Pendulum Summon
A Pendulum Summon is a type of Special Summon that is designed to help Special Summon high level monsters. You can spot a Pendulum monster by its "Scale", found above the effect/flavor text box of the monster. For example, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon is a level 7 monster with a scale of 4.
Pendulum Monsters
Pendulum Monsters come in the form of both Normal and Effect monsters. Pendulum monsters sometimes have what are called Pendulum effects. For example, for Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon we see its Pendulum effect between the two Scales. An example of a Normal Pendulum monster with a Pendulum effect is Dragoons of Draconia.
With the introduction of Pendulum Summons, we see a slight change to what the field looks like. Each player now have two Pendulum Zones: the left zone is found between the Field Spell zone and the Extra Deck and the right zone is found between the Graveyard and Main Deck. An example of what the field now looks like can be found here. When you place a Pendulum monster in a each Pendulum Zone, you could perform a Pendulum Summon. Pendulum summoned monsters are Summoned face-up and you can Pendulum Summon any number of monsters you wish as long as you have the space on the field for them.
Pendulum monsters all share 2 unique characteristics: their dual nature as Monsters and Spells and their ability to recycle themselves. When your Pendulum monsters are in hand, they can be Normal Summoned/Set/Special Summoned according to the normal rules of the game. Meanwhile, you could also put them face-up in the new Pendulum Zone to bring you one step closer to Pendulum Summoning monsters.
When Pendulum monsters would be sent from the field to the Graveyard, they are instead sent to the Extra Deck face-up. Which means, your Pendulum monster goes to the Extra Deck face-up when it is:
Pendulum monsters all share 2 unique characteristics: their dual nature as Monsters and Spells and their ability to recycle themselves. When your Pendulum monsters are in hand, they can be Normal Summoned/Set/Special Summoned according to the normal rules of the game. Meanwhile, you could also put them face-up in the new Pendulum Zone to bring you one step closer to Pendulum Summoning monsters.
When Pendulum monsters would be sent from the field to the Graveyard, they are instead sent to the Extra Deck face-up. Which means, your Pendulum monster goes to the Extra Deck face-up when it is:
- Used for a Synchro Summon (perhaps for Metaphys Dragon?)
- Used for a Fusion Summon (perhaps for First of the Dragons?)
- Tributed for a Tribute Summon, Ritual Summon, or the cost of a card effect
- Destroyed by battle or by card effect.
How does a Pendulum Summon work?
In order to perform a Pendulum Summon, you need to have both Pendulum Zones occupied with Pendulum monsters. A Pendulum monster in the left Pendulum Zone will have a scale equal to the left Scale on the card, and the opposite the case for the monster in the right Pendulum Zone. Once those two are in place, you can Special Summon any number of non-Ritual monsters from your hand and any number of face-up Pendulum monsters in the Extra Deck whose levels are greater than the left Scale but lower than the right Scale. Nomi and Semi-Nomi monsters cannot be Pendulum Summoned. You can only Pendulum Summon once per turn during your Main Phase 1 or 2 if you are able to Special Summon.
Example: Turn player has Dragoons of Draconia in the left Pendulum Zone and Timegazer Magician in the right Pendulum Zone. Turn player has Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and The White Stone of Legend in hand. Turn Player also has Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon face-up in the Extra Deck. The only monsters Turn Player can Pendulum Summon are Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. Turn Player cannot Pendulum Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon because its Level is not lower than Timegazer Magician's Scale. Turn player also cannot Pendulum Summon The White Stone of Legend as its Level is lower than Dragoons of Draconia's Scale.
Example: Turn player has Dragoons of Draconia in the left Pendulum Zone and Timegazer Magician in the right Pendulum Zone. Turn player has Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and The White Stone of Legend in hand. Turn Player also has Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon face-up in the Extra Deck. The only monsters Turn Player can Pendulum Summon are Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. Turn Player cannot Pendulum Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon because its Level is not lower than Timegazer Magician's Scale. Turn player also cannot Pendulum Summon The White Stone of Legend as its Level is lower than Dragoons of Draconia's Scale.
Other Specifics Regarding Pendulum Summonings
- A Pendulum Summon is what is known as an inherent summoning, meaning that the turn player does not need to declare that he/she is going to Pendulum Summon before doing so.
- Pendulum Summoning multiple monsters occur as a single Special Summon occurrence. It will only count as one Summon (for cards like Maxx "C", Summon Limit).
- Card effects that trigger in response to exactly one monster being Special Summoned (e.g. Thunder King Rai-oh, Black Horn of Heaven) cannot activate when you Pendulum Summon multiple monsters. However, effects that can activate with the Summoning of multiple monsters (e.g. Bottomless Trap Hole, Solemn Warning) can be activated.