Quick Links
Fusion summoning is the oldest method of summoning monsters from the Extra Deck inYu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel,and it’s still as potent as ever. Fusing monsters has come a long way since the early days of the game’s history, and modern advancements in the mechanic may make it second only to Link Summoning in terms of sheer power.
Related:Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel: What Is Link Summoning
Whether you’re interested in playing powerful decks like Tearlaments or Branded Despia, enjoy rogue options like Gem-Knights and Invoked,or want to live out your anime fantasies with decks like HEROs and Red-Eyes,there’s a Fusion mechanic perfect for you.
What Are Fusion Monsters?
Fusion Monsters are monsters found in the Extra Deck that are summoned bycombining multiple monsters from the hand or Fieldand, in certain circumstances, the Deck and Graveyard.
Prior to the introduction of Synchro Monsters, Fusion Monsters were summoned from theFusion Deck usingPolymerizationand required the monsters (or a Fusion Substitute monster likeKing of the Swamp)listed on the card text.
For example, theBlue-Eyes Ultimate Dragonrequires three “Blue-Eyes White Dragons” to summon, and these materials need to be in hand or on the Field for Polymerization to be used.
The strict mechanics made Fusion a very costly endeavor in the game’s early days. As such, few players utilized Fusion Monsters during the “Duel Monsters” era of Yu-Gi-Oh.
However, once the game moved into the “GX” era, where the cards were influenced by the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime, fusing became easier thanks to new Spells and summoning mechanics.
Most modern iterations of Fusion Monsters don’t have such stringent Fusion requirements, instead usually requiring one named monster plus assorted generic material(s).
Fusion Monsterscan be identified by theirpurple frame and the “Fusion” identifierin the card text.
How Do You Fusion Summon A Monster?
Fusion Summoning a monster is as easy as locating the materials needed for its summon on the card and following its summoning instructions.
For most Fusion Monsters, this meansusing Polymerization or another Spell Card while you have the necessary materials in your hand or Field.But other Fusion Monsters require different methods to bring them onto the field.
Fusion Via Spell Card
Fusing monsters by using a Spell Card is the most abundant method of bringing a Fusion Monster onto the field.
The Spell Card can be the tried-and-true Polymerization, which has Fusion Summoned monsters since day one, or by using one of the many specialized Spell Cards that Fusion Summon monsters.
Cards likeFusion Destiny,Red-Eyes Fusion,Neos Fusion,Branded Fusion,and more cansummon monsters from certain archetypes by using monsters with more flexibility than just generic Spell Cards.
For example, Branded Fusion and the other “____ Fusion” cards can summon monsters using materials from the hand, Field, or Deck.
Cards likeMiracle FusionandDragon’s Mirrorcan Fusion Summon using materials in the Graveyard.Super Polymerizationcan use monsters from both sides of the field at the cost of discarding a card.
Metamorphosisis another powerful Spell Card that allows you to summon Fusion monsters and is even specified on certain cards likeElemental HERO Neo Bubbleman, but it is Forbidden due to its immense power.
Fusion Via Monster Effect
Fusion via monster effect has proven to be one of themost powerful summoning mechanics in the game.
TheTearlaments monsters utilize their Main Deck monster abilities to summon their powerful Fusion monstersfrom the Extra Deckwithout using Spell Cards.
Other examples of cards that let you Fusion Summon without a Spell Card areAlbion the Branded DragonandD/D Swirl Slime.
One of the most problematic monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh history,Cyber-Stein, is a monster that can Fusion Summon without a Spell Card but requires the hefty cost of 5,000 LP.
That hasn’t stopped players from using it since its debut back in 2005.
Fusion via “Contact Fusing”
“Contact Fusing” is a fan-made term forFusion monsters that can be Special Summoned by sending materials you control from the field to the Graveyardunless otherwise specified.
Youdo not need to use Polymerization or Fusion Spell Cards to summon these monsters, but the option is available, which adds to the flexibility of these cards.
Many cards in theGladiator BeastandElemental HEROarchetypes rely on Contact Fusions to summon their powerful Extra Deck Monsters.
