Authority: Community discussion
Official ruling confirmed: unknown
Source: Reddit: r/Yugioh101
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Yugioh101/comments/1wj3ugz/this_card_and_this_monster/
Format: TCG
Status: resolved
Date: 18 September 2026

1. Question

A player asked on Reddit about the difference between the terms “this card” and “this monster” in Yu-Gi-Oh! card text.

They noticed that monster cards sometimes refer to themselves as “this card,” while other effects specifically use “this monster,” and asked whether the two terms are interchangeable or whether the distinction has a rules meaning.

2. Reddit Discussion

The Reddit discussion explained that the distinction can matter depending on the context.

A commenter identifying as a Judge explained that a card can continue to be referred to as “this card” even if it stops being a monster, or even if it later becomes a monster. However, if a card stops being a monster, it is no longer “this monster.”

Another commenter gave an example involving cards that move monsters to the Spell & Trap Zone. In those situations, a monster can become an Equip Card or otherwise stop being a monster while remaining the same card. This can make the distinction between “this card” and “this monster” relevant.

The original poster explained that the question came up while designing a custom monster whose effects could function from both the Monster Zone and the Spell & Trap Zone.

Another commenter suggested looking at existing Magistus and Centur-Ion cards for examples of how Konami handles wording for cards that can exist in different locations or function in different ways.

One commenter summarized the distinction more casually by saying that the terms are usually interchangeable, although the Judge’s explanation shows that there are situations where the wording can matter.

3. Summary of the Reddit Answer

Term	General meaning discussed
“This card”	Refers to the card itself and can continue to apply even if it stops being a monster
“This monster”	Refers specifically to the card while it is a monster
Card moved from the Monster Zone to the Spell & Trap Zone	It can still be “this card,” but may no longer be “this monster”
Are the terms always interchangeable?	Usually similar in ordinary situations, but the distinction can matter in specific game states

The main distinction is therefore that “this card” follows the card, while “this monster” is tied to the card being a monster.

4. Conclusion

The Reddit discussion indicates that “this card” and “this monster” are not completely interchangeable.

In ordinary situations involving a monster that remains a monster, the distinction may have no practical effect. However, if the card changes its card type or moves somewhere such that it is no longer a monster, the wording can become important.

A card can still be “this card” after it stops being a monster, whereas it would no longer be “this monster” while it is not a monster.

The discussion is based on Reddit answers, including an answer from a commenter identifying as a Judge. The supplied discussion does not include a direct official Konami ruling specifically addressing this terminology, so this post documents the Reddit interpretation rather than presenting it as an independently verified official ruling.