Call of the Haunted

Call of the Haunted was originally released in the 2002 Metal Raiders expansion set, marking a significant addition to the early Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game ecosystem. As a continuous trap card, it provided players with a reliable way to special summon monsters from the graveyard, establishing itself as a foundational element of competitive deck-building for years to come. Its inclusion in the 2004 Structure Deck: Blaze of Destruction, specifically as card number SD3-EN028, made the card more accessible to newer players who were looking to bolster their monster resurrection capabilities.

The card's design features iconic artwork depicting a skeletal hand emerging from a grave, a visual shorthand for the undead themes prevalent in the game’s early design language. Created by Konami’s design team, the card's mechanics were influential enough to undergo multiple rounds of changes on the official forbidden and limited list, reflecting the developers' ongoing efforts to balance the game's tempo. While its common rarity in the Blaze of Destruction deck made it a ubiquitous sight on kitchen tables, its strategic utility ensured that it remained a staple in tournament play throughout the mid-2000s.