Preparation of Rites

Preparation of Rites was introduced in the Hidden Summoners booster set, released by Konami in late 2018. The set was designed to support specific deck archetypes, primarily focusing on the Nephthys, Mayakashi, and Prank-Kids themes, with this card serving as critical utility for Ritual-based strategies. It functions as a powerful search tool, allowing players to add a Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster and a Ritual Spell from their deck to their hand, thereby increasing the consistency of Ritual decks.

The card features artwork consistent with the aesthetic of Ritual-focused support, emphasizing mystical and ceremonial motifs prevalent in the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game's visual design. While individual illustrators at Konami are rarely publicly credited for specific cards, the design intent behind Preparation of Rites was to provide an essential engine piece for Ritual mechanics. Upon its release, it was well-received by competitive players for its efficiency, as it bridges the gap between searching for a boss monster and securing the necessary spell to summon it.