How to Link Summon - Explained Quickly and Easily

As long as its your main phase and you have the materials listed in your link monsters text on the field, you can send those monsters to the GY to bring out your link monster to the Extra Monster Zone, or a zone that a link monster is directly pointing too.
Only Link Monsters and Pendulum monsters are restricted in which zones that can be summoned too, all other cards can go wherever.
If a card says it requires “+” number of monsters, that means you can use link monsters specifically to cheese the cost.
If a link monster has completely generic materials like Firewall Dragon for example, and requires 2+ monsters, that means you have to send monsters you control to the GY equal to its link rating to bring it out. In this case 4 monsters. However, link monsters can count as extra monsters. So if you send a link 2 monster, you only need 2 other monsters instead of 3. Or if you use a link 3 monster, you only need to send 1 other monster.
However other link monsters only count as extra materials if their link rating is lower. Since the number of materials have to equal exactly their link rating.
So if you wanted to use another link 4 or 5 monster for firewall, you could, but it would only count as 1 material, and you’d still need 3 other monsters, or link 3 or lower monsters.
editing by @ParfaitOperationalGuidebook
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#yugioh #shorts
/ theduellogs
/ hirumared
/ theduellogs

[@thatsme4303]

“if the rating is lower” salamangreat hiding in their sanctuary: “that sign can’t stop me, i can’t read!”

[@Loomy_sprites]

Lol

[@F2PAlius]

"I summon... MYSELF!"

[@Loomy_sprites]

@@F2PAlius I summon…the exact same card…AGAIN

[@gayjebus4079]

There's also that new link 4 that can swnd another link 4 to summon itself

[@jcplays5831]

It’s a fantastic gimmick- when you realize it’s there. Let me start off by saying I play master duel. I started playing salamangreat because fire animals what’s not to love, and I distinctly remember thinking of how useless sanctuary was because of the LP effect. Once I watched a couple videos and actually read the card, I realized the potential and it’s an archetype that I just adore now.

[@fxlja]

"Only if the link rating is lower." Worldsea Dragon Zealantis: Huh, who decided that?

[@CrnaStrela]

His summoning condition, it's literally 1+ monster.

[@MrIcenice44]

“I fail to see the problem here”

[@a.giovanni.m6740]

It still applies. You just need a Link 4 or lower monster.

[@tame1773]

X+ is the minimum amount needed for its summon, so 3+ is 3 minimum, 1+ is 1 minimum and so on

[@SerpiaXerma]

Small misnomer here: Pendulum monsters summoned from the *extra deck* need to be summoned to the extra monster zone, or to a zone(s) a link monster points to. Pendulum monsters summoned from the hand can go to any main monster zone

[@whitetigerfire1]

By the heavens above. Thank You. As an old school player who recently got back in this has helped so much

[@leeboyles4480]

If the link rating is lower Salamangreats: allow us to introduce ourselves

[@DullFiction]

"if their link rating is lower" kid named sky striker:

[@Lilithlily5]

A Link Monster is still one Monster.

[@JABRIEL251]

It took me waaaay to long to learn that last point

[@tumage8592]

Today

[@xCorvus7x]

It's a bit counter-intuitive but it's kind of like that rule about overpaying Levels for Ritual summoning that forbids overpaying by a whole monster. To Ritual summon with an effect that doesn't need you to match the Ritual monster's Level exactly, you can tribute one monster of the same or a higher level or any combination of other monsters as long as you take the least amount of monsters you could take; e. g. Level 8 Ritual monsters can be summoned using a Level 5 and two Level 2 monsters but not using a Level 5, a Level 3, _and_ a Level 1 monster because the 5 and the 3 already add up to 8. (For the record, Meteonis Drytron considers ATK values instead of levels but requires you to match the Ritual monsters ATK stat in the same manner.) Links have this modality that you can generally choose how much material they are supposed to represent but as soon as they are worth more than the monster you want to summon they have to be treated as one material, you can't just choose to overpay for the Link summon and send whatever monsters you want to the graveyard. In both cases this is probably just a safeguard to keep people from abusing floating or graveyard effects.

[@GiacomoZonco]

Okay I only played with friends and on Master Duel and have never had a Link Focused deck so I didn’t know higher link ratings would only count as one You always learn something new!

