This is a question most of you who haven't been keeping up with the game are probably asking right now. What exactly are Pendulum Monsters? Well, Pendulum Monsters are a type of Main Deck monster card, introduced recently in the Arc-V anime of Yu-Gi-Oh! These monsters are odd, as they can be treated as both Monsters and Spells.

Now now. Don't get your panties in a twist. I'll explain. Pendulum Monsters are a special type of Monster Card, that can be placed either in the Monster Card Zone, or the Pendulum Card Zone. When Summoned into the Monster Card Zone, Pendulum Monsters are treated like ordinary Monster cards, with ATK and DEF points. When in this state, Pendulum Monsters can also be used for Tribute, Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Summons. However, Pendulum Monsters can also have a much different path. Pendulum Monsters can be activated as a Spell Card in the hand, and be placed face-up in the Pendulum Card Zone, where they'll take on a much different role.

Well, enough of keeping you on the edge of your seat (or, at least trying to). When a Pendulum Monster is placed in the Pendulum Card Zone, it's treated much differently than other Monsters. While in the Pendulum Card Zone, Pendulum Monsters are treated as Spells instead of Monsters, and so must be destroyed by cards such as Mystical Space Typhoon, instead of attacking or using a card such as Dark Hole. Pendulum Monsters also have an effect known as a Pendulum Effect which is on the card in addition to a normal Effect. While in the Pendulum Card Zone, Pendulum Monsters will apply their Pendulum Effects instead of their normal Monster Effects. In addition, Pendulum Card Zones don't count as Spell and Trap Card Zones, and so placing Pendulum Monsters in them will not count toward the 5-card limit. Pendulum Monsters also aren't treated as any other type of Spell, and players cannot use Game Mechanics to play another Pendulum Monster over a previous one sitting in the Pendulum Card Zone to send it to the Graveyard. However, as long as there are open Pendulum Card Zones, there is no limit to the amount of times Pendulum Monsters can be activated from the hand.

Don't think I'm forgetting about those rumors spreading around about Pendulum Monster invincibility. It's not really like that. Whenever a Pendulum Monster would be sent from the Field to the Graveyard, the monster is instead placed face-up in the Extra Deck Zone instead. This means that Pendulum Monsters can expand the Extra Deck to larger than the usual 15 card limit. Pendulum Monsters being placed in the Extra Deck will apply even if the monster is face-down, so be prepared for that. However, Pendulum Monsters can hit the Graveyard when one of the following incidents occurs:

- The monster is sent/discarded from the Hand
- The monster is sent from the Main Deck
- The monster is sent from the Extra Deck
- The monster has its Summons/activation negated
-The monster is detached from an Xyz Monster

Ah, Pendulum Summons. The technique that makes Jj believe that his Ojamas will be invincible. So, once per turn, during the Main Phase, if both Pendulum Card Zones are occupied by Pendulum Monsters, the turn player can perform a Pendulum Summons (Note, this only works if the turn player has his Pendulum Card Zones occupied.) To determined what can be Summoned, the duelist must use his Pendulum Monster's Pendulum Scales (The Pendulum Scale are the numbers that appear below the Red and Blue Coloured arrows on the card.)

Now, what can be Summoned through a Pendulum Summon? Well, Monsters in the hand and Pendulum Monsters in the Extra Deck can be Summoned through Pendulum Summons. To meet the requirements of the summon, the Monster's Level Value must be between the value of the highest and lowest numbers of the Pendulum Scales of the two Pendulum Monsters. Now, that probably sounds complicated, but let's break it down for you by using an example.

Let's say I've got two Pendulum Monsters on the field. One has a Pendulum Scale value of 1, and the other has a Pendulum Scale value of 5. In my hand I have an Elemental HERO Bubbleman that I want out on the field. Bubbleman's Level value is 4. 4 is a number between 1 and 5, which are the numbers of the Pendulum Scales. Because of this, I can Pendulum Summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman. But let's say I really want out my Elemental HERO Necroshade, which has a level value of 5. 5 is not a number between 1 and 5. 5 is 5, which is the same number as one of the values of one of the Pendulum Scales of one of my Pendulum Monsters. Because of this, I cannot Pendulum Summon Elemental HERO Necroshade.

After giving you lot all of that information, I couldn't possibly leave you with no examples of good Pendulum Monsters. Here are some of the good Pendulum Monsters that are currently available:

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon:

Stargazer Magician:

Timegazer Magician: