The Summoned Skull is one of the most iconic cards from the Duel Monsters era ofYu-Gi-Oh!This fiend is not only one of the more monstrous looking cards in Yugi’s deck, but also a formidable card back when Tribute Summoning was more common.
Of course, Summoned Skull is not just a classic monster, it’s also one of the most metal designs of all time. With giant horns and a skeletal body, this monster is ready to bring the thunder. So which version of the Summoned Skull looked the coolest? This includes alternate arts and retrains that give it even better effects.
10Toon Summoned Skull
Archfiends Get Cartoonified
Probably the silliest Summoned Skull design comes from Toon Summoned Skull. This monster is memorable for its appearance in the duel between Yugi Muto and Maximillion Pegasus. With a stretchy body and cartoon antics, this artwork is not as demonic-looking as any of its counterparts.
However, the design doesn’t make it any less sinister. It’s just a different kind of mayhem that’s about to go down. The added pattern in the background also helps Toon Summoned Skull feel more animated. Almost like it is springing from a box to catch an unsuspecting player by surprise.
9Archfiend’s Advent
A Golden Summoned Skull
Like Gaia, the Fierce Knight, Summoned Skull is aDuel Monsters era card that gets retrainedrepeatedly. Archfiend’s Advent can be found in the Battles of Legend: Terminal Revenge set. While it doesn’t feature the name Summoned Skull, it’s meant to be a version of it for the Shining Sarcophagus archetype.
There’s just something about swapping out Summoned Skull’s skeletal white features with a gold that makes this card even more in-sync with its electric powers. With lightning surging from the ground up, Summoned Skull looks like it went Super Saiyan.
8Summoned Skull Millennium Pack
One Shocking Skull
Despite being a Fiend, Summoned Skull is often associated with thunder and lightning. In the anime, this monster’s signature move is called Lightning Strike. This unleashes a powerful bolt of electricity from its body that calls even more lightning from the sky.
This Summoned Skull art captures the essence of the anime’s attack. With electricity surging from its body and the monster preparing to strike. This is one of the best versions of the original card design with its more dynamic presentation.
7Archfiend’s Call
A Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Or A Heavy Metal Album Cover?
The Summoned Skull also has a Synchro variant from the Fists of the Gadgets set. Aside from protecting your other Summoned Skull monsters from targeting effects, it also has a neat environmental design to it. It features the Summoned Skull in front of what appears to be an Archfiend portal.
Take a closer look, and you’ll realize that it’s actually Summoned Skull’s wings forming a magic circle. This card art could replace the cover of a heavy metal album, and perfectly fit in. This version has an edgier design than the original with curved horns and white lightning to match the Synchro colors.
6Archfiend’s Manifestation
Purple Lightning And Power Boosts
Archfiend’s Manifestation continues the trend of having a lightning color that matches the card type. This version of the Summoned Skull is a Fusion and includes a purple lightning effect.
This card depicts the Summoned Skull raising its arm in the air. It calls forth the electric energy in the air as it powers itself up. This is thematically fitting since this is the Summoned Skull variant that gives all other versions of itself a power boost. While not number one, it is certainly one of its more menacing looks.
5Archfiend’s Ascent
Archfiends In Space
If any version of the Summoned Skull has a more diverse design, it’s Archfiend’s Ascent. This is the Summoned Skull that was released duringthe Zexal eraand, like its special counterparts, features black lightning to match the ZYX card’s black frame.
This card doesn’t look as metal as the other designs, but instead, almost has this galactic look to it. There is a swirl of energy emanating from its feet like a spiraling galaxy. Meanwhile, two orbs of light travel around its body like comets.
4Archfiend’s Awakening
The Perfect Match
Archfiend’s Awakening is a more traditional Summoned Skull retrain, since it is still treated as the classic monster while on the field. This is one of those cards where the monster’s blue lightning pairs perfectly with the Ritual card’s standard blue design.
The bony-white outline also extends to the wings, which is a trait that isn’t in the original Summoned Skull design. Everything about this art has a hint of a modernized upgrade, from the shinier bone plates and the blue lightning.
3Summoned Skull 2011 Prize Card Art
An OCG Tournament Exclusive
If you want a copy of the Summoned Skull that poses like a boss, then this one shows the all-mighty monster with arms crossed and unleashing the thunder. However, this card is harder to find than it looks. In fact,only a handful exist.
This is because this particular artwork was only ever printed in the OCG in 2001. It is one of five prize cards which were handed out at the event. Unlike other artworks, this one has never been reprinted in any form. However, you’re able to still find this card being used in various Yu-Gi-Oh! video games.
2Summoned Skull Classic
The Original Untamed Art
The classic version of Summoned Skull is one of the best. Mostly because it has that classic Yu-Gi-Oh! style that many of the older monsters have. This creature definitely looks like it came from the underworld.
The image itself isn’t as dynamic as some of the other renditions, but the top body artwork sometimes gets a boost, depending on which edition of the card you have. Some holofoiling makes this version of the Summoned Skull almost feel like a shiny Pokemon with the way the colors reflect.
1Summoned Skull Anniversary Pack
Straight From H.R. Giger’s Nightmares
The Summoned Skull found in the Anniversary Pack has many unique traits in the art style as well as the card body’s design. Like many of the other Anniversary Pack inclusions, the card art box does not have any border separating it from the yellowish card body.
As for the card art, it has an H.R. Giger design with red skin coloring, a lack of eyes, and a fiendish ax. As if Summoned Skull didn’t look like a demon enough, this one cranks the creepiness factor up to one hundred with a classic design older than the one most fans know of.