[@animeking1357]

This series is great. I'm pretty familiar with this stuff but I imagine it'll be immensely useful for those starting out. Maybe once you get far enough along we can get explanations for stuff like "if vs when" and missing the timing.

[@undefinederror5306]

When effects have to be chain link 1 to not miss timing. When quick effects are different.

[@animeking1357]

@@undefinederror5306 That helps. Thank you.

[@yugiohfan7906]

​@@undefinederror5306most when effects miss timing, if a card says: when and is not optional effect it cannot miss timing.

[@SR3TG119]

I’ll admit goddess’ summon condition confused the fuck out of me for the longest time until I finally figured out that the highest link monster you can use for it is a link 2

[@ainred9844]

Ip to white woman is very funny

[@modernkiwi6447]

I know how Yugioh works, but I love these shorts for how easily they break down Yugioh on a mechanical level in a short timeframe

[@Winterfang]

* Brain Static followed by drooling *

[@deathsaidhello]

whats the joke here, i want to laugh :D

[@killercronicxx375]

Still my favorite yugioh teacher Edit: keep up the great videos duellogs

[@Origami_Anivia]

Anyone remember tribute summoning? 🤔

[@varietygamer0927]

Yes I have a monarch deck on MD

[@cedrusnguyen5188]

Well, normal summon Robina, response?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

Floowandereeze

[@lechonk4956]

The game is brain dead now. You can have a full field of 2500+ attack monsters with broken effects with no effort at all

[@CrnaStrela]

@@lechonk4956 how is it no effort when you spent your entire hand and deck for that???

[@skyafterfall]

However. For the underworld goddess of the closed world you can use a link 2 monster as long as it is an effect then use 2 effect monsters and one of of your opponents monsters.

[@TheWarhawk16]

I still don't get it. Maybe I'm dumb, haha

[@DivineDEC]

I could answer any questions

[@kroffen7]

Nah it’s a bit overwhelming at first! You can see it like basic math, if you want a 4 you can use four 1s. Or two 2s! Or 3+1, just as long as you get it to the exact link rating you need and you follow the requirements on the card ^^

[@makenshao9886]

It'd probably help to think of nonlink monsters being a rating of 1, where you want the ratings to all equal to the monster you're trying to summon. All this following the specific instructions of the monster.

[@Goldenleyend]

@@DivineDEC why do they put the requirement a different number as the link rating? is it always 2+ when its more than 2?

[@DivineDEC]

@@Goldenleyend because link monsters can count as multiple materials. Meaning that if a link 3 monster says 2+ you could use three monsters OR a link 2 monster and one other monster. And you'll see that some monsters have the same amount of materials as their link rating, like Powercode Talker.

[@melvinshine9841]

And that extreme ease of access is why you don't see generic Link monsters with free really powerful, easy to access negates, with Appolusa being the closest to that. A completely generic Link 4 with a omni-negate would be so, so much worse than Baronne.

[@MajinObama]

THANK YOU!

[@poro9084]

gosh - he forgot about zealantis, one of the link 4 who is able to be cheated out with link 4 - mostly marincess

[@seaker1]

Thank you.

[@ButFirstHeLitItOnFire]

Idea for a new Link monster: _Chain-Link Wall_ (EARTH) LINK-2 Arrows: ⬅️➡️ Rock/Link/Effect 2+ Rock or EARTH monsters _If this card is Link Summoned: You can change the battle positions the battle positions of any monsters you control, and/or move them to any of your main monster zones. Gains 1000 ATK for every card this card’s arrows point to. You take no battle or effect damage from battles or effects that involve this card or any cards it’s arrows point to. This card, and all cards it’s arrows point to, gain the following effects while on the field:_ ⚪️Cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, nor declare attacks. ⚪️Spell/Trap cards you control directly behind this card cannot be destroyed or targeted by card effects. ⚪️During each end phase: You gain LP Equal to this card’s ATK or DEF, whichever is higher. ⚪️Once per turn: You can tribute this card: Add 1 EARTH/Rock monster to your hand from your field, deck or GY. ATK/2000 This card is designed to be a living wall made of itself and other monsters linked to it, denying them the chance to attack BUT negating any damage that may have involved them, be it battle or effect, all while make them and spells/traps behind them harder to remove from the field. _Then_ there’s the LP gain to help heal you up at the end of every turn, an effect to change the field to your liking upon link summoning this card AND a way to get rid of any involved monsters to clear up space while searching an EARTH/Rock monster. Should be a decent stall card.

