So. What the hell are these new black and white cards? Where do they go? How do you use them? How many questions should I ask?
Well, for starters, I kindly ask you to refrain from panicking, for all your questions regarding Synchro and Xyz monsters shall soon be answered...
Contents:
1. Synchro Monsters
2. Tuner Monsters
3. Xyz Monsters
4. Rulings
First, let's take a look at some basic Synchro monsters.
How to summon it:
Like a Fusion monster, the summoning requirements are written on the second line in the bottom box. For Stardust Dragon, you need "1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuners".
Tuner monsters, I'll get onto in a bit. But, basically, you will normally need one tuner and no more, as well as at least one monster that is not a tuner.
To be Summoned, Synchro Monsters require a Tuner monster to be face-up on your field. When the total Level of the Tuner monster and every face-up monster you want to use exactly matches the Level of the Synchro Monster you wish to Summon (no more or less), you can Synchro Summon the Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck by sending them to the Graveyard. The Extra deck is where all of your Fusion/Synchro/Xyz monsters are placed. And for older players, this used to be called the "Fusion Deck" and it now has a 15 card limit.
Level 3 Tuner + Level 4 + Level 1 = Level 8 Synchro Monster
Another thing that you should note is that sometimes a Synchro Monster will require specific monsters in order for it to be Synchro Summoned.
For this monster, you need a Tuner called "Plaguespreader Zombie" and TWO or more Zombie-Type monsters. A term used for these cards are "non-generic", meaning that it doesn't require just any monster, but is a little more specific. Cards like "Stardust Dragon" are generic since you can use any Tuner monster and any non-Tuner monster.
Don't worry. It's less work than it sounds and once you perform a Synchro Summon once, you'll get the whole idea behind it.
As mentioned above, you will need a Tuner monster to perform a Synchro Summon.
This is a good example of a Tuner monster. To identify a Tuner monster, just look at the first line in the text box.
Remember, you may only use ONE Tuner monster to perform a Synchro Summon unless otherwise stated such as on "Red Nova Dragon" and "Vylon Omega".
Something else worth mentioning here would be "Synchro Tuners". Yes, the name is exactly what it implies, a Synchro Monster that is also a Tuner Monster. There are only four so far, so I'll show them all to you.
Now, you may be wondering why the heck you would want to make a Synchro only to use it as a Tuner for another Synchro Summon. Well, to answer your question, there are certain Synchro monsters out there that require these. One of the most popular ones; Shooting Quasar Dragon.
How to summon it:
Instead of a Level, Xyz Monsters have a "Rank". This Rank determines the required Levels of the "Xyz Materials" needed in order to Xyz Summon your Xyz Monster. As with Synchro Material, Xyz Materials are the monsters you need in order to perform an Xyz Summon.
An Xyz Monster's Rank is depicted by a row of yellow stars in black orbs (as opposed to the yellow stars in red orbs of a monster's Level) that extend outwards from the left-hand side of the card (opposite to where a monster's Level would be depicted).
However, unlike Synchro Monsters, a Xyz Monster's Rank is not the total sum of the monsters' Levels used to Summon it; thus, if 2 Level 3 monsters are required, then the Xyz Monster would be Rank 3, not Level 6.
With that out of the way, let's get to the actual summoning of an Xyz Monster!
It's incredibly simple. More so than a Synchro Monster. All you have to do is take the monsters that are stated on the Xyz Monster card, and put them on top of each other, these now become Xyz Material. The Xyz Monster is then placed on top of the Xyz Material.
Level 4 + Level 4 = Rank 4 Xyz Monster
Xyz Materials play an important part in Xyz Monsters. You will need them in order to activate the effect of an Xyz monster.
Take "Number 39: Utopia" for example. In order to activate its effect, you need to "detatch" a material from the card. By "detatch", it simply means send an Xyz Material from the bottom of the card to the Graveyard.
Simple? Yup.
But it's not over yet. Even in Xyz monsters, there are some special guys.
Cards like this one. It requires two Level 7 monsters. But that's not it, you can also use a Rank 5 or Rank 6 monster to summon it. How do you do this? Simple. You just stick it right on top of that Xyz. An Xyz on an Xyz.
By the way, the process of sticking cards on top of one another is called "Overlaying".
And, again, there are generic and non-generic Xyz monsters too.
Yup. Now for the boring part. Boring, but essential.
You see, there are certain rulings that pertain Xyz and Synchro monsters, but all I'm going to do is list them in bullet points. That's the easiest way, in my opinion.
