Original illustration by Cards Community. Not official artwork.
Yu-Gi-Oh! card
Summoned Skull
Summoned Skull is a Dark Fiend Normal Monster and a classic from the early manga and anime. It was one of the strongest monsters players could get with a single tribute.
- Game
- Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG
- Expansion
- Metal Raiders
- Release year
- 2002
- Rarity (featured print)
- Ultra Rare
- Card type
- Normal Monster
- Details
- Level 6 · Dark · Fiend
Why collectors notice it
It is a good card for collectors who like the early years of the game, when a Level 6 monster could be a big deal.
It is an early expansion that added classic Trap cards. Read more about Metal Raiders.
How it works in play
It is a clear example of a one-tribute monster, the middle step between easy summons and large ones.
Rules and wording change between printings and over time. For official rules, check the publisher's own materials.
A closer look
Reading this card
The detail to check first is the set code. Summoned Skull is often assumed to belong to the very first set, but its first English print is in Metal Raiders, so the code on the featured print starts with that set's letters instead of LOB.
The rest of the card reads like a classic Normal Monster. The frame is yellowish, the attribute is Dark, the type line says Fiend, and six stars show Level 6. Fiend is a different type line from the Dragons and Spellcasters of the first set. The featured print is an Ultra Rare, with gold-foil name and holographic image.
How it compares
The star count is the story. Compare it with Dark Magician: one fewer star, and that is enough to move from two tributes to one. The duel guide on this site lists the cut-offs, with Levels 5 and 6 at one tribute and Level 7 and up at two.
It also helps to compare it with Mirror Force, the other featured card from the same set. One is a monster you summon face up and the other is a Trap you set face down, so together they show two different ways the same expansion grew the card pool. Read the page on Metal Raiders for the wider picture.
Questions readers ask
Is Summoned Skull in Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon?
No. Its first English print is in Metal Raiders. If you see it in a list for the first set, that list is mistaken.
What does "one-tribute monster" mean?
You send one monster you control to the graveyard to summon it. It sits in the middle between free summons and the biggest monsters.
Key traits
- Normal Monster
- Level 6
- Fiend type
- One-tribute monster
Mechanics on this card
- Tribute Summoning Sacrificing monsters to bring out stronger ones.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. We list rarity for the featured print only; other printings may differ. No prices are shown on this site.