Master Rule 2020 – What you need to know!

New year, new anime series, new rules!
VRAIN’s ended all too soon, and we have the new upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens anime to look forward to, unless some horrible fate befalls us all. With each new series, our lords and masters, Konami, update what is know as the “Master Rule” – overarching rules that change the game slightly to enable new mechanics and cards to thrive.

Not so with Master Rule 5 or Master Rule 2020 as it also called. In fact, this Master Rule does the opposite, allowing OLD Cards and Mechanic’s to throw off the shackles of Link-era tyranny.

Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Monsters that are face-down in the Extra Deck can be Special Summoned to your Main Monster Zone in addition to the Extra Monster Zone.

When Special Summoning Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Monsters from your Extra Deck, you can Special Summon them to your Main Monster Zone as well as the Extra Monster Zone.

You can choose which zones to Special Summon them depending on the situation. Special Summoning them from outside of the Extra Deck (from the Graveyard or Banished Pile etc) still allows you to place them in a Main Monster Zone.

This is all well and true for those Extra Deck mechanics, but what about the ones True Duelist’s really care about – Links and Pendulums?

Rules for Summoning Pendulum and Link Monsters from the Extra Deck do not change.

Special Summoning Pendulum and Link Monsters from the Extra Deck remains the same.

When Special Summoning from the Extra Deck, Link and Pendulum monsters still need to be Special Summoned to either the Extra Monster Zone or a Main Monster Zone a Link Monster’s Link Arrow is pointing to.

Special Summoning them from outside of the Extra Deck (from the Graveyard, Banished Pile, or Hand for Pendulum’s etc) they will still be Special Summoned to your Main Monster Zone.

So why the change?

Some decks were created well before Link monsters, and just straight up can’t compete if they need to put resources into Link Summoning first before even attempting to start doing what they do best.

Think Blackwing, Doppel-Junk Synchro, DDD, Raidraptors etc…

All these decks are so dedicated to a particular task that adding Link Summoning puts them at a disadvantage. It’s like telling an Ape to grow the tree first, before it can start swinging through it’s branches.

Why not apply this to Pendulum’s as well?

Pendulum’s don’t need any help, only their players do.