Key Indicators of a Ritual Monster:
* "Ritual" in the card name: This is a strong indicator, but not always absolute.
* "Ritual Monster" card type: The most definitive way to identify a Ritual monster.
* Tribute Summon: Ritual monsters are summoned by performing a Ritual Summon, requiring a Ritual Spell and a specific set of tribute monsters.
* Effect: Ritual monsters often have effects that revolve around their summoning method or relate to other Ritual monsters.
Why "Ritual" in the Name Isn't Always Enough:
* "Ritual Spell" cards: These are spells used for Ritual Summons, but they are not Ritual monsters themselves.
* "Djinns of Rituals" cards: These are not actually Ritual monsters. They are Spell/Trap cards with effects that support Ritual monsters.
* "XX-Sabers" vs. "X-Sabers" example: The "XX-Sabers" are a sub-archetype of the "X-Sabers" archetype. While some "XX-Sabers" are Ritual monsters, not all of them are, and some "X-Sabers" are not Ritual monsters at all.
To determine if a card is a Ritual monster, it's crucial to consider the following:
1. Card type: Look for "Ritual Monster" in the card type line.
2. Card name: Pay attention to the card name and whether it includes "Ritual" or hints at a Ritual summoning method.
3. Card effect: Check if the card describes being summoned by a Ritual Summon.
Remember: It's always best to consult official card information from sources like the Yu-Gi-Oh! Wiki or the official Konami website for definitive answers.