In Defense Position (called Defense Mode in the anime), a Monster Card can be either face-up or face-down , in a Horizontal Position. In this position, the DEF value is used to represent this card, except where a card effect requires a specific examination of the ATK value.
In Defense Position, a Monster Card is always in a Horizontal Position. When a monster is "Set ", it is played in face-down Defense Position. Monsters cannot be Normal Summoned in face-up Defense Position, except by a card effect that allows them to be summoned that way (such as "Light of Intervention"). During battle between a Defense Postion monster, the DEF value of that monster is used to calculate Battle Damage , rather than the ATK value.
Usually, Defense Position monsters cannot attack, but some monsters such as Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster and Total Defense Shogun have effects that allow them to attack while in Defense Position.
In the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime, Defense Position monsters become colored blue.
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