Synchro
- You may only use one Tuner monster for a Synchro Summon. This is, of course, unless stated otherwise (Red Nova Dragon).
- If the Synchro Summon is negated (by cards such as Solemn Warning), you cannot use a card like "Monster Reborn" to bring it back from the Graveyard. This is because the summon was specifically negated, meaning it didn't happen in the first place.
- If the Synchro Monster was improperly summoned (example, if "Stardust Dragon" was Summoned by "Starlight Road"), and is sent to the Graveyard, you cannot use "Monster Reborn" to bring it back.
Xyz
- You cannot activate the effect of an Xyz Monster if you cannot detatch any Xyz Materials.
- Like Synchro Monsters, if the Summon was negated, you cannot use "Monster Reborn" to bring it back. Same ruling applies for Xyz Monsters that have been improperly Summoned.
Xyz Material
- When a monster is used as an Xyz Material, it is both on the field and not on the field. The best way to describe it is they are no longer on the field, but they didn't leave it. Thus, cards such as "Sangan" cannot have their effects activated since the card was not sent from the field to the graveyard.
- When a card is used as an Xyz Material, it simply disappears. For example, "Moulinglacia, the Elemental Lord" says "If this card leaves the field, skip the Battle Phase of your next turn." This effect will not be put in place since the card did not officially leave the field. And when it is sent to the Graveyard whilst being an Xyz Material, the effect will still not be put in place since it is simply an Xyz Material at that point.
- If an Xyz Material is detatched it is sent to the Graveyard. Just not from the field to the Graveyard. Therefore, cards like "Dandylion" and "Tour Bus From the Underworld" can activate their effects since they simply state "when this card is sent to the Graveyard", not "from the field to the Graveyard".
Rulings worth mentioning
- If, for example, your Synchro/Xyz monster was sent directly from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard, by a card like "Gale Dogra", you cannot use a card like "Monster Reborn" to bring it back.
- Should an Xyz monster that has been properly summoned, gets brought back by a card like "Monster Reborn", it will have no materials. This is because Xyz Materials are only brought about through the process of overlaying.
That's basically all there is to these cards. I hope you've all enjoyed reading this article and gained some form of knowledge from it so... until next time!
-Alikaey
Well, for starters, I kindly ask you to refrain from panicking, for all your questions regarding Synchro and Xyz monsters shall soon be answered...
Contents:
1. Synchro Monsters
2. Tuner Monsters
3. Xyz Monsters
4. Rulings
1. Synchro Monsters
First, let's take a look at some basic Synchro monsters.
Synchro Monsters :
How to summon it:
Like a Fusion monster, the summoning requirements are written on the second line in the bottom box. For Stardust Dragon, you need "1 Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuners".
Tuner monsters, I'll get onto in a bit. But, basically, you will normally need one tuner and no more, as well as at least one monster that is not a tuner.
To be Summoned, Synchro Monsters require a Tuner monster to be face-up on your field. When the total Level of the Tuner monster and every face-up monster you want to use exactly matches the Level of the Synchro Monster you wish to Summon (no more or less), you can Synchro Summon the Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck by sending them to the Graveyard. The Extra deck is where all of your Fusion/Synchro/Xyz monsters are placed. And for older players, this used to be called the "Fusion Deck" and it now has a 15 card limit.
Level 3 Tuner + Level 4 + Level 1 = Level 8 Synchro Monster
Another thing that you should note is that sometimes a Synchro Monster will require specific monsters in order for it to be Synchro Summoned.
For this monster, you need a Tuner called "Plaguespreader Zombie" and TWO or more Zombie-Type monsters. A term used for these cards are "non-generic", meaning that it doesn't require just any monster, but is a little more specific. Cards like "Stardust Dragon" are generic since you can use any Tuner monster and any non-Tuner monster.
Don't worry. It's less work than it sounds and once you perform a Synchro Summon once, you'll get the whole idea behind it.
2. Tuner Monsters
As mentioned above, you will need a Tuner monster to perform a Synchro Summon.
This is a good example of a Tuner monster. To identify a Tuner monster, just look at the first line in the text box.
Remember, you may only use ONE Tuner monster to perform a Synchro Summon unless otherwise stated such as on "Red Nova Dragon" and "Vylon Omega".
Something else worth mentioning here would be "Synchro Tuners". Yes, the name is exactly what it implies, a Synchro Monster that is also a Tuner Monster. There are only four so far, so I'll show them all to you.
