Yu-Gi-Oh card game ATK vs DEF?

Answer 1

Well, a lack of specifics prompts me to tell everything. Each monster has a specific amount of ATK (Attack Points) and DEF (Defense Points), depicted at the bottom of the card. Generally, the points will be multiples of 100, though there are several that end in 50 and a few with other numbers, but those were only released in the early stages of the game; aside from their re-releases, there haven't been any since. Also, no card released has had any basic ATK or DEF below 0 or above 5000.

A monster with ATK and DEF of less than 1000 is considered weak; between 1000 and 2000 is average; between 2000 and 3000 is powerful; between 3000 and 4000 is exceptionally powerful; anything higher...well, let's just say you don't want to mess with anything like that if you're not an experienced Duelist, and usually not even then.

Generally, monsters with 0 ATK have a strong DEF and/or an effect that can compensate, and likewise, monsters with 0 DEF will have a strong ATK and/or an effect. And for monsters that have 0 ATK and DEF, they ALWAYS have a special effect to help them out. Well, okay, not always, but at last count there were only three exceptions, and their usefulness is revealed when combined with certain cards that they're meant for.

Now, in terms of gameplay; first, bear in mind that the following descriptions are the basic rules of the game, but there is at least one exception to almost everything mentioned here by means of a Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster card.

Monsters can be Normal Summoned in face-up Attack Position or Set in face-down Defense Position. Monsters can change their positions once per turn. Face-down Defense Position monsters are flipped face-up when they switch to Attack Position. Face-up monsters cannot be flipped face-down. Monsters can only attack if they're in Attack Position. Monsters cannot change into Defense Position in the same turn that they attack or the same turn they are Summoned. Monsters in Attack Position are placed vertically, right-side up in the perspective of the card's controller. Monsters in Defense Position are placed horizontally.

When a monster attacks another monster in Attack Position, one of three things happens:

1. If the attacking monster has greater ATK than the monster it attacks, the attacked monster is destroyed and the controller of that monster loses Life Points equal to the difference between the two monsters' ATK.

2. If the attacking monster has less ATK than the monster it attacks, the attacking monster is destroyed and the controller of that monster loses Life Points equal to the difference between the two monsters' ATK.

3. If the attacking monster has equal ATK to the monster it attacks, both monsters are destroyed and neither player loses Life Points.

When a monster attacks a monster in Defense Position, one of three things happens:

1. If the attacking monster has greater ATK than the DEF of the monster it attacks, the attacked monster is destroyed and the controller of that monster loses no Life Points.

2. If the attacking monster has less ATK than the DEF of the monster it attacks, neither monster is destroyed and the controller of the attacking monster loses Life Points equal to the difference between the attacking monster's ATK and the attacked monster's DEF.

3. If the attacking monster has equal ATK to the DEF of the monster it attacks, neither monster is destroyed and neither player loses Life Points.

One last note: if a monster attacks a face-down Defense Position monster, it is flipped face-up, but stays in Defense Position.

And that is everything you need to know about ATK and DEF.