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).

If a Link Monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it must be Special Summoned to the [[Extra Monster Zone]], or a Main Monster Zone that a Link Monster [[points to]]. ===Link Ratings and lack of DEFRating===

Link Monsters have a [[Link Rating]] in place of a [[Level]] or a [[Rank]]. A Link Monster's Link Rating determines the total number of can be found next to its [[Link MaterialATK]]s required to , in place of a [[Link SummonDEF]] itvalue. A Link Monster's Link Rating is also equal to determines the total number of [[Link ArrowMaterial]]s it has. A Link Monster's Link Rating can be found next required to its [[ATKLink Summon]]it, in place and is equal to the number of the traditional its [[DEFLink Arrow]] values.

Link Monsters Because they do not possess have Levels or /Ranks, therefore they cannot be used as material for a [[Ritual Summon|Ritual]], [[Synchro Summon|Synchro]], or [[Xyz Summon]]. Also, Link Monsters are unaffected by card effects that depend on a monster's Level or /Rank-modifying cards such as (e.g.: "[[Harmonic WavesGravity Bind]]"), "[[Feedback Warrior]]", or "[[Xiangsheng Magician]]" do not affect Link Monsters. The same thing can be said for Spells/Traps and cannot become involved in actions that affect require monsters with Levels/Ranks such as "(e.g.: [[Gravity BindSynchro Summon]]", "[[Level Limit - Area B]]" or "[[Planckton]]"ing).

===Link Arrows==={{Main|Link Arrow}}Link Monsters can only exist in [[Attack Position]] (they do not also have a DEF value) and cannot be either placed in or changed to [[Defense PositionLink Arrow]] (either manually or through a card effect)s, indicated by red arrows radiating outward from the art frame. This makes them unaffected by any cards that change These indicators denote which zones the Link Monster [[battle positionpoints to]]s. If a Link Monster points to a monster, and cannot the monsters are considered to be placed [[face-downlinked]]to each other. Two Link Monsters cannot that point to each other are considered to be targeted by an effect that would Special Summon monsters only in Defense Position (such as "[[Back to the Frontco-linked]]"). These properties prevent the rotation of the card which would change the directions its Link Arrows are pointing toeach other.

When Link Monsters and face-up [[Pendulum Monster]]s are Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, they cannot be Special Summoned to a [[Main Monster Zone]] unless a Link Monster points to that zone. From [[New Master Rule]] (which introduced Link Monsters) until [[Master Rule#Master Rule (April 1, 2020 revision)|Master Rule (April 1, 2020 revision)]], this applied to all monsters in the Extra Deck. ===Positioning and Lack of DEF=Link Arrows=={{Main|Link Arrow}}Link Monsters also have can only exist in [[face-up]] [[Link ArrowAttack Position]]s, indicated by red arrows radiating outward from 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 art framedirections its Link Arrows point to. These indicators denote which As such, Link Monsters are unaffected by effects that change [[Monster Zone|zonebattle position]]s and , cannot be placed [[Monster Card|monstersface-down]] , and cannot be Special Summoned by an effect that Link Monster summons only in Defense Position (such as "[[points Back tothe Front]]"). ===Link Materials==={{Main|Link Material}}

[[Fusion Monster]]s, [[Synchro Monster]]s, [[Xyz Monster]]s, [[Pendulum Monster]]s face-up in the Extra Deck, and Link Monsters can be Special Summoned from Materials are the Extra Deck requisite monsters needed to a [[Main Monster ZoneLink Summon]] a the Link Monster points to. If a Each Link Monster points to a monster, they are considered to be "lists its required Link Materials in the first line of its [[linkedcard text]]" to each other.

===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.

==Playing style==Link Monsters commonly use effects where they point to. As suchDuring the [[Main Phase]], Decks focused around the turn player can Link Monsters require methods to quickly Summon monsters where Link Monsters point to in addition to Summoning by sending the [[face-up]] Link Monsters themselves. When attempting Materials from their field to Summon multiple 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 monsters will be Linked to themGraveyard.

==Examples=={{Show card image gallery| Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow | Non-Effect Link Monsters with higher Monster| Decode Talker | Effect Link Ratings can be [[Special Summon]]ed more quickly by Link Summoning multiple weaker Link Monsters first. This also helps to place them in locations that will take better advantage of their Link Arrows.Monster}}

Powerful Link Monsters are typically balanced by having a higher Link Rating and forward-pointing Link Arrows, allowing the opponent to summon more Extra Deck monsters. For example: ==Trivia==* "[[Decode Talker]]", "[[Firewall Five-Headed Link Dragon]]", "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon]]" and "[[Encode Talker]]" has the highest ATK of all have Link Arrows that point towards Monsters, with 5000 ATK. It also has the opponent's field when they are placed in the [[Extra Monster Zone]], while weaker highest number of required Link Materials of all Link Monsters such as "[[Missus Radiant]]", "[[Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow]]" and "[[Link Spider]]" do notrequiring 5 monsters.

==Examples==<gallery widths=* "200[[The Arrival Cyberse @Ignister]]" position=and "center[[Firewall Dragon Singularity]]" captionalign="center">GaiaSabertheLightningShadow-COTD-EN-ScR-1E.png have the highest Link Rating of all Link Monsters, with a [[Link 6 Monster Cards| Non-Effect Link MonsterRating of 6]]. DecodeTalker-YS17-EN-UR-1E.png | Effect * Link Monsters are the only monster card type to not have a Pendulum Monster. </gallery>==See Also==*[[Link Origin]]

{{GameplayCard types}}