Xyz Monster

An Xyz Monster (pronounced ik-seez ) is a new type of Monster Card that is colored black. They are stored in the Extra Deck. The card frame is also stylized by having it appear as if one is flying through space with many stars in the frame giving the appearance of one streaking by them and other stars appearing stationary due to relative distance (giving a realistic depiction of moving through space).

Instead of a Level, Xyz Monsters have a Rank. This Rank determines the required Levels of the Xyz Materials needed in order to Xyz Summon your Xyz Monster. An Xyz Monster's Rank is depicted by a row of yellow stars in black orbs (as opposed to the yellow stars in red orbs of a monster's Level) that extend outwards from the left-hand side of the card (opposite to where a monster's Level would be depicted), similar to Dark Synchro Monsters.

An Xyz Monster's Rank is not its Level. Xyz Monsters do not have levels. Therefore, they cannot be used for Synchro, Ritual, or Xyz Summons. Any effects that would refer to the Level of a monster, such as those of "Gravity Bind", "Level Limit - Area B", "Roulette Barrel", "Star Changer" and even "Burden of the Mighty" cannot be applied to an Xyz Monster under any circumstances.

Most Xyz Monsters require you to "detach" (meaning "send to the Graveyard") their Xyz Materials in order for their effects to activate, limiting their effect usage. Some also have negative effects when they have no more Materials attached, so it may be best to use such effects sparingly.

Trivia
When Xyz monsters were revealed, they were mistakenly named "Exceed Monsters" by fans probably due to the Katakana used (エクシーズ) sounds similar to "Excess".