It's unfortunate how neglected Spirit monsters are in the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game. Spirit monster cards can pull off some surprising combos and have some of the most powerful monster effects in the game. For example, the infamous Yata-Garasu was banned for 17 years due to its involvement in a lockdown strategy that wiped an opponent's board and hand and prevented them from drawing.
Spirit monsters are generally slow and hard to make boards with, but you can boost their effectiveness with the right support cards. Cards like Yamata Dragon, which refills its user's hand after inflicting battle damage, can be powerhouses in the right deck. If you're searching for ways to make Spirit monsters more viable, these support cards are exactly what you need.
10 Creative Thinking Can Turn Legacy of Yata-Garasu Into a Pot of Greed
Premium Pack — October 8, 2007
At first glance, Legacy of Yata-Garasu is no better than Jar of Greed. The likelihood of any opponent controlling a Spirit monster is slim to none, and like most Traps, it has to be Set in a previous turn before it can be activated. The trick is to put a Spirit monster on the opponent's board before activating this card—doing so turns it into a Trap version of Pot of Greed.
Card Name | Legacy of Yata-Garasu |
|---|---|
Effect | Activate 1 of these effects:
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The obvious way is to use Creature Swap or another card that changes the control of an owner's Spirit monster to the opponent. Hebo, Lord of the River is a Spirit monster that can change an opponent's monster into one if Normal Summoned or flipped face-up. Both of these are difficult to do during the opponent's turn, so Legacy of Yata-Garasu may have to remain Set for multiple turns. The silver lining is that it can be activated in response to something that would take it off the board.
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9 Stars Align Above the Shrine Summons Ritual Monsters From the Deck
Age of Overlord — October 19, 2023
While Stars Align Above the Shrine doesn't help summon Spirit monsters per se, it does let its owner Tribute them to Ritual Summon a WIND monster from their Deck. The ideal targets are Shinobaron monsters—Ritual Monsters that happen to be Spirit monsters. As they're also WIND monsters, the condition that allows this card's owner to retrieve a Spirit monster or Ritual Spell from their Graveyard or banishment is easily fulfilled.
Card Name | Stars Align Above the Shrine |
|---|---|
Effect | Once per turn: You can Ritual Summon 1 WIND Ritual Monster from your Deck, by Tributing Spirit monsters and/or "Shinobird Token(s)" from your field, whose total Levels equal or exceed the Ritual Monster's Level. Twice per turn, if a face-up WIND monster(s) you control is returned to your hand (except during the Damage Step): You can activate 1 of these effects;
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Raging Storm Dragon - Beaufort IX is another potential Ritual Summon target, despite not directly supporting Spirit monsters. Its Level is 9, which is relatively high, but it can bounce an opponent's monster and itself back to its owner's hands, thus fulfilling this card's condition right away. Raging Storm Dragon is also a hand trap that prevents direct attacks and permanently negates that monster's effect.
8 Shinobird Salvation Pops a Card if a Spirit Monster Bounces
Raging Tempest — February 9, 2017
Shinobird Salvation is basically a better Spirit's Invitation without a maintenance cost. Instead of bouncing an opponent's monster when a Spirit monster bounces itself, this card can pop anything when it happens. This card can also turn every Spirit monster in the Graveyard into a makeshift Electromagnetic Turtle, which is very helpful due to a Spirit Deck's lack of staying power. The only real perk Spirit's Invitation has over Shinobird Salvation is that its bouncing effect isn't limited to once per turn.
Card Name | Shinobird Salvation |
|---|---|
Effect | If a face-up Spirit monster(s) you control returns to your hand while this card is face-up on the field (except during the Damage Step): You can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy it. When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can banish 1 Spirit monster from your Graveyard; negate the attack, then end the Battle Phase. You can only use each effect of "Shinobird Salvation" once per turn. |
Since it's a Continuous Trap, it has to remain on the field to stay in effect, so it's not as reliable as a real Electromagnetic Turtle. If this card is used to negate an attack, most likely by flipping it in response, it offers synergy by banishing a Shade Peacock monster. If properly Ritual Summoned, they revive themselves from banishment during the next Standby Phase and allow further Spirit support.
