The brand new Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel video game has caused many lapsed Yu-Gi-Oh! fans to return to the card game. However, many of these players are learning the game has changed a lot since the early years. Many of these duelists have realized that the game now has many new summoning methods and that these methods totally change the game's old rules and tactics.
However, one of the best ways to learn about these fresh mechanics is to check out the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. Whenever the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime starts a new series, it tends to feature a brand new card type or card mechanic. This mechanic (or a version of it) is later added to the card game. So if you want to catch up with these new mechanics, here is everything you need to know.
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's
The oldest of these new summoning mechanics is the Synchro Summon. First introduced in 2008's Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's the Synchro Summon was one of many elements added in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's including, the now infamous Turbo Duels. These Turbo Duels saw the duelists hopping on futuristic motorcycles to battle with one another, totally changing the look and feel of the series. Series protagonist Yusei Fudo and his foes use this new summoning method as the central part of their offense. This summon mechanic would frequently reappear in every series after this, with them often being used in Arc-V and VRAINS.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal
2014's Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal introduced another summoning method, dubbed the Xyz Summon. This new mechanic also featured a new monster type called Xyz monsters. Zexal followed Yuma Tsukumo. Yuma wants to become the world's best duelist, but he sucks at dueling. However, one day, while having a match against Reginald, his school's top delinquent, a magical door opens, and several lights shoot out. The opening of this door lets the Xyz monsters fill Yuma's world.
Then a creature from a parallel universe called Astral appears and greets Yuma. Astral informed Yuma that he has lost his memories. To regain Astral's memories, Yuma has to track down the lights that came out of the door. But these lights have turned into 99 specially-numbered Xyz monsters, making this task a massive undertaking.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V
Of all of the new summoning mechanics, Pendulum Summons are the most memorable as they turn the old rules of the game on their heads. This summoning method was introduced in 2014's Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V. However, the in-universe origins of the Pendulum Summon are weird. Arc-V follows Yuya Sakaki, a young boy who wants to become a Dueltainera, a fusion of a duelist and a clown, just like his father. Ever since he was a young child, Yuya wore a mysterious pendant around his neck, but most thought of it as a mere trinket.
One day Yuya gets the chance to duel the former champion of the Pro League, The Sledgehammer. Yuya holds his own for a while, but The Sledgehammer starts to dominate. However, when Yuya starts to fall behind, his pendulum does something odd. The pendulum turns three of Yuya's cards, Stargazer Magician, Timegazer Magician, and Odd-Eyes Dragon, into Pendulum Monsters, allowing Yuya to pull off the first Pendulum Summon, something that would become Yuya's signature move.
Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS
The final summon mechanic introduced is the Link Summon. This method was first seen in 2017's Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. VRAINS follows Yusaku Fujiki, a high school student who lives in a world where a massive Virtual Reality Network called LINK VRAINS is commonplace. Many people use this VR network to play Duel Monsters against each other. However, this world is under threat by a shadowy hacker group called the Knights of Hanoi. Yusaku Fujiki tries to stop this group under the pseudonym Playmaker.
While doing this, Yusaku learns he has a unique ability called Storm Access. This ability allows Yusaku to enter a data storm and produce a never-before-seen Link Monster. This monster is then added to his Extra Deck. Thankfully, this ability to create new cards out of thin air isn't reflected in the card game, as it would lead to some very convoluted matches.
Yu-Gi-Oh! has gone through many changes over its long history. The new mechanics and summoning methods are great as they open up new story opportunities and make each series feel unique. They also give players of the card and video games more options to play with. Hopefully, any future Yu-Gi-Oh! spin-offs add an equally distinctive and inventive mechanic. And hopefully, the popularity of Master Duel gets people to check out some of the more overlooked seasons of the anime.