Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel: Synchro Summoning Guide

Synchro Summoning is a unique type of Special Summon in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel that combines the levels of various Monsters to summon even bigger Monsters to the field. Synchro Monsters were first introduced to the TCG after the premiere of the third Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s and require a unique type of Monster card known as a Tuner to perform. Synchro Summoning can be tricky to get the hang of, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways to Special Summon Monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel once players learn how to run their deck like a well-oiled machine.

In order to Synchro Summon a Synchro Monster from the Extra Deck, players must tribute one Tuner and one or more non-Tuner Monsters whose levels add up to the exact level of the Synchro Monster they’re summoning and send them to the graveyard. Tuner Monsters are a type of Monster cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! that are easy to summon and have “Tuner” in their card description to differentiate them from non-Tuner Monsters. Each Synchro Monster lists its summoning requirements in its card description, though almost every Synchro Monster requires exactly one Tuner to summon. Players can play it in the Extra Monster Zone in a face-up attack or defense position when a Synchro Monster is successfully summoned. However, if a Link Monster is on the field, a Synchro Monster can also be played in any of the zones linked to that Monster, indicated by the red arrows on the Link Monster card.

While the math and Tuner requirements can make Synchro decks more technical and challenging to run than some other deck types in Yu-Gu-Oh! Master Duel, once the proper summoning materials are on the field, it’s easy to summon Synchro monsters directly from the Extra Deck. This allows duelists to play some extremely powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! Monsters quickly and at a relatively low cost. However, like all Special Summoned Monsters, Synchro Monsters can’t be Special Summoned from the graveyard unless they’ve been successfully Synchro Summoned first. Additionally, Monsters that don’t have levels like XYZ Monsters and Link Monsters cannot be used as Synchro Materials to perform a Synchro Summon. If the opponent successfully negates a Synchro Summon, the Synchro Materials do not return to the field.

How To Build A Synchro Summoning Deck In Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

A good Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Synchro deck should balance the amount of Tuner and non-Tuner Monster cards as well as Spell and Trap Cards to allow players to get their powerful Synchro Monsters out on the field consistently. In addition, players should be mindful of the levels of the Synchro Monsters in their Extra Deck and include Tuners and non-Tuners whose levels synergize well since this will give them the best odds of drawing usable Synchro Materials to play when they’re needed. However, suppose the levels of the Synchro Materials are too varied or don’t easily add up to the levels of the Synchro Monsters in the Extra Deck. In that case, it’ll be extremely difficult to play and render many of the cards all but useless.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel also features plenty of cards that allow players to Synchro Summon under unique circumstances, making it an extremely versatile Special Summoning method. For example, the Spell card “Urgent Tuning” and the Yang Zing non-Tuner Monsters have card effects that allow players to Synchro Summon during their opponent’s main or battle phases. In addition, “Synchro Material” allows players to use one of their opponent’s Monsters as Synchro Material instead of their own. With powerful mechanics and varied deck-building options like these, players can easily create a strong Synchro deck in Yu-Gi-Oh!Master Duel.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S Series, and Nintendo Switch.

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