Effect Monster

Japanese

効（こう）果（か）(モンスター)^{[Notes 1]}

Japanese (ruby)

こうか(モンスター)

Japanese (base text)

効果(モンスター)

Japanese (romanized)

Kōka (Monsutā)

English

Effect (Monster)

Other names
French: (Monstre à) Effet German: Effekt(monster) Italian: (Mostro con) Effetto Korean: 효과 (몬스터) (效果 (Monster)) Hyogwa (Monseuteo) Portuguese: (Monstro de) Efeito Spanish: (Monstruo de) Efecto Arabic: وحوش التأثير Traditional Chinese: 效果(怪獸) Xiàoguǒ (Guàishòu) / Haau6 gwo2 (Gwaai3 sau3)

Lists

Effect Monsters (Japanese: 効（こう）果（か）モンスター Kōka Monsutā) are Monster Cards with an orange color border, and were first introduced in the Vol.3 booster pack. Unlike non-Effect Monsters (particularly Normal Monsters), these monsters have an effect (Special Ability in the English anime), which is demonstrated clearly by the fact that they have the Type 'Effect' beside their regular sub-type (Reptile, Spellcaster, etc.). Effects vary greatly, and are classed in four different types:

Continuous
Ignition
Trigger (including Flip effects)
Quick

Originally, Effect Monsters which also had abilities (such as Toon and Gemini) or were Tuners would display their subtype instead of "/Effect". From Battle Pack 3: Monster League onward, all Effect Monsters now include "/Effect" regardless of their abilities or status as a Tuner monster.

Some Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, Xyz Monsters, Pendulum Monsters, and Link Monsters have effects, and are therefore also treated as Effect Monsters. Toon, Union, Gemini, Spirit, and some Tuner monsters are all types of Effect Monsters.

An Effect Monster's effect, if particularly powerful, may be balanced out by the monster itself being comparatively weak in ATK and DEF for its level (such as cards like "Ancient Gear Engineer" or "Needle Burrower"). Additionally, some cards with ATK that is too high for a monster of its Level may have negative effects detrimental to their use (such as cards like "Giant Kozaky" or "Giant Orc").

Some Effect Monsters have a dot (•) with an effect written after it. This dot usually represents an effect that is active while certain requirements are met, and sometimes this effect can be negated on its own when those requirements are no longer met (ex, the Gadjiltron monsters have different effects based on which monster is used to Tribute Summon it,the Infernity monsters have effects that are only active while the controller has no cards in their hand, and the Morphtronic monsters have two different effects, and either one of those effects can be active while that monster is in a certain battle position). Some Effect Monsters that have 2 or more dots usually have effects that give the controller a choice on what they want to do at a certain time (ex, "Don Zaloog", or "Flying Fortress SKY FIRE"), but some of these effects have a basis for the activation (ex, "Neo-Spacian Glow Moss" and all Fusion Monsters with "Neo-Spacian Glow Moss" as a Fusion Material Monster, "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" and "Dark Hunter").