Hello once again.  Today we are going to talk about Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz monsters.  The first one is Ritual Monsters. (Blue Cards)  These monsters go straight into your deck just like Normal and Effect monsters.  Ritual Monsters are summoned by the use of playing their specific spell card.   (there are some ritual spell cards that can be used to ritual summon ritual monsters without the use of their specific spell card which we will talk more about in another blog)  For the basics you will need both the Ritual monster and its specific Ritual spell card in your hand.  First you activate the Ritual spell card by placing it in one of the spell and trap card zones.  Next send from either your hand or field to the graveyard (Also known as the discard pile) monsters on the field that are equal to or greater than the Ritual monster that you are going to summon.  (Some Ritual spells will require you to tribute monsters with levels equal to the level of the monster you are trying to summon)  Next place the Ritual monster that you are summoning onto the field in either face up attack position vertically or face up defense position horizontally.  This is called a special summon so you can still normal summon or normal set in the same turn you Ritual Summon. (We will talk more on special summoning in another blog).  Last send the Ritual spell used to summon the monster to the graveyard.  One of my favorite monsters to Ritual summon is Demise, King of Armageddon.  If you have ever seen this monster you are probably thinking of the song that has the line, "Its the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine."  That's because its Ritual Spell card is called  "End of the World".  The next monster we will discuss is the Fusion Monster (purple cards)  These monsters just like ritual monster require a specific spell card.  That card is Polymerization.  (there are other ways to bring out fusion monsters but this is the most common way) Fusion monsters are NOT included in your main deck.  They have a special deck called the Extra deck.  (we will talk more on extra decks in another blog)  First you will need to get the monsters listed on the fusion card (they are found right below the picture) on the field or in your hand.  Next you will need that spell card Polymerization.  Once you have those cards in your hand or on the field you are ready.  First you activate Polymerization in the spell and trap card zone.  Next send the monsters listed on the Fusion Monster card that you want to summon, from the field or hand to the graveyard.  Next special summon the Fusion Monster in either face up attack position vertically or face up defense position horizontally.  Then send Polymerization to the graveyard.  Fusion Monsters are considered special summoned.  Elemental Heroes use a lot of fusion monsters to create some pretty incredible combos that can overcome almost anything.   If fact right now they are one of the most common decks seen in current tournament play with other popular decks like Mermails, Spellbooks, and Wind-ups.  The next monster is the Synchro Monster (White Cards).  These monsters just like Fusion Monsters go into the Extra Deck.  Synchro Monsters are relatively easier to summon than Fusion Monsters because you don't need Polymerization.  First you will need to summon/special summon face up on the field one or more Non-Tuner monster(s) and one Tuner Monster.  You can tell if a monster is a Tuner or not by checking next to the monsters Type.  If it says Tuner then you have a Tuner monster.  When both your non-Tuner monster(s) and Tuner monster is on the field you can then declare a synchro summon.   You must choose a Synchro Monster who's level is equal to the total levels of all the Non-Tuner Monsters and Tuner Monster that you will use for the Synchro Summon.  Next send the appropriate monsters to the Graveyard and special summon the Synchro Monster in either face up attack or defense position. (Some Synchro Monsters do require specific Types or Attributes in order to summon them)  The most popular of all the Synchro Monsters is Stardust Dragon.   Last but not least is Xyz Monsters (Black Cards).  These monsters believe it or not are even easier to summon than Synchro Monsters.  Xyz Monsters are also put in the Extra Deck, Not the Main Deck.  All you need is at least two monsters that have the same level.  Yes! its that easy.  Just two monsters face up on the field that are the same level.  Next declare that you are performing an Xyz Summon.  This is where it gets a little different from Rituals, Fusions, and Synchros, instead of the monsters going to the Graveyard they are stacked on top of each other and then those monsters are placed under the newly summoned Xyz that has the same Rank as the level of the monsters used.(Xyz don't have levels like all the other monsters.  They have Ranks that are in the upper left hand corner just below the name of the monster.) The monsters that are now under the Xyz are used as Xyz materials. Materials are usually used to activate the Xyz Monsters effect.  There are lots of Xyz that are being used in tournaments but my favorite is Wind-Up Zenmaines.  Note:  Xyz's are considered special summoned and can be summoned in face up attack or defense position. Well there is how to summon all the rest of our monsters.  If anything is confusing just let me know.  Until next time, get your game on!