When you play a Monster Card, you can play it in one of three ways. Either face-up Attack Position, face-down Defense Position or in face-up Defense Position.
Monster Cards have two numbers on the bottom that usually matter, ATK and DEF. ATK only applies when in Attack Position, and DEF only applies when in Defense Position during the Battle Phase, but certain cards may still call upon either of these values no matter what position the monster is in. Monsters also have an Attribute, Level, and a Type. Skilled Manipulation of these variables will allow you to distort ATK and DEF to your advantage.
When a card's text reads a word or phrase in quotation marks followed by monster, it means a monster with the word or phrase in its name. eg. a "The Six Samurai" monster is a monster with "The Six Samurai" in its card name.
Example:
- See Also: Basics of Monster Cards.
Monster Cards - Spell Cards - Trap Cards Types of Monster Cards Effect - Fusion - Normal - Ritual - Synchro - Dark Synchro Types of Spell Cards Continuous - Field - Equip Types of Trap Cards Continuous - Counter - Normal Other Types of Card Manga Cards Virus - Trap-Spell Equip Trap Cards - Field Trap Cards Turn Phases Draw Phase - Standby Phase - Main Phase 1 |
ATK - DEF - Level - Attribute - Type Playing Field Zones Monster Zones - Spell/Trap Zones Types of Summon Flip - Normal - Tribute | Activate - Chain - Costs - Counters - Destroy Types of Monster Effects Continuous - Flip - Ignition - Quick Compulsory - Optional - Lingering Types of Effect Monsters Flip - Gemini - Spirit - Toon - Tuner - Union - Dark Tuner Types of Spell Speed | Tournament Guidelines Duel - Infinite Loop - Maintenance Costs Double Tributer - Victory Conditions Attributes DARK - EARTH - FIRE - LIGHT - WATER - WIND Types Aqua - Beast - Beast-Warrior - Dinosaur |