Introduction
The Mad World of Monsters
In the last lesson, I introduced you to the 3 main types of cards, Monster Cards, Spell Cards, and Trap Cards. In this lesson, I will focus on Monster Cards. There is a huge amount of material to cover when it comes to Monster Cards, but I will only focus on the basics in this lesson.
Main
Many Kinds of Monsters
The Basics of Monsters
For this section, I will use Luster Dragon as an example.
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Monster Cards have many different parts that give information about the cards.
At the top of the card, you can see its name, "Luster Dragon." In Yu-Gi-Oh, you are only allowed to have 3 cards with the same name in your deck. There are other rules regarding names that I will go over later.
Below the name and to the right, you can see 4 yellow stars in orange circles printed from left to right. This is the monster's level. Most monsters have a level from 1 to 12. The act of playing a monster onto the field is called summoning. Most monsters can be normal summoned. You can normal summon once per turn. Monsters whose levels are anywhere from 1 to 4 can be normal summoned. Level 5 and 6 monsters must be normal summoned by tributing one monster you control on the field. When you tribute a monster, it goes to the graveyard. Level 7 or higher monsters require 2 tributes to be normal summoned.
To the right of the name, is a green circle with the word "Wind" written in it. This is the monster's attribute. Most monsters have 1 of 6 different attributes, wind, water, earth, fire, light, or dark. Attribute is usually one of the first things a duelist considers when choosing cards to support or counter a monster.
Roughly centered on the card is the artwork. Many times, the artwork is edited for different audiences in different countries.
Below the artwork, the word "Dragon" can be seen in brackets. This is the monster's type. Monster's usually have 1 of a number of different types. Type, like attribute, can play a key role in determining what cards to use with or against a monster. As we will see with Effect Monsters, there are some times other indentifiers next to the monster's type. These place the monster into certain categories.
Below the type is the lore. For Normal Monsters, the lore is just flavor text that describes the monster. For Effect Monsters, the lore explains the monster's effect.
Below the lore, on the right of the card, is its attack and defense labeled ATK and DEF. These stats determine how monsters perform in battle. Generally, monsters with a higher level have higher attack and defense.
At the bottom left is the card number. This is an 8-digit number that identifies the card, allowing an easy numeric way of finding cards in databases and video games.
On the bottom right is the copyright. It has ©(Year) Kazuki Takahashi followed by a holofoil symbol called the "Eye of Anubis."
Above the type, the card's edition is listed. This plays a key role in determining the value of the card. Unlimited edition cards do not have their edition listed. I will discuss editions in detail in a later lesson.
To the right of the edition is the Set Number. This lists what the card's set, language, and set ID.
Normal Monsters
The Luster Dragon above is a Normal Monster. Normal Monsters have a yellow background. Normal Monsters have no effect and usually have no identifier after their type. However, they can still be involved in and affected by the effects of other cards.
Effect Monsters
Below is an image of an Effect Monster.
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Jinzo is an example of an Effect Monster. Effect Monsters have an orange background. Effect Monsters have an identifier next to their type labeling them as Effect Monsters. Their lore describes and explains their effect. There are many kinds of monster effects, but the most obvious separate kind are flip effects. Flip Effect Monsters have the word "FLIP" before their card lore. I will explain this later in the lesson.
Summoning Monsters
During your Main Phase 1 and 2, you can choose to normal summon or set. You cannot do both and if you did one in Main Phase 1, you cannot do either in your Main Phase 2. Monsters can be in one of two positions, Attack Position or Defense Position. Attack Position Monsters are played "vertically" with their name closest to the opposing player. Defense Position Monsters are played "horizontally," perpendicular to the way Attack Position monsters are played. When monsters are Normal Summoned, they are placed in face-up Attack Position. When monsters are set, they are placed in face-down Defense Position. Certain effects allow you to Special Summon monsters. A Special Summon does not count towards your Normal Summon or Set. Usually, Special Summoned Monsters are placed face-up in either position unless otherwise stated. Once per turn, for a given monster, you can switch its battle position. Face-down monsters are flipped face-up when switched to attack position. This is called a Flip Summon but does not count towards your Normal Summon or Set. You cannot change the position of a monster the turn that it is summoned. Certain card effects change the position of a monster, but you can still change its position without an effect if you haven't already.
