How to Ritual Summon

Overview

Ritual Summoning has been a game mechanic in Yugioh! since its inception, and since then, it has undergone few changes. Despite being such an old mechanic, Ritual cards and archetypes have had little time in the meta spotlight. With a slightly inconsistent and clumsy design, it can be hard to make a viable Ritual deck. But, that’s not to say that Ritual monsters are bad. There are several viable Ritual archetypes, and some have even topped in official tournaments over the years. Let’s take a look at how to ritual summon and what exactly a Ritual Monster is.

Ritual Monsters

What is a Ritual Monster? This unique type of monster card is a Main Deck monster that has to be Special Summoned by activating a Ritual Spell card. These monster cards feature a blue background, have a level, and are notes as [Ritual] in their card textbox. Along with Fusion Monsters, Ritual Monsters are among the oldest “special” cards in the game. Although, Ritual Monsters are part of the Main Deck, not the Side Deck like Fusion Monsters (except in Rush Duels where Ritual Monster do reside in the Extra Deck). Ritual Monsters can be fun to play, but can be a little costly and awkward to use. Still, there are some very powerful and interesting Ritual Monsters out there, like Vendread, Mitsurugi, Relinquished, Black Luster Soldier, Cyber Angel, Nekroz, Shinobaron, Voiceless Voice and more!

Ritual Summoning

As mentioned above, to perform a Ritual Summon, you need a Ritual Spell card. To perform a Ritual Summon, you need a Ritual Monster in your hand, the correct Ritual Spell card in your hand, and a number of other monsters to use as Tributes. Some Ritual Monsters require a specific Ritual Spell card to summon them. Many older Ritual Monsters work this way, but over time, Ritual archetypes have evolved so you can perform a Ritual Summon with several different spell instead of one specific one. To compare, take Dokurorider vs. Revendread Slayer. Dokurorider MUST be Ritual Summoned using the spell card Revival of Dokurorider, while Revendread Slayer can be Ritual Summoned with any “Vendread” Ritual Spell Card. You must also Tribute other monsters from either your hand or Field with combined levels that either equal the level of the Ritual Monster, or exceed its level. The Ritual Spell card will specify the tribute requirements.

There are of course some exceptions to these rules. Generally, you must have both the Ritual Monster and the Ritual Spell card needed in your hand to perform a Ritual Summon. However, some Ritual Monsters and Spells allow you to Ritual Summon a monster from the Graveyard, like Super Soldier Synthesis. Other cards even let you use card in your GY as Tributes, like Machine Angel Absolute Ritual. These cards let you get around some of the restrictions of Ritual Summoning. Even better still, Nekroz and Megalith Ritual Monsters changed the game for Ritual Summoning.

Since Ritual Monsters require so much set-up to use, they often end up as bricks in your hand – if you have a Ritual Monster in your hand, but no Ritual Spell, that monster becomes a dead card in your hand. However, Nekroz monsters changed this. Many of the Nekroz Ritual Monsters have effects that you can activate from the hand, making them useful even if you can’t Ritual Summon them. Likewise, Megalith Ritual Monsters changed the game by allowing you to Ritual Summon without a Ritual Spell card!

Ritual Support

Ritual Monsters and Ritual decks have struggled to top, though there are a few Ritual archetypes that have been able to hold their own, like Cyber Angels, Nekroz, Megalith, and Mitsurugi, but they are an overall under-supported card type. However, there is a ton of Ritual support cards available to help build a more viable deck. Below is a list of some of some of the most popular Ritual support cards over the years.

• Miracle Raven
• Ritual Raven
• Djinn Cursenchanter of Rituals
• Djinn Demolisher of Rituals
• Djinn Disserere of Rituals
• Djinn Presider of Rituals
• Djinn Prognosticator of Rituals
• Djinn Releaser of Rituals
• Senju of the Thousand Hands
• Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands
• Choju of the Trillion Hands
• ASHLAN U1000
• Sonic Bird
• Sphere Kuriboh
• Ascending Soul
• Advanced Ritual Art
• Preparation of Rites
• Pre-Preparation of Rites
• High Ritual Art
• Earth Chant
• Ritual Sanctuary
• Ritual Cage
• Ritual Forgone
• Forbidden Ritual Art
• Ritual Buster