Monster Card

Monster Card
Japanese	モンスター(カード)
Japanese (romanized)	Monsutā (Kādo)
English	Monster Card or monster
Other names French: Carte Monstre or monstre German: Monster(karte) Italian: Carta Mostro or mostro Korean: 몬스터 (카드) Monseuteo (Kadeu) Portuguese: Card de Monstro or monstro Spanish: Carta de Monstruo or monstruo Traditional Chinese: 怪獸(卡) Guàishòu(kǎ) / Gwaai3 sau3 (kaat1) Simplified Chinese: 怪兽(卡) Guàishòu(kǎ)
Lists	members

Monster Cards (Japanese: モンスターカード Monsutā Kādo) represent monsters that players battle against each other or directly against either player during the Battle Phase. Monsters are the main focus of Duel Monsters. Monster Cards have several different properties, including name, Attribute, Level or Rank or Link Rating, Type, ATK, and DEF. They are primarily subdivided according to their frame color, into Normal Monsters, Effect Monsters, Fusion Monsters, Ritual Monsters, Synchro Monsters, Xyz Monsters, Pendulum Monsters, Link Monsters and Monster Tokens. Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel has Normal, Effect, and Fusion Monsters, and adds Maximum Monsters.

In addition to the frame color classifications, monsters can also be classified as Tuner monsters or Special Summon Monsters, but this classification isn't a separate division from those above. Also, Effect Monsters, exclusively, can be classified further by Ability. This include Spirit monsters, Toon monsters, Union monsters, Gemini monsters and Flip monsters.

Normal Monsters lack effects and are not typically paired with any other Monster Card types (with the exception of Gemini monsters, a class of Effect Monsters which are summoned as Normal Monsters, and some Pendulum Monsters, which can also be Normal Monsters). Effect Monsters cannot also be Normal Monsters (with the exception of the aforementioned Gemini monsters), but they can also be Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum, and Link Monsters. Some Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Link Monsters lack effects and are thus not Effect Monsters, but they are also not considered Normal Monsters; such monsters are known as non-Effect Monsters.

During play, Monster Cards can be played in either face-up Attack Position or face-down Defense Position. The importance of Monster Cards lies in their effects and their ATK and DEF values during the Battle Phase.

Examples

• 

  A Normal Monster.
  For a list of Normal Monsters, see List of Normal Monsters. ("Megalosmasher X")

• 

  An Effect Monster.
  For a list of Effect Monsters, see List of Effect Monsters. ("B.E.S. Big Core MK-3")

• 

  A Fusion Monster.
  For a list of Fusion Monsters, see List of Fusion Monsters. ("Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon")

• 

  A Ritual Monster.
  For a list of Ritual Monsters, see List of Ritual Monsters. ("Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity")

• 

  A Synchro Monster.
  For a list of Synchro Monsters, see List of Synchro Monsters. ("Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier")

• 

  An Xyz Monster.
  For a list of Xyz Monsters, see List of Xyz Monsters. ("Cyber Dragon Infinity")

• 

  A Pendulum Monster.
  For a list of Pendulum Monsters, see List of Pendulum Monsters. ("Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon")

• 

  A Link Monster.
  For a list of Link Monsters, see List of Link Monsters. ("Decode Talker")

• 

  A Monster Token Card.
  For a list of Monster Tokens, see List of Monster Tokens. ("Dragon Lord Token")