Understanding Fusion Summons – Cyber Dragon, Dark Paladin, The Hex-Sealed Fusions and More
Fusions have seen a lot more play in the months preceding this article, and all over the web I see question after question regarding the Special Summoning condition of the most popular Fusion Monsters. What I’m going to attempt to do with this article is break down the confusion over what a Fusion Summon actually is and why certain effects that Special Summon a Fusion Monster either work or don’t work or just work differently. My hopes are to simplify this process for you, so that all you’ll need to do when Special Summoning a Fusion Monster is too look at the relevant text.
This article is written so anyone, a veteran or a newbie, can understand.
Fusion Summon vs. Special Summon
A Fusion Summon is a Special Summon. Fusion Summons are a specific type of Special Summon that can only be performed on a Fusion Monster. That said, not all effects that Special Summon a Fusion Monster actually use the Fusion process. Ordinarily, the process of bringing a Fusion Monster out involves the assistance of a Spell Card and two or more Fusion Material monsters.
In the case that your Fusion Monster was not actually Fusion summoned, then it is not considered to have been properly Fusion Summoned. What does this mean? Quite simply, if a properly summoned Fusion Monster is later sent to the Graveyard, then it will be eligible for Special Summoning revival by effects that bring a monster back. But if it was not properly Fusion Summoned prior to going to the Graveyard, then it will NOT be eligible for revival effects. Call of the Haunted and Premature Burial for example. There are exceptions to this rule, though, which we’ll discuss in a moment.
An example of an effect that properly Fusion Summons a monster is Polymerization:
Fusion Summoning Conditions
In the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh!, most of your fusions had no specific summoning conditions other then that which comes from being a Fusion Monster. All you had to do was look at the monsters listed on the monster card, send them to the Graveyard for Polymerization’s effect and you were good. Fusion Substitutes allowed you to replace one of those monsters and gave added flexibility when building your deck, since you could have additional materials or maybe monsters with better stats then the ones listed in the text of a Fusion Monster.
Then cards like Metamorphosis and Fusion Monsters like Dark Paladin and Dark Balter the Terrible came out which made the situation a little more complicated. Monsters could now be Special Summoned in other ways besides a Fusion Summon and some monsters could not be Special Summoned any other way but by Fusion Summon. Today there multiple ways to get a fusion to the field, but it’s not always clear what you can and cannot do. Let’s take a look at the various summoning conditions in the current TCG and hopefully clear up some of the confusion.
There are three different type of summoning conditions on Fusion Monsters. They are listed and explain as follows (Note: The “Type 1, Type 2” and “Type 3” designations are for the purposes of this article and not actual game terms.):
The Hexed-Sealed Fusions
These Fusion Substitute monsters are largely responsible for muddling up the understanding of fusions today. Since their release, it has not been easily understood what they can and cannot summon. Again, hopefully we can clarify their actual usage.
The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion, The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion and The Earth - Hex-Sealed Fusion all have two effects. When you use the second effect, you can also use the first effect. Let’s break them down:
Notice, the first part is not dependant on the second. The first part works with outside Fusion Summoning effects, while the second part is a built in Special Summoning effect.
Summary
As you can see, it’s all really a matter of looking at the text and checking to see what you’re allowed to do. Does the monster say it cannot be Special Summoned any other way then by Fusion Summon? Does it say you have to use the above printed Fusion Materials? Is the effect that’s trying to bring out a fusion Fusion Summoning the monster or is it only Special Summoning the monster? Looking at the relevant text, and getting used to what to look for, can help you determine what to do.
As always, hope that helps.
Peace,
-The Jedi
Fusions have seen a lot more play in the months preceding this article, and all over the web I see question after question regarding the Special Summoning condition of the most popular Fusion Monsters. What I’m going to attempt to do with this article is break down the confusion over what a Fusion Summon actually is and why certain effects that Special Summon a Fusion Monster either work or don’t work or just work differently. My hopes are to simplify this process for you, so that all you’ll need to do when Special Summoning a Fusion Monster is too look at the relevant text.
This article is written so anyone, a veteran or a newbie, can understand.