Battling
During your Battle Phase, if you have a monster in Attack Position, you can attack with it. If your opponent has no monsters, you can attack their Life Points directly. When you do this, you inflict battle damage to your opponent equal to the attacking monsters Attack. For example, if you attack directly with Luster Dragon while your opponent has 8000 Life Points, you subtract 1900 from their Life Points leaving them with 6100 Life Points.
If your opponent has a monster or monsters, you select one as an Attack Target, and the monsters battle[/b]. If both monsters are in Attack Position, you only use Attack in the calculations. Here is how it works. If your opponent attacks, your Luster Dragon with their Jinzo, and both monsters are in attack position, you determine which monster has the higher attack. Then, you inflict battle damage to the player with the monster with lower attack equal to the difference between the attack values of the two monsters. After damage calculation, you destroy the monster with lower attack. For example, their Jinzo has 2400 attack while your Luster Dragon has 1900 attack. Thus, you lose 500 Life Points, and your Luster Dragon is destroyed. If the two monsters have equal attack, both are destroyed, and no damage is inflicted on either player.
For the next example, I will be using Giant Soldier of Stone.
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If the attack target is in defense mode, you use the attacking monster's attack and the defending monster's defense. For example, if you attack Giant Soldier of Stone with Jinzo when it is in Defense Position, since Jinzo's attack is higher than Giant Soldier of Stone's defense, Giant Soldier of Stone is destroyed. However, no damage is inflicted. If you attack Giant Soldier of Stone with Luster Dragon, because Luster Dragon's attack is 100 points lower Giant Soldier of Stone's defense, you lose 100 life points, but Luster Dragon is not destroyed. If the attacking monster's attack is equal to the defending monster's defense, neither monster is destroyed, and no damage is inflicted.
Monsters can only attack once per turn, and if a monster attacks, you cannot change it to Defense Position after the Battle Phase, even if you haven't changed its position that turn. When a face-down monster is attacked, flip it face-up.
Flip Effect Monsters
Flip Effect Monsters are Effect Monsters whose effects activate when they are flipped face up. This includes Flip Summoning. Some effects require the monster to be Flip Summoned, and others require it to remain on the field. This is just one kind of Monster Effect. I will discuss others in later lessons.
Other Kinds of Monsters
Fusion Monsters require the use of a Spell Card called Polymerization. When you use it, you must send monsters from your hand or side of the field to the graveyard listed as Fusion Materials above the lore on the Fusion Monster being summoned. Fusion Monsters have a purple background. Below is an image of a Fusion Monster. I will discuss these more in a later lesson.
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Synchro Monsters are similar to Fusion Monsters. However, they do not require Polymerization. Instead, you must have a Tuner Monster on the field along with the other monsters. You then send the Tuner Monster along with some other monsters to the graveyard such that the total level of all monsters sent to the graveyard is equal to the level of the Synchro Monster being summoned. Synchro Monsters have a white background. Below is an image of a Synchro Monster. I will go into more detail about these later.
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Xyz Monsters are similar to Synchro Monsters. However, they do not require Tuner Monsters. To summon an Xyz monster, you must have the correct number of monsters of the same level as the rank of the Xyz Monster being summoned. You then put the Xyz Materials on one Monster Card Zone and place the Xyz Monster on top. This is called overlaying. Xyz Monsters have a black background. Xyz Monsters have a Rank instead of a level. This is represented by yellow stars in black circles printed left to right where level stars would normally be printed. Thus, Xyz monsters are unaffected by card effects that involve levels. Below is an image of an Xyz Monster. I will discuss these monsters in greater detail in a future lesson.
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Fusion Summons, Synchro Summons, and Xyz Summons are all types of Special Summons. Fusion Monsters, Synchro Monsters, and Xyz Monsters are stored in the extra deck to the left of the Spell and Trap Card Zones.
Closing
Many More Monsters
More About Monsters
Even though you have been taught the basics, there still exist many things to learn about monsters. In future lessons, I will discuss many other rules and exceptions regarding monsters and their effects. Keep practicing and reviewing what you've learned.
Homework
- Memorize the colors of each kind of monster
- Memorize the 6 attributes of monsters
- Find 5 different types that monsters can have
- Memorize and practice the rules for battling with monsters
- Practice what you've learned in duels and have fun
Trivia
- The Extra Deck was called the Fusion Deck prior to the introduction of Synchro Monsters
- Monsters did not have effects in Bandai's Official Card Game
- Some monsters lack a serial number for unknown reasons
- Psychic type monsters did not exist when the game was created, and were introduced during the time of Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's
Thu Dec 19, 2013 5:36 am by 