[@Gebirges]

The card gives itself and the cards it points to complete protection... that'd be a mistake, since you either have to negate it or Tribute them away with a Kaiju. So you could just play any of the Rock Flip monsters that deal burn damage again and again.

[@ButFirstHeLitItOnFire]

@@Gebirges Well that’s only protection against _destruction_ by battle/effects… Shuffling, banishing, and using the card as cost/tribute/materials for another card or effect will also get the job done. Plus you effectively sacrifice any battle potential using the involved monsters. Although I could just say that _neither_ player takes battle or effect damage from Said monsters.

[@Gebirges]

@@ButFirstHeLitItOnFire the effect is too damn strong on a link-2 and it also shares that effect, basically turning everything into a Block Dragon but Link.

[@jeydomo]

Bad reaction to simochi might be a minor indirect counter.

[@ButFirstHeLitItOnFire]

@@Gebirges Let me try something then: _Chain-Link Great Wall_ (EARTH) LINK-5 Arrows: ⬅️↙️⬇️↘️➡️ Rock/Link/Effect 5+ Rock or EARTH monsters _If this card is Link Summoned: You can change the battle positions of any monsters you control, and/or move them to any of your main monster zones. Gains 1000 ATK for every card this card’s arrows point to. You take no damage from battles or effects that involve this card or any cards it’s arrows point to. This card, and all cards it’s arrows point to, gain the following effects while on the field:_ ⚪️Cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, nor declare attacks. ⚪️Spell/Trap cards you control directly behind this card cannot be destroyed, negated or targeted by card effects. ⚪️During each end phase: You gain LP Equal to this card’s ATK or DEF, whichever is higher. ⚪️Once per turn: You can tribute this card: Add 1 EARTH/Rock monster to your hand from your field, deck or GY. ATK/5000 THERE, made it so it’s a higher cost to bring out properly.

[@darklight1030]

Still not clear, why do they make this so complicated and without reason?

[@exboom12]

Honestly, this is somehow less complicated than pendulum

[@pokelogikx]

you just use up as many monsters as there are arrows on the link monster you want basically while also making sure it satisfies the top line of text (2+ whatever or 2 effect monsters,etc)

[@Dz73zxxx]

At the release and MR4, obviously...money 😅 and i still think the remnants of it really unecessary shifts a lot in YGO

[@DivineDEC]

This felt very clear, but I could answer any questions you have.

[@darklight1030]

@@DivineDEC if you play yugioh, then it probably is clear. That's a bias. It's just such a complicated mechanic (as is pendulums). I get it, but I appreciate simplicity in form, and current tcg is not that. Thanks for offering to explain though : )

[@Joma-7663]

Now I get why I couldn't summon Firewall Dragon with only 3 Main Deck monsters. I thought I just need more than 2 monsters on field.

[@bxcut5460]

Great video, how did you do those Animations?

[@jaybagido775]

This was surprisingly good info, esp for new players. But if you could; maybe please add subtitles or text as you speak. Sometimes its easier to read and remember and stick with if words are present for these 'How to' videos. And technically they're 'unofficial rules' offical rules on how to play the game

[@MrAlexH1991]

For fucks’ sakes, the rules in the original gameplay were already COMPLICATED ENOUGH.

[@dissidiamaniac460]

Playing marincess and mathmech can help tech players how to link summon since that is their main focus

[@MrIcenice44]

This is some gonzo shit. Vibes are great, at the very least vibes exist

[@4GRJ]

I wonder how short you can make the Pendulums tutorial

[@Raven5431]

Playing the cell phone games always seems to want to replace my main extra monster zone instead of going to what should be a linked zone...

[@jheriko1556]

Worldsea dragon zealantis: we do not care.

[@benjaminberkey2920]

I miss the old days when the game wasn't overly complicated and didn't have a mass amount of text on each card.

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

pre errata relinquished and dark magician girl exists yo

[@ColdTiger]

​@@akmalfakhruddin7285don't forget the infamous yata lock

[@benjaminberkey2920]

@akmalfakhruddin7285 relinquished was never complicated to begin with but it did have a quite a bit of text and dark Magician Girl wasn't complicated either and had very little text.

[@benjaminberkey2920]

@ColdTiger what do you mean? The yata lock isn't complicated, is self explanatory, and didn't have alot of text.