Fusion Summon vs. Special Summon
A Fusion Summon is a Special Summon. Fusion Summons are a specific type of Special Summon that can only be performed on a Fusion Monster. That said, not all effects that Special Summon a Fusion Monster actually use the Fusion process. Ordinarily, the process of bringing a Fusion Monster out involves the assistance of a Spell Card and two or more Fusion Material monsters.
In the case that your Fusion Monster was not actually Fusion summoned, then it is not considered to have been properly Fusion Summoned. What does this mean? Quite simply, if a properly summoned Fusion Monster is later sent to the Graveyard, then it will be eligible for Special Summoning revival by effects that bring a monster back. But if it was not properly Fusion Summoned prior to going to the Graveyard, then it will NOT be eligible for revival effects. Call of the Haunted and Premature Burial for example. There are exceptions to this rule, though, which we’ll discuss in a moment.
An example of an effect that properly Fusion Summons a monster is Polymerization:
Polymerization
Send Fusion Material Monsters that are listed by a Fusion Monster Card from your hand or your side of the field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon the Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck.
An example of a card that does not properly Fusion Summon is Metamorphosis:Send Fusion Material Monsters that are listed by a Fusion Monster Card from your hand or your side of the field to the Graveyard, and Special Summon the Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck.
Metamorphosis
Tribute 1 monster on your side of the field. Special Summon 1 Fusion Monster of the same Level as the Tributed monster from your Fusion Deck.
Fusion Substitutes are Effect Monsters whose ability is to replace themselves for one of the monsters you would ordinarily have to use for materials in a Fusion Summon. An example of this would be Goddess with the Third Eye:Tribute 1 monster on your side of the field. Special Summon 1 Fusion Monster of the same Level as the Tributed monster from your Fusion Deck.
Goddess with the Third Eye
You can substitute this card for any 1 Fusion Material Monster. When you do this, the other Fusion Material Monster(s) must be the correct one(s).
You can substitute this card for any 1 Fusion Material Monster. When you do this, the other Fusion Material Monster(s) must be the correct one(s).
Fusion Summoning Conditions
In the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh!, most of your fusions had no specific summoning conditions other then that which comes from being a Fusion Monster. All you had to do was look at the monsters listed on the monster card, send them to the Graveyard for Polymerization’s effect and you were good. Fusion Substitutes allowed you to replace one of those monsters and gave added flexibility when building your deck, since you could have additional materials or maybe monsters with better stats then the ones listed in the text of a Fusion Monster.
Then cards like Metamorphosis and Fusion Monsters like Dark Paladin and Dark Balter the Terrible came out which made the situation a little more complicated. Monsters could now be Special Summoned in other ways besides a Fusion Summon and some monsters could not be Special Summoned any other way but by Fusion Summon. Today there multiple ways to get a fusion to the field, but it’s not always clear what you can and cannot do. Let’s take a look at the various summoning conditions in the current TCG and hopefully clear up some of the confusion.
There are three different type of summoning conditions on Fusion Monsters. They are listed and explain as follows (Note: The “Type 1, Type 2” and “Type 3” designations are for the purposes of this article and not actual game terms.):
- Type 1: A Fusion Summon of this card/monster can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters. (e.g. Cyber End Dragon, Cyber Twin Dragon, Ryu Senshi, Dark Balter the Terrible)
These types of fusions can be summoned by any card that properly Fusion Summons a monster. Polymerization, Fusion Gate, Power Bond etc., these cards all specifically indicate that the summon taking place through their effect is a “Fusion Summon”.
You also cannot use Fusion Substitutes as the Fusion Summon can only be conducted with “the above Fusion Material Monsters.” The text is specifically preventing you from using substitutes for a Fusion Summon.
However, notice that there is nothing indicating that they cannot be Special Summoned any other way. These monsters are not restricted to just a Fusion Summon. They can be Special Summoned by effects like Metamorphosis, Magical Scientists (if Level 6 or lower) and Cyber-Stein. None of these effects Fusion Summon a monster, but they do Special Summon a Fusion.
As a result, if you Special Summon a Fusion Monster this particular way, then it will not be considered a proper summon. If the monster is sent from the field to the Graveyard, then it will not be retrievable by effects like Call of the Haunted, Premature Burial or Monster Reborn.
