Linked

This article is about the gameplay mechanic. For the property on Link Monsters, see Link Number. For other uses, see Link (disambiguation).

Linked
Japanese	リンク状（じょう）態（たい）
Japanese (ruby)	リンクじょうたい
Japanese (base text)	リンク状態
Japanese (romanized)	Rinku Jōtai
Japanese (translated)	Link State

A monster is in a Linked State (リンク状（じょう）態（たい）, Rinku Jōtai) if its Link Marker is pointing to a monster, or if it has at least one Link Monster's Link Marker pointing to it.

Mutual Link

A Mutual Link (相（そう）互（ご）リンク, Sougo Rinku) is a kind of Link State that occurs when two Link Monsters' Link Markers are pointing to each other. For example, if one player controls a Link Monster with a Down Link Marker in an Extra Monster Zone, and a Link Monster with an Up Link Marker in their Main Monster Zone in the same column, those two Link Monsters are in a Mutual Link.

Extra Link

An Extra Link is a chain of Mutual Link that enables a player to occupy both Extra Monster Zones simultaneously. This is the only possible method that allows a player to occupy both Extra Monster Zones. A player can perform an Extra Link, so long as the following conditions are met:

1. An attempting Player controls a Link Monster in 1 of the Extra Monster Zones with the other Extra Monster Zone must be unoccupied. The Link Monster must have a Link Marker pointing to the Main Monster Zone in the same column as the Link Monster. (Required Link Marker: Either Top or Bottom)
2. There is another Link Monster with a Link Marker pointing to the 3rd Main Monster Zone (Counting from the attempting player's left) on that Monster's side of the field. And that Monster is in Mutual Link with the Monster in the Extra Monster Zone. (Required Link Marker: Either Top or Bottom, pointing to the Extra Monster Zone AND Either Left or Right, pointing to the 3rd Main Monster Zone)
3. There is another Link Monster in the 3rd Main Monster Zone. (Required Link Marker: Left AND Right)
4. There is another Link Monster in the same column as the unoccupied Extra Monster Zone with a Link Marker pointing towards it. (Required Link Marker: Either Top or Bottom, pointing to the Extra Monster Zone AND Either Left or Right, pointing to the 3rd Main Monster Zone)

After fulfilling all four requirements, the player can complete the Extra Link by Summoning a Link Monster to the unoccupied Extra Monster Zone, in Mutual Link with the Link Monster in (4) without disturbing the chain of Mutual Link. (i.e. You cannot use the Link Monsters involved in the Extra Link as Link Materials.)

The final result is a U-shaped chain of Link Monsters, in which all the Link Monsters involved are in a Mutual Link with the Link Monsters around it.