The original Class of a Cascade Monster Card is generally represented by a number of stars printed in the top-center. The Class stars being center-aligned contrasts to the right-alignment of Level stars and the left-alignment of Rank stars.
Like Levels, monsters' printed Classes can range from 1 to 12. The Class of a Cascade Monster determines the possible combinations of Cascade Materials with consecutive Levels that can be used to Cascade Summon it. The Levels of the Cascade Materials of a Cascade Monster must either include or approach (from above or below) the Cascade Monster's Class.
A monster can only have a single Class at a time.
A Cascade Monster's Class is not also its Level, Rank, or Link Rating; Cascade Monsters do not have any of these properties. Consequently, Cascade Monsters cannot be used for Synchro, Ritual, Xyz, or Cascade Summons (unless specifically permitted by a card effect); and any effects that would refer to the Level, Rank, or Link Rating of a monster, such as those of "Gravity Bind", "Level Limit - Area B", and "Burden of the Mighty" cannot be applied to a Cascade Monster. Since Cascade Monsters do not have Levels, Ranks, or Link Ratings, cards such as "Star Changer", "Scanner", and "Give and Take" cannot be used on them at all. Cards that modify Levels or Ranks, such as "Harmonic Waves", "Feedback Warrior", "Synchro Boost", and "Demotion" also cannot be used on Cascade Monsters.