- Type 2: This card/monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon. (e.g. Dark Paladin, all the Elemental Hero Fusions)
This is the most restrictive of the fusion summoning conditions. There is no way to Special Summon this monster other then by Fusion Summon. Cyber-Stein, Metamorphosis and their kind will not be able to bring these monsters out.
Also note that because the type of Special Summon is so restrictive that it won’t matter that these monsters were properly summoned before going to the Graveyard. Retrieval effects like Call of the Haunted are Special Summoning effects and cannot touch this type of monster, whether it’s in the Fusion Deck or in the Graveyard or even in the Removed From Play Area.
- Type 3: This card can only be Special Summoned from your Fusion Deck by removing from play the above cards on your side of the field. (You do not use "Polymerization"). (The VWXYZ Fusions)
The infamous VWXYZ Fusions are the only Fusion Monsters with the above text. They are the oddballs of the bunch. There is no way to Fusion Summon these monsters. You cannot Special Summon them from the Fusion Deck using effects that don’t Fusion Summon either (e.g. Magical Scientist). The only way to get these monsters from the Deck to the field is through their effect of removing the printed cards from play. You cannot use Fusion Substitutes.
(While the group ruling under XYZ Fusions Monsters states ” These monsters cannot be Special Summoned EXCEPT by the way described in their text. They cannot be Special Summoned with ‘Monster Reborn’, ‘Magical Scientist’, etc.” it should be pointed out that a newer ruling under VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon states “Once properly Summoned by the method written in the text this card can be Special Summoned from the Graveyard with effects like ‘Call of the Haunted’ or ‘Re-Fusion’.” This appears to be somewhat of a contradiction. Veteran players had always been told that the only proper summon of a Fusion Monster was by Fusion Summon. But it appears VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon is an exception to that rule. It is also important to note that under the group rulings for the XYZ Fusions, where the ruling states they cannot be “reborn”, VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon is not listed. It is entirely possible that as of this article, the rulings for XYZ Fusions have not been updated, or VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon does not follow those rules. There is no official clarification of this info at the time of this article.)
The Hexed-Sealed Fusions
These Fusion Substitute monsters are largely responsible for muddling up the understanding of fusions today. Since their release, it has not been easily understood what they can and cannot summon. Again, hopefully we can clarify their actual usage.
The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion, The Dark - Hex-Sealed Fusion and The Earth - Hex-Sealed Fusion all have two effects. When you use the second effect, you can also use the first effect. Let’s break them down:
You can substitute this card for any 1 Fusion Material Monster. When you do this, the other Fusion Material Monster(s) must be the correct one(s).
Standard text for any Fusion Substitute Monster. The Hexes all work the same way as Goddess with the Third Eye, Beastking of the Swamp and Mystical Sheep #1. When performing a proper Fusion Summon, then you can use these monsters as a replacement. This part of the effect can only be used for fusions with the Type 2 summoning conditions. Tribute Fusion Material Monsters on the field, including this card, to Special Summon 1 [ATTRIBUTE] Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck.
Now here’s the part that often throws people. This part of the effect allows you to Special Summon a fusion as long as you tribute the other appropriate portion(s) of the Fusion Monster along with this card. It does this without the aid of any outside effects. This is not a Fusion Summon. This is a regular old Special Summon. As such, you would not be able use this part of the effect with Type 2. However you can use this part of the effect for Type 1 fusions, as long as you are NOT performing a Fusion Summon. Notice, the first part is not dependant on the second. The first part works with outside Fusion Summoning effects, while the second part is a built in Special Summoning effect.
Summary
As you can see, it’s all really a matter of looking at the text and checking to see what you’re allowed to do. Does the monster say it cannot be Special Summoned any other way then by Fusion Summon? Does it say you have to use the above printed Fusion Materials? Is the effect that’s trying to bring out a fusion Fusion Summoning the monster or is it only Special Summoning the monster? Looking at the relevant text, and getting used to what to look for, can help you determine what to do.
As always, hope that helps.
Peace,
-The Jedi
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