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

@@benjaminberkey2920 so the main issue is right now you have skill issue

[@MessiahKnight]

Why does Konami dig their own grave with these summoning mechanics? 😂😂😂

[@yeyo3659]

I'm gonna enroll to were Crowler studied cause nowadays you need a phD in dueling to even know what to do.

[@muhammadaffry2123]

Also you cannot link summon with same link rating except link-2 or lower

[@kyleoliver637]

This page is great for learning the mechanics getting into the game

[@maxenjones1446]

I still don’t understand I can have a knightmare unicorn but will still count as 1 material sometimes .. (have in mind I didn’t get the end of the video)

[@tweekin7out]

it can only count as 1 material or 3, and the total number of materials can't exceed the link rating of what you're trying to summon. if you use it to go into a link-3 or a link-2, it can only ever count as one material.

[@CrnaStrela]

To put it simply, you cannot have more arrows, if the monster you want to summon needs 2+ monsters and has 4 link arrows, you can summon it with link 3 and 1 monster totaling 4 arrows, but if you have link 3 and link 2, you can only summon it if you treat your link 2 as 1 monster instead of link 2 monster.

[@abhorrentillusions]

Sort of Like an Ace in blackjack where it’s an 11 or a 1. If you have 19 on the table your ace needs to be a 1 or you bust. So a link monster you are summoning into, it’s level is kinda like black Jack in that if you are trying to go into a rank 3, using a rank 4 as a 4 would bust, so it can only be used as a 1. (Mediocre analogy, but it works for me.) I just am getting back into the game also, I quit before pendulum’s even existed, so I feel the struggle. (I come back and I’m like “Konami, what did you do to my precious Yugs!”

[@jcplays5831]

I learned this the hard way when learning salamangreat. If you don’t know what you’re doing with that deck, you are so incredibly screwed

[@Algorhythm91]

If the link rating is lower or equal❗

[@lonniecfireillbemayorsomeday]

unbelievably necessary

[@Dz73zxxx]

When link summoning just for Extra Monster Zone: "ez" But link summon for full endboard link and co-linking, which the card and position matters? My measly brain cant do it...

[@fxlja]

If you're struggling with that, try playing with a deck that has diagonal arrows. Contrary to its design, diagonal arrows make for better examples in linking, while straight arrows are easier to make co-links. That's why Knightmares have straight arrows while one-ofs and generic staples like Electrumite, Verte, Halq, and the Charmers have diagonals. When you're comfy enough, you can try your hand at sideway arrows like Avramax or the Borrel dragons.

[@Rahochusosu]

Or play Tri-brigade, the 11th time you summon to the only arrow you have for Links given by Ferrijit you will start to pay a lot of attention to not block yourself mid combo again c:

[@kevinvelez-wk5bv]

So if the link monster says 2+ monsters but it’s a link 3 can I only use 2 monsters to summon it or do I need 3 monsters to summon it?

[@nickshane5985]

I think things peaked at xyz's.

[@captainviper3888]

Does my first link summon NEED to be in the extra zone? I am struggling to understand why i am forced to use my extra zone monster (fusion, synchro, or xyz) instead of other available monster

[@dboychou]

summoning verte with snow and mudora, just kill me now

[@OmonaEmanon]

I got a question some times i can't activate link monsters effect when i already met the requirements

[@BaronTMan]

Depends on what your asking: 1) if you couldn’t summon a link monster, you may be “locked” into summoning a certain type of creature through another effect (so for example, fusion deployment says you can only fusion summon for the rest of the turn) 2) if it’s summoned and you can’t use the effect, it may be negated some way (like skill drain) 3) lost link monsters have a once per turn effect, (like striker dragon) so summoning a second copy on the same turn doesn’t mean you can activate it again. Hope this helps! Happy duelling!

[@wanderlustwarrior]

Huh. I didnt know about that lower rating point. I guess that explains why Dueling Nexus wouldn't let me use a rank 3 and 1 other monster to make another rank 3?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

yes.

[@marshallmarshall4081]

😵‍💫

[@thegamingkeyblade7066]

Since there are pendulum xyz monsters. Could there be pendulum link monsters, or also link synchro monsters?

[@DivineDEC]

Link pendulum is possible, but synchro link isn't due to the fact that link monsters lack levels and that pendulum is the only summoning method that can be mixed and matches that way.