7 Izanagi Can Keep Spirit Monsters on the Board
The Duelist Genesis — September 2, 2008
Izanagi supports Spirit monsters from the other side of the spectrum. Instead of making the most of when they bounce from the field, it allows them to stay on the board. Izanagi is better than Spiritual Energy Settle Machine in every way, and the choice to return a Spirit monster to the hand becomes optional with it on the board. Furthermore, any Spirit monsters on the board don't immediately bounce once Izanagi leaves the board.
Card Name | Izanagi |
|---|---|
ATK | 2200 |
DEF | 1000 |
Effect | You can Special Summon this card from your hand by removing from play 1 Spirit monster from your hand. Spirit monsters you control do not have to have their effects that return them to the hand activated. |
Despite its appearance, Izanagi isn't a Spirit monster itself. Instead, it can Special Summon itself by banishing a Spirit monster from the hand. This is mostly useful for Spirit monsters that have effects that don't require them to be summoned, like Amano-Iwato, Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi, and Yamata Dragon. If banishment is unfavorable, Izanagi can be Tribute Summoned if necessary.
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6 Shinobird Power Spot Strengthens and Searches Spirit Monsters
Raging Tempest — February 9, 2017
A free 500 ATK/DEF boost is never a bad thing, but the real use of Shinobird Power Spot comes from its second effect. Any Spirit monster or Ritual Spell can be searched out if the owner's WIND monster bounces into their hand. Usually, this is the result of a Shinobird or Pendulum Spirit monster, but Harpie Dancer can easily bounce itself to let its owner Normal Summon another WIND monster in its place every turn.
Card Name | Shinobird Power Spot |
|---|---|
Effect | Spirit monsters you control gain 500 ATK and DEF. If a face-up WIND monster(s) you control returns to your hand (except during the Damage Step): You can add 1 Spirit monster or Ritual Spell Card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Shinobird Power Spot" once per turn. |
The ATK/DEF boost is spectacular with more copies of Shinobird Power Spot since Yata-Garasu becomes a tangible threat. It only needs to inflict Battle Damage to take away an opponent's next draw, but it doesn't necessarily need to be a direct attack. Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi and Yamata Dragon get bigger as well, thus increasing the potential for inflicting damage and wiping out an opponent's hand or letting the owner draw up to five cards, respectively.
5 Konohanasakuya Can Keep Any One Spirit Monster on the Board
Dawn of Majesty — August 12, 2021
While Izanagi keeps all Spirit monsters on the board with its presence, Konohanasakuya prevents one from bouncing by banishing itself from its owner's Graveyard. Its summoning condition is easier to fulfill, as the owner only needs to control a Spirit monster. Konohanasakuya is a Spirit monster itself, though, so it's best used as Tribute fodder for Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi or Yamata Dragon. This is easy to pull off with Nikitama and one of the above two on hand along with this card.
Card Name | Konohanasakuya |
|---|---|
ATK | 1300 |
DEF | 1300 |
Effect | Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned (from your hand) by controlling a Spirit monster. You can only Special Summon "Konohanasakuya" once per turn this way. Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Special Summoned this turn: Return it to the hand. Once per turn, during the End Phase: You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 Spirit monster you control; neither player can activate that face-up monster's effects on the field for the rest of this turn. |
It's also possible to use this as Link Material to get it in the Graveyard. This is also an EARTH Fairy monster that's easy to search for with most Spirit support cards, which in turn can be useful discard fodder for Mudora the Sword Oracle or Keldo the Sacred Protector—both of these are Limited in the TCG.
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4 Shinobird Crane Maintains Hand Advantage With Each Summon
Raging Tempest — February 9, 2017
Shinobird Crane lets its owner draw a card if another Spirit monster hits the board with it. This is easy to pull off with Konohanasakuya, but it can work with any Spirit monster. Since its effect is only a soft once per turn, multiple copies of Shinobird Crane increase the potential draw power from a Spirit monster hitting the board. Other examples of Spirit monsters that can be Special Summoned include Yamato-no-Kami and the Martial Arts Spirits.
