DARK monsters are perhaps the most numerous of all monsters. Many well-known monsters are of the Dark attribute, such as Dark Magician of Chaos and Jinzo . Fiends and Zombies are usually DARK types and so are all the Destiny Heroes and Ally of Justice . Many Spellcasters are also DARK, such as the "Dark Magician ". Although LIGHT is the polar opposite of DARK, neither side has a true advantage over the other in general, although there are cards such as "Luminous Soldier ", "Penumbral Soldier Lady ", "Hoshiningen " and "Witch's Apprentice " which lower the stats of the opposing attribute, as well as the recent archetype Ally of Justice which focuses heavily on DARK monsters that power up by destroying LIGHT monsters.
Being one of the most versatile and common Attributes, Dark monsters and the cards akin to them can work with many different Deck Types, and rarely does a typical deck lack at least one. However, it can be said that many DARK cards have something to do with Spell Cards and the like, perhaps reflective of the mysterious and shadowy nature of darkness, coupled with the great number of DARK Spellcasters . DARK monster decks often have abilities relating in some way to the use of the Graveyard as well, depending on the Archetype in question, by using it as a resource in some way (though the primarily DARK Gravekeeper's Archetype notably prevents the use of the Graveyard as a resource).
There are many all-DARK archetypes, but they tend to also be restricted to monsters of a particular Type . The only multiple-type archetype to focus on DARK monsters in general are the "Dark Counterparts ", composed of DARK versions of many existing popular monsters.
Example [ ]
Gameplay and terminology Card layout Rarities Card types
Monster
Spell Trap Skill
Normal • Continuous • Field
Other†
Equip •
Ritual •
Speed Spell (
Normal •
Quick-Play •
Ritual )
Non-game •
Character •
Checklist •
FAQ •
Strategy •
Tip Related
Game mechanics
Card effects
Types
Condition (Archetype • Archetype-exclusion • Level • Name • Rank • Summoning • Common • Normal • Special • Fusion • Ritual • Victory ) • Cost (Maintenance cost ) • Monster • Continuous • like • Ignition • Like • Quick • Like • Trigger • Like • Flip • Unclassified • Control only one • Field-Unique • Match winner • Summon monster • Unconfirmed
Mandatory •
Optional •
Lingering •
Once per turn Speeds
Summoning
Types Mechanics
Summoning Rules •
Double Tributer •
Material • (
Fusion •
Fusion Substitute •
Synchro •
Synchro Substitute •
Xyz •
Link ) •
Alloy † •
Alloy Substitute † •
Broadcast † •
Broadcast Substitute † •
Burst † •
Burst Substitute † •
Chain-force † •
Chain-force Substitute † •
Chainlink † •
Chainlink Substitute † •
Chaos † •
Chaos Substitute † •
Code † •
Code Substitute † •
Composition † •
Composition Substitute † •
Constellation † •
Constellation Substitute † •
Construct † •
Construct Substitute † •
Cosmic † •
Cosmic Substitute † •
Cross † •
Cross Substitute † •
Crossover † •
Crossover Substitute † •
Dark Bind † •
Dark Bind Substitute † •
Delta † •
Delta Substitute † •
Dreamer † •
Dreamer Substitute † •
Driver † •
Driver Substitute † •
Emblem † •
Emblem Substitute † •
Enchant † •
Enchant Substitute † •
Enhance † •
Enhance Substitute † •
Esper † •
Esper Substitute † •
Evolute † •
Evolute Substitute † •
Evolution † •
Evolution Substitute † •
Extract † •
Extract Substitute † •
Extreme † •
Extreme Substitute † •
Galaxy † •
Galaxy Substitute † •
HYPERFORCE † •
HYPERFORCE Substitute † •
Hybrid † •
Hybrid Substitute † •
Imaginary † •
Imaginary Substitute † •
Legend † •
Legend Substitute † •
Legion † •
Legion Substitute † •
Maestro † •
Maestro Substitute † •
Mana † •
Mana Substitute † •
Marshal † •
Marshal Substitute † •
Master † •
Master Substitute † •
Mega † •
Mega Substitute † •
Mirage † •
Mirage Substitute † •
Mixmatch † •
Mixmatch Substitute † •
Neon Positive † •
Neon Positive Substitute † •
Nova † •
Nova Substitute † •
Overdrive Material † •
Overdrive Substitute Monster Substitute † •
Parallel † •
Parallel Substitute † •
Persona † •
Persona Substitute † •
Plasma † •
Plasma Substitute † •
Positive † •
Positive Substitute † •
Pressure † •
Pressure Substitute † •
Quasar † •
Quasar Substitute † •
Reactor Material † •
Reactor Substitute Monster Substitute † •
Resolve † •
Resolve Substitute † •
Reverse † •
Reverse Substitute † •
Royal † •
Royal Substitute † •
Spectrum † •
Spectrum Substitute † •
Spiritual † •
Spiritual Substitute † •
Terrain † •
Terrain Substitute † •
Timewarp † •
Timewarp Substitute † •
Transmute † •
Transmute Substitute † •
Triad † •
Triad Substitute † •
Unification † •
Unification Substitute † •
Unity † •
Unity Substitute † •
Upgrade † •
Upgrade Substitute † •
Voodoo † •
Voodoo Substitute † •
Wild Card † •
Wild Card Substitute † •
Xynchro † •
Xynchro Substitute † •
Normal Summon Monster •
Special Summon-only •
Nomi •
Ignoring the Summoning conditions
Other
Activation & Targeting Eligibility •
Activation requirement •
Difference between Costs and Effects •
Chains, Activation, and Resolution •
Engine (
Draw ) • Advantage •
Card •
Field •
Hand •
One Turn Kill (
First •
Zero ) •
Lockdown • Loop (
Controlled loop •
Infinite loop )
† Does not exist in the OCG or TCG