Tribute Summon these cards by offering two Tributes. You cannot use Mausoleum of the Emperor to pay 3000 Life Points to summon these monsters in order to activate their effect(s). Monsters with this optional condition cannot meet the condition by using the effect of "Mausoleum of the Emperor" to Normal Summon the monster by paying 3000 Life Points.

You can Tribute Summon this card without Tributes...
You can summon them without any Tributes, but their attack decreases by a large amount. They can still be summoned by Tributing monsters ("Mausoleum of the Emperor" works in this case) and are known for use with "Skill Drain" (which allows you to summon 2800 or 3000 ATK monsters without Tributes).

Fusion Summoning Conditions
A Fusion Summoning condition is a restriction placed on a Fusion Summon that does not apply to most such monsters.

All Fusion Monsters that do not include contrary Summon conditions must be Fusion Summoned properly first or else they cannot be Special Summoned again from the Graveyard or Banished Zone. Two such conditions exist.

The first uses the wording "This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon." This is primarily found on "Elemental HERO" monsters. It means that even if you Fusion Summon the card correctly first, you cannot Special Summon it again afterward. This also means you cannot use cards such as "Metamorphosis" or "Cyber-Stein" to directly Special Summon the Fusion Monster(s) from the Extra Deck.

The second states that "A Fusion Summon of this card can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters." This means that for a Fusion Summon to take place with the card you must use the Fusion Material Monsters listed on the card-you cannot use Fusion Substitute Monsters or cards like "Instant Fusion". However, if there are no further summon conditions, you can still Special Summon the monster directly from the Fusion Deck with cards such as "Metamorphosis" or "Cyber-Stein". You may also use cards whose effects change their names such as "Elemental HERO Prisma".

Ritual Summoning Conditions
Ritual Summoning Conditions refer to text printed on Ritual Monsters stating that Must be Ritual Summoned with [Ritual Spell Card name]... This means that such a card must first be Ritual Summoned using the correct Ritual Spell Card before it can be Special Summoned by any other effect, such as "Monster Reborn". The only exceptions to this rule are "Advanced Ritual Art", "Contract with the Abyss" and "Earth Chant", which may be used in place of the correct Ritual Spell Card should the conditions be right.

Common Summoning Conditions
Must be Normal Summoned, Flip Summoned, or Special Summoned if/when...
This requires that a certain condition be met whenever the card is first Summoned. It allows the monster to be Set but nothing beyond that. This restriction is often seen on the "Guardian" series of monsters.

Summon Monster Effects
Summon Monster Effects refer to effects that certain monsters have that restrict their Summoning. Examples includes "Gate Guardian" and "Great Moth". This effect is neither a Continuous Monster Effect since it is only 'active' in the hand, or an Ignition Monster Effect since the 'effect' can be unlocked at any point in a Duel for most effects. Exceptions exist, such as the few monsters that require specific monster(s) as Tribute(s) which can only be done in your Main Phase 1 or Main Phase 2.