Changes

| image name = FirewallDragon-LOD2-JP-CommercialVG-VRartwork.png | image size = | image caption = |image = "[[Firewall Dragon]]"

| arabic kanji = {{Ruby|Ｌ|リンク}}モンスター | japanese = Ｌモンスター| furigana = リンクモンスター | romaji = Rinku Monsutā | japanese translated = | english = Link Monster | french = Monstre Lien | german = Linkmonster | italian = Mostro Link | portuguese = Monstro Link | korean = 링크 몬스터 ''Lingkeu Monseuteo'' | spanish = Monstruo de Enlace | simplified chinese = 连接怪兽 ''Liánjiē Guàishòu''

| list = List of Link Monsters | support list = List of Link Monster support cards | anti-support list = List of Link Monster anti-support cards

A '''Link MonsterMonsters''' (Japanese: リンクモンスター ''Rinku Monsutā'', abbreviated {{Ruby|Ｌ|リンク}}モンスター in [[card text]] since ''[[Duelist Nexus]]'') is are a [[Monster card type |type]] of [[Monster Cardmonster]]s that must be [[Link Summon]]ed. The color of their Their card frame is colored in dark blue, which is similar to that of a [[Ritual Monster]], but textured with a hexagonal honeycomb pattern similar to a honeycomb structure. These cards are placed in the [[Extra Deck]].

Link Monsters are Extra Deck monsters:* They cannot exist in the [[hand]] or the [[Main Deck]]; if a Link Monster would be moved to the hand or Main Deck, it is returned to the Extra Deck instead.* If a Link Monster is not properly Special Summoned by [[Link Summon]]ed firstbefore being sent to the [[Graveyard]] or banished, it cannot be [[Special Summon]]ed from the there (even by effects that [[Graveyard]Ignoring the Summoning conditions|ignore Summoning conditions] or while [[banish]]ed (unless it specifies another way to properly Special Summon it).

==Link Ratings and lack of DEF==Link Monsters have If a [[Link Rating]] in place of a [[Level]] or [[Rank]]. A Link Monster's Link Rating determines is Special Summoned from the total number of [[Link Material]]s required to [[Link Summon]] Extra Deck, it. A Link Monster's Link Number is also equal must be Special Summoned to the number of [[Link ArrowExtra Monster Zone]]s it has. A , or a Main Monster Zone that a Link Monster's Link Number can be found next to its [[ATK]], in place of the traditional [[DEFpoints to]] value.

===Link Rating==={{main|Link Rating}}Link Monsters do not possess Levels or Ranks, therefore they cannot be used as material for a have a [[Ritual Summon|RitualLink Rating]], in place of a [[Synchro Summon|SynchroLevel]], or or a [[Xyz SummonRank]]. Also, Level or Rank-modifying cards such as "A Link Monster's Link Rating can be found next to its [[Harmonic WavesATK]]", "in place of a [[Feedback WarriorDEF]]", or "value. A Link Monster's Link Rating determines the total number of [[Xiangsheng MagicianLink Material]]" do not affect Link Monsters. The same thing can be said for Spells/Traps that affect Levels/Ranks such as "s required to [[Gravity BindLink Summon]]"it, "and is equal to the number of its [[Level Limit - Area B]]" or "[[PlancktonLink Arrow]]"s.

Link Monsters can only exist in [[Attack Position]] (Because they do not have Levels/Ranks, Link Monsters are unaffected by card effects that depend on a DEF value) and cannot be either placed in or changed to [[Defense Position]] monster's Level/Rank (either manually or through a card effect)e.g. This makes them unaffected by any cards that change : "[[battle positionGravity Bind]]s"), and cannot be placed [[face-down]]. Link Monsters cannot be targeted by an effect become involved in actions that would Special Summon require monsters only in Defense Position with Levels/Ranks (such as "e.g.: [[Back to the FrontSynchro Summon]]"ing). These properties prevent the rotation of the card and changing the directions its Link Arrows are pointing to.

