Effect

For the monster type, see Effect Monster.

Effect
Japanese	効（こう）果（か）
Japanese (ruby)	こうか
Japanese (base text)	効果
Japanese (romanized)	Kōka
English	effect
Other names French: effet German: Effekt Italian: effetto Korean: 효과 Hyogwa Portuguese: efeito Spanish: efecto Traditional Chinese: 效果 Xiàoguǒ / Haau6 gwo2

An effect (効（こう）果（か） kōka) or card effect is a modification of the game created by the card text of an Effect Monster, Spell Card, or Trap Card. Effects produced by Monster Cards (Effect Monster or otherwise) are called monster effects.

Conditions, costs, and materials are not card effects. A card's effects (as well as any conditions, costs, and materials) are detailed in its card text.

Pendulum Monsters can have two different kinds of effect text. Effect Pendulum Monsters have monster effects, but all Pendulum Monsters can have Pendulum Effects (including Normal Pendulum Monsters). However, some Pendulum Monsters do not have Pendulum Effects, in which case the Pendulum Effect box is left blank.

Trivia

• In the anime (both original Japanese and dubbed), effects are often called "special abilities" (特殊能力 tokushū nōryoku). In the manga, they are referred to as both "effects" and "special abilities"; they are also very rarely referred to as "powers".
  • In the first season of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Jaden Yuki referred to the effects of his "Elemental HERO" monsters as "Super Powers".