Link Monster A Link Monster ( Japanese : リンクモンスター " Rinku Monsutā " ) is a type of Monster Card . The color of their card frame is dark blue , which is similar to that of a Ritual Monster , but with a hexagonal pattern similar to a honeycomb structure . These cards are placed in the Extra Deck . Like other Extra Deck monsters , Link Monsters cannot exist in either the hand or the Main Deck ( even with card effects ) . If a Link 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 , the Link Monster would be banish ed rather than returning to the Extra Deck . If a Link Monster is not Link Summon ed first , it cannot be Special Summon ed from the Graveyard or while banish ed ( unless it specifies another way to properly Special Summon it ) . Link Ratings and lack of DEF . Link Monsters have a Link Rating in place of a Level or Rank . A Link Monster ' s Link Rating determines the total number of Link Material s required to Link Summon it . A Link Monster ' s Link Rating is also equal to the number of Link Arrow s it has . A Link Monster ' s Link Rating can be found next to its ATK , in place of the traditional DEF value . Link Monsters do not possess Levels or Ranks , therefore they cannot be used as material for a Ritual , Synchro , or Xyz Summon . Also , Level or Rank - modifying cards such as " Harmonic Waves " , " Feedback Warrior " , or " Xiangsheng Magician " do not affect Link Monsters . The same thing can be said for Spells / Traps that affect Levels / Ranks such as " Gravity Bind " , " Level Limit - Area B " or " Planckton " . Link Monsters can only exist in face - up Attack Position ( they do not have a DEF value ) and cannot be placed in or changed to Defense Position ( either manually or through a card effect ) ; this is because rotating the card into Defense Position would change the directions its Link Arrows point to . Because of this , Link Monsters are unaffected by effects that change battle position s and are unable to be placed face - down , and cannot be Summoned by an effect that would Special Summon monsters only in Defense Position ( such as " Back to the Front " ) . Link Arrows . Link Monsters also have Link Arrow s , indicated by red arrows radiating outward from the art frame . These indicators denote which zone s and monsters that Link Monster points to . Monsters in the Extra Deck ( Fusion , Synchro , Xyz , face - up Pendulum , and Link Monsters ) can be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck to a Main Monster Zone a Link Monster points to . If a Link Monster points to a monster , the monsters are considered to be " linked " to each other . Link Summoning . A Link Summon is the act of Summoning a Link Monster from the Extra Deck using the requisite number of Link Materials listed on its Link Rating . During the Main Phase , the turn player can Link Summon by sending the face - up Link Materials from their field to the Graveyard . Playing style . Link Monsters commonly grant benefits to monsters they point to or gain more powerful effects depending on the number of monsters they point to . As such , Decks focused around Link Monsters require methods to quickly Summon monsters in order to Summon Link Monsters as well as into the zones where the Link Monsters point to . When attempting to Summon multiple Link Monsters , it is important to decide which order to Summon them in , as their Link Arrows will dictate where the others can be Summoned and what monsters will be Linked to them . Link Monsters with higher Link Ratings can be Special Summon ed more quickly by Link Summoning multiple weaker Link Monsters first . This also helps to place them in locations that will take better advantage of their Link Arrows . Powerful Link Monsters are typically balanced by having a higher Link Rating and forward - pointing Link Arrows , allowing the opponent to summon more Extra Deck monsters . For example , " Decode Talker " , " Firewall Dragon " , " Topologic Bomber Dragon " and " Encode Talker " all have Link Arrows that point towards the opponent ' s field when they are placed in the Extra Monster Zone , while weaker Link Monsters such as " Missus Radiant " , " Gaia Saber , the Lightning Shadow " and " Link Spider " do not .