[@tweekin7out]

@@DivineDEC you could make it work the way they did with the spright link or odd-eyes rebellion/raging dragon. "this monsters level counts as its link rating" or vice-versa.

[@DivineDEC]

@@tweekin7out yeah but that's not a fundamental change in summoning method and it's still the same monster type

[@carljimen]

So if the link ratings are the same, could you use one monster as the full material for another? For example using a link 2 monster to summon another link 2 (that requires generic materials).

[@hahagamerd3063]

No because most link 2 monsters need at least two monsters the only exception would be salamangreat who rely on their field spell to link summon themselves

[@carloshirujo4009]

What if it's a link 4 that says it needs 3+ materials? Does the link 3 + another monster example still works?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

nope. it needs to satisfy both conditions

[@alialluaibi3008]

Now do pendulums

[@thetsarofall8666]

Link summoning feels like if tribute summoning had a baby with the extra deck

[@BraveLittlePixel]

You know, I'm just more confused now lol

[@Y0sh1no5am]

So if I want a link 9 monster I must tribute link 4 monster + 5 monsters owo Cool.

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

yes but there will never be a link 9 because theres a maximum of 8 link arrows tho

[@ElianaMCP]

Wait, is scapegoat busted now?

[@abouteveryting4762]

I dont understand the last rule, i can go into a link 4 using a link 3 + 1 monster, but i cant go into a link 4 with a link 4 + 1 monster. Why is that

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

You need to satisfy the link rating. Link rating 4 needs 4 materials. Link monster has their link rating that indicates how many materials need to summon them and how many materials can be used to summon another link monster using them. (ie Link rating 1 has 1 materials, Link rating has 2 materials and so on). If you use a link 4 and 1 monster, it becomes link 5. You either use link 4 as 4 materials or 1 materials. The only monster I know that can use a single link 4 monster is Worldsea Dragon Zealantis

[@davidcoonce7463]

Can you use 2 link 2s to summon a link 4?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

Yes thats the common link climb. although you need to satisfy conditions like some link 4 monsters need 3+ monsters.

[@k.vgaming9028]

And my dumbass tried to summon Underworld Goddess of the Closed World by sending one used Apollousa and one opponent monster and wondered why it didn't work. I am fricking dumb

[@andreegeraldi1597]

I still dont really understand about that requirement that says 2+ effect monster and the one that says 2+ monster. I dont get whats the difference between the two, I am so slow to understand....I thought the 2+ monster is the one that isnt very restrictive because it says monster, I thought any monster can be material then

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

if it says 2+ monster, it means any monster that can be used as link materials. If it says 2+ effect monster that means only effect monsters (not normal monster, *effect* monster)

[@andreegeraldi1597]

​@@akmalfakhruddin7285thanks. Thats what I understand too from the text. What I dont understand from the video, is when it shows this card named Decode Talker, with 2+ effect monster, yet the owner of the video says "you can cheese it with link monsters"

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

@@andreegeraldi1597 there are normal fusion, synchro, xyz, pendulum and link monster. you cant use normal link monsters. you need to use *effect* link monster. i feel that you can’t distinguish normal and effect monster

[@user-jr2er3bt5r]

What does link_4 refer to?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

link moster thats 4 arrows

[@unclefred3128]

I just started getting back into Yugioh. Now I'm getting back out of it.

[@Shou_22]

Not a fan of the link mechanic tbh...

[@TK11223]

This is what happen when you emphasize more on quantity rather than quality

[@paddyofurniture9523]

I really miss synchros man, what the hell happened to this game?

[@akmalfakhruddin7285]

links are alredy 6 years old

[@megaspacewaffles]

Synchros are still extremely good what are you talking about

[@CrnaStrela]

Some of the current meta decks are synchro heavy dude.

[@ColdTiger]

If you want, you can play Edison format

[@133thefallen]

Yeah, um, what?

[@plumpdalles]

I'm going to be honest with you. I have no idea what you just said.

[@brandonvice4234]

Ahhh anaconda. Insta dragoon or dpe in literally any deck on planet lol

[@skye6817]

Not really well explained lol what do you mean by "zone it's pointing to"???

[@efe563_]

you should try to speak a little slower. not everyone is native speaker

[@DCBiscuit]

Link Summoning is fucking annoying. That’s my critique.