Monster Card

Japanese (romanized)
 English

* **German**: Monster(karte)
* **Italian**: Carta Mostro or mostro
* **Portuguese**: Card de Monstro or monstro
* **Spanish**: Carta de Monstruo or monstruo
* **Korean**: 몬스터 (카드) *Monseuteo (Kadeu)*
* **Chinese**: 怪獸(卡) *Guàishòu(kǎ) / Gwaai3 sau3 (kaat1)*
 Lists
* members

**Monster Cards** (Japanese: モンスターカード *Monsutā Kādo*) represent monsters that players battle against each other or directly against either player during the Battle Phase. Monsters are the main focus of Yu-Gi-Oh!. Monster Cards are differentiated by their names, Type; Attribute; ATK; DEF; Level (or Rank or Link Rating). Monster Cards can be subdivided into Normal Monsters, Effect Monsters, Ritual Monsters, Fusion Monsters, Synchro Monsters, Xyz Monsters, Pendulum Monsters, Link Monsters and Monster Tokens, each with a distinctive colored card frame to differentiate them.

In extent to the aforementioned classifications, Monster can also be classified as Tuner monsters or Special Summon Monsters, but this classification isn't a separate division from those above. Also, Effect Monsters, exclusively, can be classified further by Ability. This include Spirit monsters, Toon monsters, Union Monsters, Gemini monsters, and Flip monsters.

Normal Monsters lack effects and are not typically paired with any other Monster Card types (with the exception of Gemini monsters, a class of Effect Monsters which are summoned as Normal Monsters, and some Pendulum Monsters, which can also be Normal Monsters). Effect Monsters cannot also be Normal Monsters (with the exception of the aforementioned Gemini monsters), but they can also be Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz Monsters, Pendulum, and Link Monsters. Some Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Link Monsters lack effects and are thus not also Effect Monsters, but they are not considered Normal Monsters. Such monsters are known as Non-Effect Monsters.

During play, monster cards can be played in either face-up Attack Position or face-down Defense Position. The importance of monster cards lies in their effects (which usually activate during their controller's Main Phase) and their ATK and DEF values during the Battle Phase (or more specifically, the Damage Step).

## Examples

DragonLordToken-SR02-EN-C-1E.pngA Monster Token.
 For a list of Monster Token, see List of Token Monsters.MegalosmasherX-SR04-EN-C-1E.pngA Normal Monster.
 For a list of Normal Monsters, see List of Normal Monsters.BESBigCoreMK3-MACR-EN-R-1E.pngAn Effect Monster.
 For a list of Effect Monsters, see List of Effect Monsters.BBusterDrake-SDKS-EN-SR-1E.pngA Union Monster.
 For a list of Union monsters, see List of Union monsters.Amaterasu-TDIL-EN-SR-1E.pngA Spirit monster.
 For a list of Spirit Monsters, see List of Spirit monsters.SubterrorBehemothDragossuary-RATE-EN-SR-1E.pngA Flip Monster.
 For a list of Flip Monsters, see List of Flip monsters.ChemicritterOxyOx-INOV-EN-C-1E.pngA Gemini Monster.
 For a list of Gemini monsters, see List of Gemini monsters.VennuBrightBirdofDivinity-MACR-EN-C-1E.pngA Ritual Monster.
 For a list of Ritual Monsters, see List of Ritual Monsters.JunkSynchron-DUSA-EN-UR-1E.pngA Tuner monster.
 For a list of Tuner monsters, see List of Tuner monsters.NeoBlueEyesUltimateDragon-MVP1-EN-GUR-1E.pngA Fusion Monster.
 For a list of Fusion Monsters, see List of Fusion Monsters.TrishulaDragonoftheIceBarrier-BLLR-EN-ScR-1E.pngA Synchro Monster.
 For a list of Synchro Monsters, see List of Synchro Monsters.CyberDragonInfinity-MP16-EN-ScR-1E.pngAn Xyz Monster.
 For a list of Xyz Monsters, see List of Xyz Monsters.OddEyesPendulumDragon-YS16-EN-C-1E.pngA Pendulum Monster.
 For a list of Pendulum Monsters, see List of Pendulum MonstersDecodeTalker-YS17-EN-UR-1E.pngA Link Monster.
 For a list of Link Monsters, see List of Link Monsters.

## Trivia

Though they are labelled as monster cards, some of the summoned monsters have a human or humanoid appearance. Most likely this is for gameplay purposes.
fr:Carte Monstre