I've had some trouble in the past about this particular topic, and have gotten in trouble many a times for it. So I've done my homework on the subject., Seeing that nobody else hasn't posted this article up yet, for those that don't know about it, I thought I'd explain the difference and functions of Nomi and Semi-Nomi monsters. I just hope I do a good job of it.
NOMI Monsters:"Nomi" is a special term that refers to some monsters. If a monster is a "Nomi monster", then it means that the monster cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. It can neither be Special Summoned except by fulfilling a special requirement. You can identify a Nomi monster because it will have the following text:
"This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by..."It is also to be noted that the Special Summoning of these cards can only be done while the card in question is in the owner's hand unless stated otherwise in card text.
Examples of Nomi monsters include:
Dark Armed Dragon
and all Elemental Hero Fusion monsters, including everyone's favorite hero:
Though one of the things that I had problems with in the past was specially summoning Nomi monsters from the Graveyard, especially the LV monsters. One of the card they have for doing that is Level Modulation.
An "LV" monster that normally couldn't be Special Summoned except by the method in its text CANNOT be Special Summoned from the Graveyard with "Level Modulation" unless it has been previously Special Summoned by the correct procedure. The "ignore the Summoning conditions" text allows for these monsters to be Special Summoned only after they have been properly Summoned by their own effect.
Now let's take a look at Semi-Nomi monsters.
SEMI-NOMI Monsters:Semi-Nomi Monsters (also known as
Special Summon-only monsters) are monsters with the text
"This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned...". If a monster is a Special Summon only monster, then it means it must be Special Summoned by its listed effect before it can be Special Summoned by another effect. An example of Semi-Nomi monsters is:
Chaos Sorcerer
After a Special Summon only monster has been Special Summoned properly, it can be Special Summoned through other effects. This only lasts as long as the monster does not return to the Hand or Deck. As long as the monster remains on the field, in the Graveyard, or removed from play, you can Special Summon it again with other card effects.
For an example, let's look at Dark Necrofear:
* A player removes from play three Fiends to Special Summon "Dark Necrofear". If it is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, it can be revived (such as by "Monster Reborn").
* If, afterwards, it is removed from play by "Dark Core", you can still Special Summon it (such as by "Dimensional Inversion").
* If after all this, "Dark Necrofear" is returned to the deck or hand (such as by "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" or "Compulsory Evacuation Device"), then you must remove three Fiends to Special Summon "Dark Necrofear"'s again. You cannot Special Summon it from the hand or deck by other cards, such as "Monster Gate" or "Doom Shaman".
* If it is later removed from play or sent to the Graveyard (such as by "Graceful Charity"), it still cannot be Special Summoned.
Note that Fusion Monsters, Ritual Monsters and Synchro Monsters are treated as Semi-Nomi monsters, unless stated otherwise. Also unless stated otherwise, Fusion Monsters are properly Special Summoned by a Fusion Summon, Ritual Monsters by a Ritual Summon, and Synchro Monsters by a Synchro Summon.
I hope I explained it good enough to make the higher-ups happy. If not, I can go back and make the necessary changes.
