Level 4 ATK and DEF conventions

"Gene-Warped Warwolf", one of the very few 2000 ATK Level 4 Normal Monsters to break the "Convention of 2000 ATK"

The ATK and DEF of a Level 4 or lower monster tend to be limited by two unwritten conventions: the "2000 ATK convention" and the "2200 DEF convention". These conventions state that for a Level 4 monster to have an ATK or DEF equal to or higher than these values, it must have some kind of negative effect or other restriction (such as being a Nomi monster). For example, "Meklord Emperor Wisel" is a Level 1 Monster Card that has 2500 ATK and DEF; however, it cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.

Convention of 2000 ATK

"Meklord Emperor Wisel" is tied with "Giant Kozaky" to the highest ATK for a Level 4 or lower monster and has one of the highest DEF; however, it is difficult to Summon.

By convention, if a Level 4 or lower Normal Summon monster has more than 2000 ATK, it must have some negative effect or other restriction to limit its playability. If it has exactly 2000 ATK, it must either be a Normal Monster or have a negative effect.

For example, "Thunder King Rai-Oh" has 1900 ATK and is thus permitted to have a beneficial card effect. Conversely, "Panther Warrior" and "Zombyra the Dark" have 2000 and 2100 ATK respectively, and thus have the negative effects of requiring a Tribute in order to attack and losing ATK upon attacking, respectively.

Several Level 4 Normal Monsters have 2000 ATK, outclassing monsters with 2000 ATK and negative effects. They all have either 100 or 0 DEF. There are currently 11 such monsters: "Alexandrite Dragon", "Gene-Warped Warwolf", "Gunkan Suship Shari", "Leotron", "Megalosmasher X", "Mekk-Knight Avram", "Mystery Shell Dragon", "Phantom Gryphon", "Photon Token", "Shiny Black "C" Squadder", "Zombino".

During the TCG reveal of "Alexandrite Dragon", the second ever such monster, it was described as having "the maximum possible ATK for a Level 4 Normal Monster."

Level 4 or lower monsters can have effects that conditionally causes their ATK to exceed 2000 without needing to have negative effects, as the conditionality of their ATK is effectively a negative effect. For example, "Ghost Bird of Bewitchment" has an original ATK of 1300, but gains 1000 ATK if it is in the leftmost Monster Zone, giving it 2300 ATK without a negative effect.

Level 4 or lower Main Deck monsters with 2000 ATK or more

There are currently 98 Level 4 or lower Main Deck monsters with 2000 ATK or more in the TCG/OCG.

Name	Japanese name	Primary type	Secondary type	Attribute	Type	Level	ATK	DEF
Alexandrite Dragon	アレキサンドライドラゴン	Normal Monster		LIGHT	Dragon	4	2000	100
Archfiend General	ジェネラルデーモン	Effect Monster		DARK	Fiend	4	2100	800
Armor Exe	魔（ま）導（どう）アーマー エグゼ	Effect Monster		LIGHT	Rock	4	2400	1400
Arsenal Bug	アーマード・フライ	Effect Monster		EARTH	Insect	3	2000	2000
Axe Dragonute	アックス・ドラゴニュート	Effect Monster		DARK	Dragon	4	2000	1200
Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw	ＢＫ（バーニングナックラー） グラスジョー	Effect Monster		FIRE	Warrior	4	2000	0
Berserk Gorilla	怒れる類人猿（バーサークゴリラ）	Effect Monster		EARTH	Beast	4	2000	1000
Boar Soldier	ボアソルジャー	Effect Monster		EARTH	Beast-Warrior	4	2000	500
Bujin Hirume	武（ぶ）神（じん）－ヒルメ	Effect Monster		LIGHT	Beast-Warrior	4	2000	1000
Cave Dragon	グランド・ドラゴン	Effect Monster		WIND	Dragon	4	2000	100

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Convention of 2200 DEF

"Gear Golem the Moving Fortress" has 2200 DEF and no negative effects.

By convention, if a Level 4 or lower Normal Summon monster has more than 2200 DEF, it must have some negative effect or other restriction.

For example, "Gladiator Beast Hoplomus" and "Gear Golem the Moving Fortress" have 2100 and 2200 DEF respectively, and are allowed to have positive effects. Conversely, "Big Shield Gardna" has 2600 DEF and has the negative effect of being forced to switch to Attack Position after being attacked. "Noble Knight Brothers" (which has 2400 DEF) does not have a negative effect that is relevant while it is in Defense Position, but does have an effect that restricts its attacks.

Currently, no cards in the OCG/TCG break this convention.

Level 4 or lower Main Deck monsters with 2200 DEF or more

There are currently 31 Level 4 or lower Main Deck monsters with 2200 DEF or more in the TCG/OCG.

