Basic FAQ: Introduction to Special Summons

Special Summon is any Summon other than Normal Summon and Flip Summon. They usually occur due to a card effect or special condition. The monster is played directly onto the Monster Card Zone in face-up Attack Position or face-up Defense Position, unless the card indicates otherwise. Xyz Summons, Synchro Summons, Fusion Summons and Ritual Summons are all Special Summons.

Special Summons do not take up your Normal Summon/Set for the turn, and they can be conducted as many times as possible in a turn. Also note that Special Summoning requires no Tributes for high Level monsters like what the Normal Summon requires; the only exception to this are cards that explicitly require this via a card effect.

Special Summons fall into one of two distinct categories:

Built-In Special Summons
Built-In Special Summons (also known as Inherent Special Summon) are Special Summons that happen due to a condition that the monster has; this Special Summon does not start a Chain. This can only be performed when the game state is open during your Main Phase (for example, "Cyber Dragon", "Solar Wind Jammer", "Ghost Ship", "Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord", etc.). This type of Special Summon behaves similarly to Normal Summons and Flip Summons. Synchro Summons and Xyz Summons fall into this umbrella of Special Summons.

Following the Problem-Solving Card Text, monsters' card text will specify in parenthesis " () " the location from which they can be Summoned, excluding Synchro and Xyz Summons. Monsters whose card texts do not specify the location from where they are Summoned are always Summoned from the hand if they are used in the Main Deck, and from the Extra Deck if they are used there.

These Special Summons can be negated by any card that can negate Special Summons, including "Solemn Warning", "Solemn Judgment", and "Black Horn of Heaven". Cards such as "Divine Wrath" cannot negate this type of Special Summon, because these are classed as a condition, not an activated card effect. However, while some monsters can Special Summon themselves, these are not treated as Built-In Special Summons, because they Summon the monster at the resolution of their effect(s) (for example, "Andro Sphinx").

Special Summon with a Card's Effect
These are any Special Summon that results or occurs at the resolution of an activated card effect that Special Summons (for example, "Monster Reborn" and "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness"). Fusion Summons and Ritual Summons fall under this umbrella of Special Summon.

These Special Summons cannot be negated, but they can be stopped by negating the initial effect that caused the Special Summon. Cards such as "Black Horn of Heaven" and "Thunder King Rai-Oh" cannot negate this Special Summon, because it occurs during resolution of a card effect. "Solemn Judgment" can negate the activation of a Spell or Trap Card that Special Summons, and it can also negate Built-In Special Summons. However, it cannot negate Monster Effects that Special Summon. "Solemn Warning" can negate any effect that Special Summons, as well as Built-In Special Summons (If it is a Spell or Trap card, "Solemn Warning" can only negate it if it is the initial activation of the card as it cannot negate activation of effects).

Note that cards or effects that can be activated after a monster has been Special Summoned, for example, "Torrential Tribute" or "Bottomless Trap Hole", can be activated after any of these Special Summons, regardless of whether it is Built-In or because of an effect. The exception to is if a monster is Special Summoned by a card effect that is Chain Link 2 or higher. This is because cards and effects can never be activated in the middle of a resolving Chain, and whatever effect that resolves last (as Chain Link 1) would cause "Torrential Tribute", etc. to miss the timing.