Xyz Monster An Xyz Monster ( pronounced ik - seez ) ( Japanese : モンスター " Ekushīzu Monsutā " , エクシーズモンスター in card text before " Duelist Alliance " ) ( Chinese : 超量怪獸 " Chāoliàng Guàishòu " " Exceeding Beast " ) is a type of Monster Card that is colored black . They are stored in the Extra Deck . The card frame is also stylized by having it appear as if one is flying through space with many stars in the frame giving the appearance of one streaking by them and other stars appearing stationary due to relative distance ( giving a realistic depiction of moving through space ) . Like other Extra Deck monsters , Xyz Monsters cannot exist in the hand or Main Deck ( even with card effects ) . If an Xyz Monster would be moved to the hand or Main Deck , it is returned to the Extra Deck instead . If a card like " Transmigration Break " or " Degenerate Circuit " is applying , this will override the Xyz Monster ' s ability to return to the Extra Deck . Like other Extra Deck monsters , if an Xyz Monster is not Xyz Summoned first , it cannot be Special Summon ed from the Graveyard or while banish ed ( unless it specifies another way to properly Special Summon it ) . Ranks . Xyz Monsters do not have Level s , and instead have a Rank . An Xyz Monster ' s Rank determines the required Levels of the Xyz Materials needed in order to Xyz Summon it . An Xyz Monster ' s Rank is depicted by a row of yellow stars in black orbs ( as opposed to the yellow stars in red orbs used to depict a monster ' s Level ) that extend outwards from the left - hand side of the card ( the opposite side to Level stars ) . Because they do not have Levels , Xyz Monsters cannot be used for Ritual , Synchro , or Xyz Summons ( unless otherwise specified ) . Effects that depend on a monster ' s Level , such as " Gravity Bind " , " Burden of the Mighty " , and " Roulette Barrel " , have no effect on Xyz Monsters . Xyz Summoning . A Xyz Summon is the act of Summoning an Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck using 2 or more monsters of the same Level as Xyz Material s . During the Main Phase , the turn player can Xyz Summon an Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck with a Rank equal to the Level of the Xyz Materials . When an Xyz Monster is Xyz Summoned , the Xyz Materials are stacked and placed underneath the Xyz Monster Card . Xyz Materials . To perform an Xyz Summon , 2 or more monsters with the same Level must be used as the Xyz Materials . Token Monster s cannot be used as Xyz Materials . Monsters that do not have Levels ( such as Xyz Monsters ) cannot be used as Xyz Materials unless specifically permitted ( such as by " " ) . While the majority of the Xyz Monsters require 2 Xyz Materials , many Xyz Monsters require more or can use a variable number of Materials . While attached to an Xyz Monster ( underneath the Xyz Monster Card ) , Xyz Materials are not treated as being on the field . Cards being attached as an Xyz Material or used as an Xyz Material in an Xyz Summon are not considered to be leaving the field . Most Xyz Monsters require the player to detach their Xyz Materials as a cost to activate their effects , limiting their number of activations . If an Xyz Monster is no longer on the field , its Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard . Xyz Materials remain attached if an Xyz Monster is flip ped face - down . Commonalities . ATK and DEF . Generally , Xyz Monsters with 3000 or more ATK have either negative effects or rather difficult Summoning requirements , such as " " and " Superdimensional Robot Galaxy Destroyer " . Effects . Usually , Xyz Monsters need to detach an Xyz Material to activate their effects , meaning their effects often have a limited number of uses . Xyz Evolution . Several Xyz Monsters can be Special Summoned by Xyz Evolution , a kind of Special Summon treated as an Xyz Summon . Xyz Evolution allows an Xyz Monster to be Special Summoned using another Xyz Monster as its Xyz Material , also that Xyz Monster ' s Xyz Materials are attached to the Summoned Xyz Monster as well . Some examples of monsters that can be Special Summoned by Xyz Evolution are " " and " Gaia Dragon , the Thunder Charger " . Rank - Up . " Rank - Up - Magic " Spell Card s perform an Xyz Evolution , Special Summoning an Xyz Monster with a higher Rank than the original Xyz Monster . Many " Rank - Up - Magic " cards can only Special Summon " Number C " or " CXyz " Xyz Monsters ; while " Number C " and " CXyz " can also be Xyz Summoned normally , they are usually require large numbers of Xyz Materials ( usually with a specific Type or Attribute ) , making them difficult to Xyz Summon , and most require their base form attached to use some of their effects . Some examples include " " , " " , " " , " CXyz Skypalace Babylon " and " CXyz Coach Lord Ultimatrainer " . Rank - Down . The Spell Card s " Rank - Down - Magic Numeron Fall " and " Rank - Down - Magic Utopia Fall " perform an Xyz Evolution , Special Summoning an Xyz Monster with a lower Rank than the original Xyz Monster . Unlike Rank - Up - Magic , they are not associated with " Number C " and " CXyz " monsters . In the anime . Xyz Monsters are the main focus of " Yu - Gi - Oh ! ZEXAL " . Xyz Monsters are made of , and have traveled to Yuma ' s dimension from the other side of a . The " Number s " Xyz Monsters are claimed to be destined to destroy all universes .