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 "2300 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.

The "Convention of 2000 ATK" states that if a monster has 2000 or more ATK, it must have some negative effect or other restriction to limit its playability. For example, "Thunder King Rai-Oh" has 1900 ATK and is thus permitted to have a beneficial card effect, but "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 12 such monsters: "Alexandrite Dragon", "Gene-Warped Warwolf", "Leotron", "Megalosmasher X", "Mekk-Knight Avram", "Mystery Shell Dragon", "Phantom Gryphon", "Photon Token", "Rice Suship", "Security Token", "Shiny Black "C" Squadder", "Zombino".

Level 4 or lower Monster Cards with 2000 ATK or more

There are currently 113 Level 4 or lower monsters with 2000 ATK or more in the TCG/OCG.

	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
Alligator Token	アリゲーター・トークン	Monster Token		DARK	Reptile	1	2000	0
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
Bellcat Token	ベルキャットトークン	Monster Token		WIND	Machine	4	2000	2000
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
... further results (103 more)

Convention of 2300 DEF

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

The "Convention of 2300 DEF" states that if a monster has 2300 or more 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, while "Big Shield Gardna" has 2600 DEF and has the negative effect of being forced to switch to its weak Attack Position after being attacked.

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

Level 4 or lower Monster Cards with 2300 DEF or more

There are currently 14 Level 4 or lower monsters with 2300 DEF or more in the TCG/OCG.

	Japanese name	Primary type	Secondary type	Attribute	Type	Level	ATK	DEF
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
Giant Kozaky	Ｇ（ジャイアント）・コザッキー	Effect Monster		DARK	Fiend	4	2500	2400
Megalith Hagith	メガリス・ハギト	Effect Monster Ritual Monster		EARTH	Rock	4	1300	2600
Megalith Och	メガリス・オク	Effect Monster Ritual Monster		EARTH	Rock	4	1000	2700
Megalith Ophiel	メガリス・オフィエル	Effect Monster Ritual Monster		EARTH	Rock	4	1600	2500
Meklord Emperor Wisel	機（き）皇（こう）帝（てい）ワイゼル∞（インフィニティ）	Effect Monster		DARK	Machine	1	2500	2500
Meklord Emperor Wisel - Synchro Absorption	機（き）皇（こう）帝（てい）ワイゼル∞（インフィニティ）－Ｓ（シンクロ）・アブソープション	Effect Monster		DARK	Machine	1	2500	2500
Mist Bird Clausolas	霞（か）鳥（ちょう）クラウソラス	Synchro Monster Effect Monster		WIND	Winged Beast	3	0	2300
... further results (4 more)

See also

• Conventions of 3000 ATK and DEF