Card Name | Shinobird Crane |
|---|---|
ATK | 1500 |
DEF | 1500 |
Effect | Cannot be Special Summoned. Once per turn, if another Spirit monster is Normal or Special Summoned while this monster is on the field: You can draw 1 card. Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up this turn: Return it to the hand. |
If it can't maintain its field presence, either by its own effect or because it's too weak, it can be wise to use it as material for an Extra Deck summon. Lightning Chidori is a Rank 4 Xyz Monster that requires WIND monsters and can return an opponent's cards to the Deck. Having a myriad of splashable Link Monsters is also useful.
3 Sakitama Facilitates Higher Level Normal Summoned Spirit Monsters
Cyberstorm Access — May 4, 2023
The three Mitama monsters are some of the best Spirit monster support cards in the game and are even Spirit monsters themselves. Sakitama can make summoning high-level Spirit monsters easier with its effects. Revealing this card lets its owner Normal Summon an additional Spirit monster, including itself, while Tributing this card lets its owner fetch a Spirit monster back from their Graveyard, including itself. This can also trigger Shinobird Crane's drawing effect without the need for a Special Summon.
Card Name | Sakitama |
|---|---|
ATK | 400 |
DEF | 900 |
Effect | Cannot be Special Summoned. Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up this turn: Return this card to the hand. You can only use each of the following effects of "Sakitama" once per turn. You can reveal this card in your hand; immediately after this effect resolves, Normal Summon 1 Spirit monster from your hand. If this card is Tributed: Target 1 Spirit monster in your GY; add it to your hand. |
Since Sakitama can Normal Summon itself with its effect, it's also potential Tribute fodder for Monarch or Vanity Decks, since it can return itself, pre-errata Sinister Serpent style. Its fetching effect works no matter how or where it's Tributed, so Ritual Summons can be made easier as well. The only reason this card isn't blatantly overpowered is that each effect is a hard once per turn.
2 Nikitama Grants an Additional Summon and Draw
Legacy of the Valiant — January 24, 2014
Nikitama is the second of the Mitama monsters. Its first effect allows its owner to Normal Summon an additional Spirit monster. This has a similar use to Sakitama's effect, albeit without the potential to Tribute Summon a non-Spirit monster. Nikitama other effect forces its owner to draw a card when it hits the Graveyard while they control another Spirit monster. This can turn a Tribute or Link Summon into a potential draw.
Card Name | Nikitama |
|---|---|
ATK | 800 |
DEF | 1800 |
Effect | Cannot be Special Summoned. During the End Phase of the turn this card is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up: Return it to the hand. During the turn this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up, you can Normal Summon 1 Spirit monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.) When this card is sent to the Graveyard: Draw 1 card. You must control a Spirit monster to activate and to resolve this effect. |
The best part is that how Nikitama hits the Graveyard is irrelevant, plus its drawing effect has no once-per-turn clause. A Foolish Burial becomes an Upstart Goblin without granting the opponent Life Points, while a discarding effect essentially becomes free. Even detaching Nikitama while it's an Xyz Material from any Rank 4 Xyz Monster will still satisfy its drawing effect.
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1 Aratama Is the Primary Searcher for Spirit Monsters
Shadow Specters — November 8, 2013
Aratama is the first of the Mitama monsters ever released, and its effect is both simple and effective: it can search out any other Spirit monster upon being Normal Summoned or flipped face-up. This effect isn't once per turn, so it combos well with Sakitama and another copy of this card on hand. Aratama opens up so many plays, especially if a Special Summon Spirit monster like Konohanasakuya is searched.
Card Name | Aratama |
|---|---|
ATK | 800 |
DEF | 1800 |
Effect | Cannot be Special Summoned. Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Normal Summoned or flipped face-up this turn: Return this card to the hand. When this card is Normal Summoned or flipped face-up: You can add 1 Spirit monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Aratama". |
Like the other Mitama monsters, it's useful for Xyz Summoning a Rank 4 monster or a Link Monster to maintain field presence. It's also the only Mitama monster that is DARK, which is necessary for certain monsters to be Special Summoned, including many Chaos monsters and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. If there is ever a monster that every Spirit Deck should have three copies of, it's this one.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Yu-Gi-Oh! follows the adventures of high school student Yugi, who has a magical secret that comes to life when he plays his favorite card game: 'Duel Monsters.
- Genre
- Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Language
- English, Japanese
- Number of Seasons
- 5
- Debut Date
- April 18, 2000
- Studio
- Gallop Co., Ltd.
