Level 4 ATK and DEF Rules

"Gene-Warped Warwolf", one of the very few 2000 ATK Level 4 Normal Monsters to break the "Rule of 2000 ATK"

The ATK and DEF of a Level 4 or lower monster tend to be limited by two unwritten rules: the "2000 ATK Rule" and the "2300 DEF Rule". These rules state that for a Level 4 monster to have an ATK or DEF equal to or higher than these values, it must have some kind of negative effect or other restriction (such as being a Nomi monster). For example, "Meklord Emperor Wisel" is a Level 1 Monster Card that has 2500 ATK and DEF; however, it cannot be Normal Summoned or Set.

Rule of 2000 ATK

"Meklord Emperor Wisel" is tied with "Giant Kozaky" to the highest ATK for a Level 4 or lower monster and has one of the highest DEF; however, it is difficult to Summon.

The "Rule of 2000 ATK" states that if a monster has 2000 or more ATK, it must have some negative effect or other restriction to limit its playability. For example, "Thunder King Rai-Oh" has 1900 ATK and is thus permitted to have a beneficial card effect, but "Panther Warrior" and "Zombyra the Dark" have 2000 and 2100 ATK respectively, and thus have the negative effects of requiring a Tribute in order to attack and losing ATK upon attacking, respectively.

"Gene-Warped Warwolf" was the first monster to be released to break this rule, being a Level 4 Normal Monster with 2000 ATK and 100 DEF but no negative effects. The release of this card essentially rendered previous 2000 ATK monsters with negative effects obsolete. Since then only three additional monsters have been released that continue to break the rule, all Level 4 Normal Monsters: "Alexandrite Dragon", "Phantom Gryphon", and "Mystery Shell Dragon". The first has 100 DEF like "Gene-Warped Warwolf", while the latter two have 0 DEF.

There are currently 117 Level 4 or lower monsters with 2000 ATK or more in the TCG/OCG.

Level 4 or lower Monster Cards with 2000 ATK or more

	Japanese name	Level	Attribute	Type	Card type	ATK	DEF
Alexandrite Dragon	アレキサンドライドラゴン	4	LIGHT	Dragon	Monster Card Normal Monster	2,000	100
Archfiend General	ジェネラルデーモン	4	DARK	Fiend	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,100	800
Armor Exe	魔導アーマー エグゼ	4	LIGHT	Rock	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,400	1,400
Arsenal Bug	アーマード・フライ	3	EARTH	Insect	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	2,000
Axe Dragonute	アックス・ドラゴニュート	4	DARK	Dragon	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	1,200
Battlin' Boxer Glassjaw	ＢＫ グラスジョー	4	FIRE	Warrior	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	0
Berserk Gorilla	怒れる類人猿	4	EARTH	Beast	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	1,000
Boar Soldier	ボアソルジャー	4	EARTH	Beast-Warrior	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	500
Bujin Hirume	武神－ヒルメ	4	LIGHT	Beast-Warrior	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,000	1,000
CAN:D ALL	CAN：D ALL	4	LIGHT	Psychic	Effect Monster Monster Card Fusion Monster	2,000	1,500
... further results

Rule of 2300 DEF

File:GearGolemtheMovingFortress-SD10-EN-C-1E.jpg

"Gear Golem the Moving Fortress" has 2200 DEF and no negative effects.

The "Rule of 2300 DEF" states that if a monster has 2300 or more DEF, it must have some negative effect or other restriction. For example, "Gladiator Beast Hoplomus" and "Gear Golem the Moving Fortress" have 2100 and 2200 DEF respectively, and are allowed to have positive effects, while "Big Shield Gardna" has 2600 DEF and has the negative effect of being forced to switch to its weak Attack Position after being attacked.

Currently, no cards in the OCG/TCG break this rule.

There are currently 18 Level 4 or lower monsters with 2300 DEF or more in the TCG/OCG.

Level 4 or lower Monster Cards with 2300 DEF or more

	Japanese name	Level	Attribute	Type	Card type	ATK	DEF
Big Shield Gardna	ビッグ・シールド・ガードナー	4	EARTH	Warrior	Effect Monster Monster Card	100	2,600
Boycotton	ボイコットン	4	EARTH	Plant	Effect Monster Monster Card	1,000	2,500
Destiny HERO - Defender	Ｄ－ＨＥＲＯ ディフェンドガイ	4	DARK	Warrior	Effect Monster Monster Card	100	2,700
Giant Kozaky	Ｇ・コザッキー	4	DARK	Fiend	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,500	2,400
Guard Mantis	ガード・マンティス	4	WIND	Insect	Effect Monster Monster Card	1,000	2,400
Megalith Hagith	メガリス・ハギト	4	EARTH	Rock	Effect Monster Monster Card Ritual Monster	1,300	2,600
Megalith Och	メガリス・オク	4	EARTH	Rock	Effect Monster Monster Card Ritual Monster	1,000	2,700
Megalith Ophiel	メガリス・オフィエル	4	EARTH	Rock	Effect Monster Monster Card Ritual Monster	1,600	2,500
Meklord Emperor Wisel	機皇帝ワイゼル∞	1	DARK	Machine	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,500	2,500
Meklord Emperor Wisel - Synchro Absorption	機皇帝ワイゼル∞－Ｓ・アブソープション	1	DARK	Machine	Effect Monster Monster Card	2,500	2,500
... further results

See also

• Rule of 3000 ATK and DEF