Players of Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel are likely familiar with the franchise’s Extra Deck mechanics, where players utilize an additional set of cards outside their Main Deck using the game’s many mechanics. While the main Yu-Gi-Oh! And Yu-Gi-Oh! GX series focus on Fusions and Rituals as Extra Deck mechanics, sequel series introduced more Extra Deck options to diversify play. These include the multi-tribute Synchro Summons, multi-card Xyz Summons, placement-reliant Link Summons, and the multi-casting Pendulum Summon.
Despite the complexity of having all these mechanics in a single game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Games made them playable in a digital format, ranging from the full-format adaptation Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel and the more fast-paced Duel Links. The new Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel game also features a variant of Pendulum Summoning, this time heavily relying on Pendulum Monsters. How does this feature work?
Recap: Pendulum Summons In The Main Game
Before players understand the Pendulum Summon mechanic in Cross Duel and its use of Pendulum Monsters, gamers may want to refresh their memory on how the Original Pendulum Summon mechanic works.
First introduced in Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V, Pendulum Summon is the main gimmick used by protagonist Yuya Sakaki. He uses Pendulum Monsters as Spell Cards in Pendulum Zones, with these Monsters having set starting (blue) and ending (red) Pendulum Levels. After setting these “limits,” Yuya can summon as many Monsters of Levels between those limits depending on his available Monster Zones. The goal is to speed up the summoning gameplay, allowing players to duke it out faster.
Pendulum Scales In Cross Duel
With an understanding of the Original Pendulum Summon format, it becomes apparent why changes have been made in the Cross Duel Pendulum Summon format. In Cross Duel, Pendulum Scales now follow these mechanics:
- No Levels, just Colors. Unlike the main game, Cross Duel’s Pendulum Summon mechanic has Pendulum Monsters possess Pendulum Colors instead. At any given time, a Pendulum Monster may have a Blue Pendulum or a Red Pendulum.
- Both colors are still required: Cross Duel players still need to activate the Blue Pendulum and Red Pendulum Skills to be eligible for Pendulum Summons.
- Placements don’t matter. In the main game, Pendulum Monsters are carefully placed in one side of the field to establish the Pendulum Zone. On the other hand, Cross Duel facilitates Pendulum Summons for as long as both Pendulum Colors are activated. It doesn’t matter where the Monsters activating them are placed.
Pendulum Summons In Cross Duel
Given the simplified nature of Pendulum Levels in Cross Duel, Pendulum Summons aren’t meant for a more complicated mechanic, similar to the intended impact of Fusions in the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Game. Rather, they’re another way to facilitate higher-level Summons. When triggered, Pendulum Summons let players Summon a Level 5 or higher Monster without tributes. Here’s how Pendulum Summons work:
- Battle Phase trigger: Similar to some other Skills, the Red and Blue Pendulum Colors only trigger their effects in the Battle Phase.
- Mind the charge time: When players trigger the Blue and Red Pendulum Skills in their Battle Phase, it’s only within their next Main Phase that they can fulfill a Pendulum Summon.
- Not exclusive to Pendulum Monsters: When fulfilling a Pendulum Summon, players don’t necessarily have to Summon a high-level Pendulum Monster like Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. Rather, any Level 5 can be eligible for this Summon method.
- Can be skipped: Players also have the choice not to use their Pendulum Summon in the next Main Phase, and instead pull off this maneuver at any other point in the duel.
What Happens To Pendulum Monsters?
Given the limited format of Cross Duel, it’s apparent that Monster Zones and Trap Zones will be maximized to allow maximum strategic enjoyment despite shorter matches. This means Pendulum Monsters have some changes that alter their nature from their functionalities in the main game.
- Pendulum Monsters act like other Monsters. Unlike the main game, where they may have dedicated Spell Card effects, Cross Duel Pendulum Monsters also possess Special Skills on top of other Skills. This allows players to use them as ordinary Monsters without having to worry about another layer of gameplay.
- Pendulum Monsters don’t possess Pendulum Levels. Instead, they have a base Pendulum Color that acts as a separate Skill on top of their existing Skills. This allows players to maximize the Pendulum Monsters on their deck and not rely on them simply as Pendulum Summon materials.
- No simultaneous Pendulum Colors. Likewise, Pendulum Monsters can only have one Pendulum Skill equipped at any time. No Pendulum Monster can possess both the Blue and Red Pendulum.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel was released September 6, 2022 for iOS and Android.