Synchro Tuners :
Now, you may be wondering why the heck you would want to make a Synchro only to use it as a Tuner for another Synchro Summon. Well, to answer your question, there are certain Synchro monsters out there that require these. One of the most popular ones; Shooting Quasar Dragon.
3. Xyz Monsters
Xyz Monsters :
How to summon it:
Instead of a Level, Xyz Monsters have a "Rank". This Rank determines the required Levels of the "Xyz Materials" needed in order to Xyz Summon your Xyz Monster. As with Synchro Material, Xyz Materials are the monsters you need in order to perform an Xyz Summon.
An Xyz Monster's Rank is depicted by a row of yellow stars in black orbs (as opposed to the yellow stars in red orbs of a monster's Level) that extend outwards from the left-hand side of the card (opposite to where a monster's Level would be depicted).
However, unlike Synchro Monsters, a Xyz Monster's Rank is not the total sum of the monsters' Levels used to Summon it; thus, if 2 Level 3 monsters are required, then the Xyz Monster would be Rank 3, not Level 6.
With that out of the way, let's get to the actual summoning of an Xyz Monster!
It's incredibly simple. More so than a Synchro Monster. All you have to do is take the monsters that are stated on the Xyz Monster card, and put them on top of each other, these now become Xyz Material. The Xyz Monster is then placed on top of the Xyz Material.
Level 4 + Level 4 = Rank 4 Xyz Monster
Xyz Materials play an important part in Xyz Monsters. You will need them in order to activate the effect of an Xyz monster.
Take "Number 39: Utopia" for example. In order to activate its effect, you need to "detatch" a material from the card. By "detatch", it simply means send an Xyz Material from the bottom of the card to the Graveyard.
Simple? Yup.
But it's not over yet. Even in Xyz monsters, there are some special guys.
Cards like this one. It requires two Level 7 monsters. But that's not it, you can also use a Rank 5 or Rank 6 monster to summon it. How do you do this? Simple. You just stick it right on top of that Xyz. An Xyz on an Xyz.
By the way, the process of sticking cards on top of one another is called "Overlaying".
And, again, there are generic and non-generic Xyz monsters too.
4. Rulings
Yup. Now for the boring part. Boring, but essential.
You see, there are certain rulings that pertain Xyz and Synchro monsters, but all I'm going to do is list them in bullet points. That's the easiest way, in my opinion.
Synchro
- You may only use one Tuner monster for a Synchro Summon. This is, of course, unless stated otherwise (Red Nova Dragon).
- If the Synchro Summon is negated (by cards such as Solemn Warning), you cannot use a card like "Monster Reborn" to bring it back from the Graveyard. This is because the summon was specifically negated, meaning it didn't happen in the first place.
- If the Synchro Monster was improperly summoned (example, if "Stardust Dragon" was Summoned by "Starlight Road"), and is sent to the Graveyard, you cannot use "Monster Reborn" to bring it back.
Xyz
- You cannot activate the effect of an Xyz Monster if you cannot detatch any Xyz Materials.
- Like Synchro Monsters, if the Summon was negated, you cannot use "Monster Reborn" to bring it back. Same ruling applies for Xyz Monsters that have been improperly Summoned.
Xyz Material
- When a monster is used as an Xyz Material, it is both on the field and not on the field. The best way to describe it is they are no longer on the field, but they didn't leave it. Thus, cards such as "Sangan" cannot have their effects activated since the card was not sent from the field to the graveyard.
- When a card is used as an Xyz Material, it simply disappears. For example, "Moulinglacia, the Elemental Lord" says "If this card leaves the field, skip the Battle Phase of your next turn." This effect will not be put in place since the card did not officially leave the field. And when it is sent to the Graveyard whilst being an Xyz Material, the effect will still not be put in place since it is simply an Xyz Material at that point.
- If an Xyz Material is detatched it is sent to the Graveyard. Just not from the field to the Graveyard. Therefore, cards like "Dandylion" and "Tour Bus From the Underworld" can activate their effects since they simply state "when this card is sent to the Graveyard", not "from the field to the Graveyard".
Rulings worth mentioning
- If, for example, your Synchro/Xyz monster was sent directly from your Extra Deck to the Graveyard, by a card like "Gale Dogra", you cannot use a card like "Monster Reborn" to bring it back.
- Should an Xyz monster that has been properly summoned, gets brought back by a card like "Monster Reborn", it will have no materials. This is because Xyz Materials are only brought about through the process of overlaying.
That's basically all there is to these cards. I hope you've all enjoyed reading this article and gained some form of knowledge from it so... until next time!
-Alikaey
.