Summoning Monster Cards

There are several ways to get monsters onto the field. These ways can be categorized into 2 groups: Summons that can be done only once a turn, and Summons that can be done multiple times a turn.

This is the most common way to Summon a monster. Simply place a Monster Card from your hand onto the field in face-up Attack or Defense Position. All Normal Monsters, and most Effect Monsters (unless they have a specific restriction), can be Summoned in this way.

However, for Monsters that are Level 5 or higher, you must Tribute at least 1 other monster from your side of the field before the Normal Summon. This is called a "Tribute Summon." Monsters that are Level 5 or 6 require 1 Tribute and Monsters that are Level 7 or higher require 2 Tributes.

To place a Monster Card from your hand onto the field in face-down Defense Position is called a "Set." You do need to Tribute in order to Set Monsters that are Level 5 or higher.

It's important to remember that a Monster Card Set on the field in face-down Defense Position IS NOT considered to be Summoned (unless it was Special Summoned face-down). Instead, it has simply been Set and can be Summoned with a Flip Summon, Quick Summon, or be flipped face-up by an attack or card effect. However, Setting a monster does count as your once-per-turn Normal Summon.

The act of flipping a face-down Defense Position Monster into face-up Attack Position (without using a card effect) is called a "Flip Summon." When you Flip Summon, you cannot change the monster to face-up Defense Position. A Monster Card cannot be Flip Summoned in the same turn that it was Set onto the field. In most cases, you cannot use a monster's effect until it is face-up.

Placing a monster on the field using any special procedure is called a "Special Summon." Fusion Monsters, Ritual Monsters, and some Effect Monsters that require specific conditions are all called "Special Summon Monsters." Unless otherwise specified, a Special Summoned monster is Summoned onto the field in your choice of face-up Attack or face-up Defense Position.

Monsters can also be Special Summoned onto the field through the effect of another card. This Special Summon is different from that of a "Special Summon Monster" like a Fusion or Ritual Monster.

You cannot use a card effect to Special Summon a "Special Summon Monster" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard unless it was Special Summoned properly first.

Some Effect Monster cards can be played from your hand when their effect activates (even during your opponent's turn) in a certain kind of Special Summon called a "Quick Summon." After a Quick Summon, the turn player cannot Normal Summon or Set the same turn. A monster is destroyed at the end of the turn it was Quick Summoned.

Every type of Summon is divided into 2 steps. When Summoning a monster, it is likely several card effects will be involved, and players may wish to activate cards to respond (NOT Chain) to the Summon. It is necessary to follow the steps in order for each Summon.

1. Declare that you are performing a Normal Summon or a Special Summon.
   
2. For a Normal Summon, play the Monster Card from your hand. For a Special Summon, play the monster that has Special Summon requirements or activate the card effect that allows you to Special Summon a monster.
   
3. Once you have declared Summon, you or your opponent may respond by activating Counter Magic & Counter Trap cards only (follow Priority rules). If either player wishes to negate the Summon by a card effect, do so at this time. A monster Special Summoned by another card's effect is not considered to be Special Summoned until the resolution of that card's effect, so this type of Special Summon cannot be negated by a card activated at this time.

1. If performing a Special Summon, resolve any card effect that is Special Summoning the monster. For a Normal Summon or Special Summon, the monster is considered successfully summoned at this time (unless it was negated in the Summon Step).
   
2. If the Summoned monster has a Continuous Effect, the effect is applied at this time.
   
3. Next, if a card on your field has an effect triggered by a successful summon, those effects activate at this time. If you did not activate a Trigger Effect, you can activate 1 Ignition Effect.
   
4. You and your opponent can activate Quick-Play and Trap Cards at this time. If the card must be activated when a monster is successfully Summoned, activate it now. Resolve any effects (except Continuous Effects) that were activated in this step as a Chain (if necessary, follow the rules for simultaneous effects).