Level

A Monster Card's Level is a rough indication of how powerful that card is, represented by a number of stars in the top-right. The maximum Level a monster can have is 12, and the Minimum is one. A Monster Card cannot be treated as Level 0, even with an effect, the minimum will always be Level 1.

Monster cards from Level 1 to Level 4 may be Normal Summoned from the Hand with no cost or restriction (unless the card itself has a restriction against it in its effects). Level 4 monsters are the strongest monsters that may be summoned from the hand in this way, and are thus the most commonly used monsters. Levels 5 and 6 monsters are stronger but either require a Tribute to be Normal Summoned or have a Special Summoning condition, and Level 7 and higher monsters require two Tributes to be Normal Summoned, assuming they may be Normal Summoned at all. Level 9 and higher monsters are relatively rare, and usually are stored in the Extra Deck rather than the Main Deck, though there are noteworthy exceptions.

Due to the higher requirements involved in summoning them, higher-level monsters are typically not as numerous as lower-Level monsters in a player's Deck, assuming the Deck is properly balanced.

Example:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 8

Level 9

Level 10

Level 11

Level 12

There are now also Negative Levels.

See also Summoning Rules.

Gameplay and Glossary

Basic Gameplay Monster Cards - Spell Cards - Trap Cards Token Monsters Types of Monster Cards Effect - Fusion - Normal - Ritual - Synchro - Dark Synchro Types of Spell Cards Continuous - Field - Equip Normal - Quick-Play - Ritual Types of Trap Cards Continuous - Counter - Normal Other Types of Card Equip Cards Manga Cards Virus - Trap-Spell Equip Trap Cards - Field Trap Cards Continuous Trap-Spell Cards - Field Virus Cards Turn Phases Draw Phase - Standby Phase - Main Phase 1 Battle Phase - Main Phase 2 - End Phase Start Step - Battle Step Damage Step - End Step

Intermediate Gameplay ATK - DEF - Level - Attribute - Type Main Deck - Side Deck Fusion Deck - Extra Deck Hand - Graveyard - Playing Field - Removed from play Life Points - Damage - Game Mechanics 3 Card Rule - Spell Speed - Battle position Attack Position - Defense Position Face-up - Face-down - Flip Draw a card - Pick up a card Hand Size Limit Playing Field Zones Monster Zones - Spell/Trap Zones Field Spell Zone - Graveyard Zone Deck Zone - Removed from Play Zone Fusion Deck Zone - Extra Deck Zone Types of Summon Flip - Normal - Tribute Fusion - Special - Ritual Synchro - Set Tribute Set

Advanced Gameplay Activate - Chain - Costs - Counters - Destroy Discard - FTK - Lockdown - OTK - Resolve Spell Counter - Target - Tribute Types of Monster Effects Continuous - Flip - Ignition - Quick Summon - Trigger Compulsory - Optional - Lingering Types of Effect Monsters Flip - Gemini - Spirit - Toon - Tuner - Union - Dark Tuner Types of Spell Speed Spell Speed 1 Spell Speed 2 Spell Speed 3

Expert Gameplay Tournament Guidelines Duel - Infinite Loop - Maintenance Costs Missing the Timing - Match Replay - Piercing - Priority Spell Monsters - Trap Monsters Double Tributer - Victory Conditions Field Advantage - Hand Advantage Fusion Material Monsters Fusion Substitute Monsters Synchro Material Monsters Attributes DARK - EARTH - FIRE - LIGHT - WATER - WIND DIVINE Types Archetype Aqua - Beast - Beast-Warrior - Dinosaur Divine-Beast - Dragon - Fairy - Fiend Fish - Insect - Machine - Plant Psychic - Pyro - Reptile - Rock Sea Serpent - Spellcaster - Thunder Warrior - Winged Beast - Zombie Human - Immortal - ??? Black Magic - White Magic