by The three basic card types in Yugioh! are Monster cards, Spell cards, and Trap cards. Each one has several subtypes or catergories, but sometimes the lines between each card type can be blurred. Like Pendulum Monsters! Pendulums can be played as Monsters or as Spells, a have special rules for play. Another example, though lesser known, are Trap Monsters! Yugioh Trap Monsters are a special kind of card that blends Traps and Monsters. Let’s take a look!
Trap or Monster?
So, is a Trap Monster a Trap or a Monster? Both! A Trap Monster is a special kind of Trap card that can become a monster! These cards are Traps that you play just like any other Trap; set these cards in your Spell and Trap Zone, and activate them just like a regular Trap. But, the cool thing is, when activated, these cards Special Summon themselves as Monsters in your Main Monster Zone. Many of these cards also have other effects when they are summoned, or have a passive effect while treated as a monster. And another thing, most of these cards are treated as BOTH a Monster AND a Trap while in the Main Monster Zone, so be careful! Those cards are still susceptible to removal like Mystical Space Typhoon or Harpie’s Feather Duster.
Examples
To understand these cars better, let’s look at some examples. First, as easy one: Embodiment of Apophis. EoA can be activated at any time during the Main Phase, and when it is activated, it Special Summons itself as as a Normal Monster, Reptile, EARTH, with 1600 ATK and 1800 DEF. It also notes that it is still treated as Trap card. This is the most basic form of Trap Monster. Others, like Copy Knight, require a specific action before being activated. Others, like Statue of Anguish Pattern, have a passive effect while a monster; or Prey of the Jirai Gumo which have an effect when activated; and even others, like Paleozoic Canadia, have an effect as a Trap, then can Special Summon themselves from the GY as a monster!
Archetypes
Compared to most other kinds of cards, there are relatively few Trap Monsters in the game. Most of these cards being generic, non-archetype cards. However, there are some archetypes that use Trap Monsters, and even some that heavily rely on them. The four most notable are Paleozoic, Phantom Knights, Apophis (Odion), and Eldlich. These three archetypes all use Trap Monsters in different ways. Paleozoic Trap Monsters have Trap effects, and can them summon themselves as Monsters from the GY. Phantom Knights use Trap Monsters to assist in their disruption and Xyz Summoning. And Eldlich uses their Trap Monsters to help cycle through their other cards and command the board.
Give these unique cards a try in your next deck and see what you can do!
