Contents:
I. Terms
II. Introduction
III. Pushing the Limit
IV. Understanding Limits
V. Achieving the Apex Summon
VI. The Overlimit
VII. Samples of Apex Monsters
I. Terms:
Apex Summon - the act of Summoning an Apex Monster through the use of the Apex mechanic.
Apex Monster - a new monster-type that features Limits, and Limit Effects.
Limit - a number seen on every Apex Monster. It is a resource pool for Limit Effects and an indicator for an Apex Monster’s progression towards being Apex Summoned.
Limit Effect - unique to Apex Monsters, they are utilized from the hand, and subtract from the Limit of an Apex Monster when used.
Push/Pushing/Pushed - the state of an Apex Monster being revealed in your hand, after the use of its Limit Effect.
II. Introduction:
Apex Summoning is a custom mechanic that is Main Deck driven, and introduces Apex Monsters. These monsters possess Limits, and through the act of ‘pushing', they can utilize their unique Limit Effects from the hand. An Apex Monster represents the ascended form of a Normal/Effect Monster, as they grant continual benefits, for essentially free, from the safety of your hand, while fulfilling their own Summoning conditions.
III. Pushing the Limit:
While an Apex Monster is present in your hand, you can openly declare to use its Limit Effect, and thus push that monster, at which point, it remains revealed in your hand until it is Summoned or sent to the GY. An Apex Monster is only able to use its Limit Effect, when it is in the state of being pushed. Inherently, each Apex Monster card's name can only be pushed once per turn. Meaning, that if you have two copies of the same Apex Monster in your hand, you can push one, but not the other, during the same turn. However, there is no limit to how many Apex Monsters, with different names, that can be pushed in one turn. Whenever you decide to push a new Apex Monster, whichever Apex Monster you are currently pushing is sent to the GY.
IV. Understanding Limits
Limits are present on every Apex Monster, and can be seen as a resource pool from which they are able to use their Limit Effects. Each time a monster’s Limit Effect is used, whichever value is stated on that monster’s Limit Effect is subtracted from that monster’s current Limit, starting from that monster’s original limit. Once an Apex Monster’s Limit reaches 0, they are sent from the hand to the GY. Any time an Apex Monster leaves the hand, the value of their Limit is reset.
V. Achieving the Apex Summon
Once the Limit of an Apex Monster is equal to that monster's Level, you are able to Summon that monster from your hand; this is called an Apex Summon, which is classified as a Special Summon. Although an Apex Monster can be Normal Summoned in the same ways as a Normal/Effect Monster, it will not gain any of the benefits typically seen in Apex Monsters that are Apex Summoned.
VI. The Overlimit
Apex Monsters, with a Level higher than 1, can utilize what is known as an 'Overlimit Effect'. This effect can only be used once their Limit drops below their Level, and thus, is usually very potent and/or useful in regaining advantage. Typically, the cost of this effect will deplete any remaining Limit that the monster may have, resulting in it being sent to the GY.
VII. Samples of Apex Monsters
Blue-Eyes Wyvern
[Dragon/LIGHT/Apex/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1500] Level 6
Limit 10 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Shuffle 2 other cards from your hand into the Deck, add 1 Dragon monster from your Deck to your hand.
[-2] Discard 1 other Dragon monster; draw until you have 3 cards in your hand.
[-4 Overlimit] Send 3 Dragon monsters from your Deck to the GY.
If this card is Apex Summoned: You can add 1 “Blue-Eyes” monster from your GY to your hand. This card’s ATK becomes 3000 while you control a “Blue-Eyes White Dragon”.
Master Spellbook Magician of Prophecy
[Spellcaster/WATER/Apex/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1300] Level 5
Limit 7 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Shuffle 1 “Spellbook” Spell from your GY into the Deck.
[-2] Shuffle 1 of your banished “Spellbook” Spells into the Deck
[-4 Overlimit] Add 3 “Spellbook” Spells with different names from your Deck to your hand, then place 1 “Spellbook” Spell from your hand on the bottom of your Deck.
If this card is Apex Summoned: You can banish up to 2 Spellbook cards from your GY; destroy that many cards on the field.
Spiritual Beast Tamer Caam
[Psychic/WIND/Apex/Effect/ATK 1900/DEF 1700] Level 4
Limit 6 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Banish 1 “Ritual Beast” monster from your Deck or GY, face-up.
[-3 Overlimit] Shuffle into the Deck, 5 of your “Ritual Beast” cards that are banished and/or in your GY, except “Spiritual Beast Tamer Caam”, then banish this card from your hand, and if you do, add 1 “Ritual Beast” monster from your Deck to your hand.
You can only use this card’s name’s (2)nd effect once each turn.
(1) If this card is Apex Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower “Ritual Beast” monster that is banished and/or in your GY, ignoring its Summoning conditions.
(2) When this card is used as Fusion Material for a “Ritual Beast” Fusion Monster; draw 1 card.
Shinobird Sparrow
[Winged-Beast/WIND/Effect/Apex/Spirit/ATK 1200/DEF 1600] Level 4
Limit 5 | Once per turn: You can activate 1 of these effects;
[-1] Banish 1 Spirit monster from your hand or GY; add 1 Ritual Spell from your GY to your hand. You can only use this effect of “Shinobird Sparrow” once per turn.
[-2 Overlimit] Reveal 1 WIND Ritual Monster in your hand; add 1 Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand.
Cannot be Special Summoned, except by Apex Summon. You can only use this card’s (2)nd effect once per turn.
(1) If this card is Apex Summoned: This turn, if you Ritual Summon exactly 1 WIND Ritual Monster with a card effect that requires monsters, this card can be used as the entire requirement.
(2) If this card is Tributed by a card effect: You can add 1 “Shinobird” Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand.
Once per turn, during the End Phase, if this card was Summoned or flipped face-up this turn: Return it to the hand.