Name	Japanese name	Primary type	Secondary type	Attribute	Type	Level	ATK	DEF
Adamancipator Crystal - Dragite	魔救の奇石（アダマシア・クリスタ）－ドラガイト	Effect Monster		WATER	Rock	4	0	2200
Adamancipator Crystal - Leonite	魔救の奇石（アダマシア・クリスタ）－レオナイト	Effect Monster		FIRE	Rock	4	0	2200
Adamancipator Crystal - Raptite	魔救の奇石（アダマシア・クリスタ）－ラプタイト	Effect Monster		WIND	Rock	4	0	2200
Anesthrokket Dragon	アネスヴァレット・ドラゴン	Effect Monster		DARK	Dragon	1	0	2200
BM-4 Blast Spider	ＢＭ－４ボムスパイダー	Effect Monster		DARK	Machine	4	1400	2200
Big Shield Gardna	ビッグ・シールド・ガードナー	Effect Monster		EARTH	Warrior	4	100	2600
Boycotton	ボイコットン	Effect Monster		EARTH	Plant	4	1000	2500
Destiny HERO - Defender	Ｄ－ＨＥＲＯ（デステニーヒーロー） ディフェンドガイ	Effect Monster		DARK	Warrior	4	100	2700
Emperor Sem	エンペラー・ストゥム	Effect Monster		LIGHT	Fiend	4	1300	2200
Gear Golem the Moving Fortress	機（き）動（どう）砦（とりで）のギア・ゴーレム	Effect Monster		EARTH	Machine	4	800	2200

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Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel

In Rush Duel, Level 4 or lower Normal Monsters typically can only have 1500 or less ATK/DEF, while Effect Monsters can only have 1400 or less ATK/DEF. The only non-Legend monster to break this convention is "Transamu Rainac", a Normal Monster with 1600 ATK, which is pointed out when it is Summoned in Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!!.

Prior to the release of "Cycliptron" in Maximum Ultra Evolution Pack, the highest DEF on a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster was 1400, although "Ichthyosteguard" previously appeared in the Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS anime with 1500 DEF.

Level 4 or lower monsters with 1500 ATK or more in Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel

There are currently 49 Level 4 or lower monsters with 1500 ATK or more in Rush Duel.

Name	Japanese name	Primary type	Attribute	Type	Level	ATK	DEF
Abyss Soldier	アビス・ソルジャー	Effect Monster	WATER	Aqua	4	1800	1300
Alien Shocktrooper	エーリアン・ソルジャー	Normal Monster	EARTH	Reptile	4	1900	800
Alligator's Sword	ワイバーンの戦（せん）士（し）	Normal Monster	EARTH	Beast	4	1500	1200
Anglercoil	チョウチンアンコイル	Normal Monster	WATER	Thunder	4	1500	0
Aqua Sorcerer	アクア・ソーサラー	Normal Monster	WATER	Spellcaster	4	1500	0
Archfiend Marmot of Nefaribousness	デーモン・カルビーバー	Normal Monster	FIRE	Beast	4	1500	0
Armored Lizard	鎧蜥蜴（アーマー・リザード）	Normal Monster	EARTH	Reptile	4	1500	1200
Atlas Combat Beetle	アトラス・コンバット・ビートル	Normal Monster	DARK	Insect	4	1500	0
Baked Bean Soldier	焼（や）きビーン・ソルジャー	Normal Monster	FIRE	Plant	4	1500	0
Bright Sentinel	ブライト・センチネル	Normal Monster	LIGHT	Galaxy (Type)	4	1500	100

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Level 4 or lower monsters with 1500 DEF or more in Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel

There are currently 13 Level 4 or lower monsters with 1500 DEF or more in Rush Duel.

Name	Japanese name	Primary type	Attribute	Type	Level	ATK	DEF
Beaver Warrior	ルイーズ	Normal Monster	EARTH	Beast-Warrior	4	1200	1500
CAN:D ALL	ＣＡＮ（キャン）：Ｄ（ディー） ＡＬＬ（オール）	Effect Monster Fusion Monster	LIGHT	Psychic	4	2000	1500
Century Ancient Wooden Sword	百（ひゃく）年（ねん）の古（こ）木（ぼく）刀（とう）	Normal Monster	EARTH	Warrior	4	100	1500
Cycliptron	サイクリプトロン	Normal Monster	LIGHT	Cyberse	4	100	1500
Ewekai Grounmouton	羊（よう）界（かい）グランムートン	Normal Monster	EARTH	Beast	1	0	1500
Griffore	グリフォール	Normal Monster	EARTH	Beast	4	1200	1500
Heartless Hound Blade Aikuchihuahua	邪（じゃ）犬（けん）抜（ばっ）刀（とう）アイクチワワ	Normal Monster	DARK	Beast-Warrior	1	0	1500
Ichthyosteguard	イクチオステガード	Normal Monster	WATER	Aqua	3	0	1500
Luster Dragon	サファイアドラゴン	Normal Monster	WIND	Dragon	4	1900	1600
Mystical Elf	ホーリー・エルフ	Normal Monster	LIGHT	Spellcaster	4	800	2000

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See also

• Conventions of 3000 ATK and DEF