Last week, we opened the door for the Gemini monsters and discussed the way they change identities. Today we will focus on the actual process of changing your Gemini monster from its normal monster form into its effect monster form.

Gemini Summon

Every Gemini monster can assume its effect monster status by performing a normal summon while it is already face up on the field. In a sense, it’s like you’re spending your normal summon for the turn to “turn on” its effects. We will refer to this action as the “Gemini summon.”

You can “Gemini summon” any time you are able to perform your standard normal summon, during either your main phase 1 or main phase 2. You begin the process by telling your opponent that you intend to normal summon the Gemini monster you have face up on your side of the field. Naturally you will want to make it clear which Gemini monster is being normal summoned, because it can be confusing when you have multiple Gemini monsters on the field.

Performing the “Gemini summon” is not an activated effect, so you can’t plan on using a Divine Wrath to knock the Gemini monster down. It essentially follows the same rules of standard normal summon, only this time the monster is already on the field. This can create interesting situations when dealing with the effects of other cards present on the field. We will discuss this in more detail later.

Let’s take a look at an example of how the “Gemini summon” works:

Martin has Goggle Golem in face-up attack position on his side of the field. During his main phase 1, he decides he wants to normal summon the Goggle Golem so he can turn on its effect. The Goggle Golem is normal summoned and its original ATK value changes to 2100.

High-level monsters differ slightly from a standard normal summon when you “Gemini summon” them. Whenever you perform a “Gemini summon” with a high-level monster, you do not have to offer any tributes. The high-level monster is considered to be normal summoned and its effect monster status and monster effects turn on. This means you can special summon a high-level Gemini monster and then “Gemini summon” it in the same turn, without ever having to worry about tributes.

Complicating the Gemini Summon

Cards that can be activated when a monster is normal summoned can still be activated when you “Gemini summon” your Gemini monster. The “Gemini summon” offers no special protections to your Gemini monsters from cards like Torrential Tribute or Bottomless Trap Hole. Effects that trigger whenever a monster is normal summoned will also activate. You can even negate the normal summon with cards like Solemn Judgment, if so desired.

Example 1: Torrential Tribute

Kara has Chthonian Emperor Dragon face up on her side of the field from a previous turn and it is currently in its normal monster state. Her opponent has a Torrential Tribute set on his side of the field.

Kara states that she will normal summon her Chthonian Emperor Dragon. Her opponent can respond to the normal summon with Torrential Tribute, destroying the Chthonian Emperor Dragon. It does not matter that Chthonian Emperor Dragon was on the field from a previous turn, because it has just been normal summoned again by way of its “Gemini summon.”

Example 2: No Escape!

Will has Phantom Dragonray Bronto as a normal monster, in face-up attack position, on his side of the field. His opponent Kincaid has Stumbling face up in his spell and trap card zone.

Will states that he will normal summon his Phantom Dragonray Bronto. Kincaid has no responses. However, his Stumbling automatically activates because Will has normal summoned a monster. Stumbling begins a new chain, and when it resolves, the Phantom Dragonray Bronto is turned to defense position.

Example 3: Judgment of “Blud”

Cody has Il Blud as a normal monster in face-up attack position. He has Despair from the Dark in his graveyard. Anna has Solemn Judgment set on her side of the field.

Cody declares that he will normal summon Il Blud, and then retain priority and use its effect to special summon the Despair from the Dark. Anna says “hold that thought” and flips her face-down Solemn Judgment.

Anna’s Solemn Judgment can negate the normal summon of the Il Blud when it is “Gemini summoned.” Il Blud’s “Gemini summon” can be negated just like any other normal summon. As a result, Cody loses Il Blud and is unable to retain priority to activate its effect.

Full Summon Advantage

As we know from the standard game rules, we are allowed to perform multiple special summons during our turn, but only one normal summon or set. Special summoning Gemini monsters is hardly a difficult task, since they can take advantage of both generic special summons and normal monster-specific special summons. By performing a special summon, you can place your Gemini monster onto the field where you can then spend your one normal summon to unleash its effects.

If you have a Gemini monster that was set during a previous turn, you can flip summon it and also perform its “Gemini summon” in the same turn. Flip summons, like special summons, are not limited. They just aren’t as flexible. In the end, you will probably be looking to special summon in order to quicken your Gemini monster strategy.

We do have two fairly reliable ways to normal summon additional monsters. Ultimate Offering, one of our oldest cards, has allowed us to do so for quite some time. Every 500 life points we spend gets us an additional normal summon or set, and with Gemini monsters, this is very useful. The Gadgets ended up making Ultimate Offering a little too useful, though, and it has found itself on the Limited list for a while now.

Tactical Evolution provides us with an alternative that we can pack in threes: Double Summon. The card is quicker to use and has no cost, but its effect is limited to one use per turn. It doesn’t matter how many copies you play in the same turn: the effect can only be gained once and you just have to accept it. However, the extra normal summon it gives you comes in handy for Gemini monsters, The Six Samurai, or any other deck that wants to summon as many monsters as possible.

Next week, we will focus on the individual Gemini monsters and examine any complications arising from their effects. Until then, send all comments and questions to Curtis@Metagame.com