===Link Arrows==={{Main|Link Arrow}}Link Monsters also have [[Link Arrow]]s, indicated by red arrows radiating outward from the art frame. These indicators denote which zones the Link Monster [[Monster Zone|zonepoints to]]s and . If a Link Monster points to a monster, the monsters are considered to be [[Monster Card|monsterslinked]] to each other. Two Link Monsters that Link Monster point to each other are considered to be [[points toco-linked]]to each other.

[[Fusion Monster]]s, [[Synchro Monster]]s, [[Xyz Monster]]s, When Link Monsters and face-up [[Pendulum Monster]]s face-up in are Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and Link Monsters can they cannot be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck to a [[Main Monster Zone]] unless a Link Monster points tothat zone. If a From [[New Master Rule]] (which introduced Link Monster points to a monster, they are considered to be "Monsters) until [[linkedMaster Rule#Master Rule (April 1, 2020 revision)|Master Rule (April 1, 2020 revision)]]" , this applied to each otherall monsters in the Extra Deck.

===Positioning and Lack of DEF===Link Monsters can only exist in [[face-up]] [[Attack Position]], and cannot be put in [[Defense Position]] through any means. This is because Link Monsters lack a DEF value and because rotating a Link Monster into Defense Position would change the directions its Link Arrows point to. As such, Link Monsters are unaffected by effects that change [[battle position]]s, cannot be placed [[face-down]], and cannot be Special Summoned by an effect that summons only in Defense Position (such as "[[Back to the Front]]"). ===Link Materials==={{Main|Link Material}} Link Materials are the requisite monsters needed to [[Link Summon]] the Link Monster. Each Link Monster lists its required Link Materials in the first line of its [[card text]]. ===Link Summoning===

A Link Summon is the act of Summoning a Link Monster from the Extra Deck using the requisite number of Link Materials listed on its Link Rating.  During the [[Main Phase]], the turn player can Link Summon by sending the [[face-up]] Link Materials from their field to the Graveyard. ==Examples=={{Show card image gallery| Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow | Non-Effect Link Monster| Decode Talker | Effect Link Monster}}

==Playing styleTrivia==* "[[Five-Headed Link Dragon]]" has the highest ATK of all Link Monsters commonly use effects where they point to, with 5000 ATK. As such, Decks focused around Link Monsters require methods to quickly Summon monsters where Link Monsters point to in addition to Summoning It also has the highest number of required Link Monsters themselves. When attempting to Summon multiple Materials of all Link Monsters, it is important to decide in what order to Summon them, as their Link Arrows will dictate where the others can be Summoned and what requiring 5 monsters will be Linked to them.

* "[[The Arrival Cyberse @Ignister]]" and "[[Firewall Dragon Singularity]]" have the highest Link Rating of all Link Monsters , with higher Link Ratings can be a [[Special Summon]]ed more quickly by Link Summoning multiple weaker 6 Monster Cards|Link Monsters first. This also helps to place them in locations that will take better advantage Rating of their Link Arrows6]].

Powerful * Link Monsters are typically balanced by having a higher Link Rating and forward-pointing Link Arrows, allowing the opponent only monster card type to summon more Extra Deck monsters. For example: "[[Decode Talker]]", "[[Firewall Dragon]]", "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon]]" and "[[Encode Talker]]" all not have Link Arrows that point towards the opponent's field when they are placed in the [[Extra a Pendulum Monster Zone]], while weaker Link Monsters such as "[[Missus Radiant]]", "[[Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow]]" and "[[Link Spider]]" do not.

==ExamplesSee Also==<gallery widths="200" position="center" captionalign="center">GaiaSabertheLightningShadow-COTD-EN-ScR-1E.png | Non-Effect *[[Link MonsterDecodeTalker-YS17-EN-UR-1E.png | Effect Link Monster</gallery>Origin]]

{{GameplayCard types}}