diff --git a/pandas/core/arrays/base.py b/pandas/core/arrays/base.py
index 97a764fa7dbe8..0e1c643d58596 100644
--- a/pandas/core/arrays/base.py
+++ b/pandas/core/arrays/base.py
@@ -5,6 +5,19 @@
    This is an experimental API and subject to breaking changes
    without warning.
 """
+# Some notes, just for implementors.
+#
+# * Avoid a `.values` attribute
+#   There are corners in pandas that assume assume array.values is an ndarray,
+#   and does ndarray things like ge the dtype. If you have a non-ndarray
+#   `.values` attribute, things may break. We're working to fix these.
+# * Reference the default implementations, but avoid using private methods.
+#   Some default implementations (e.g. `factorize`) use pandas' internal
+#   methods. If possible, avoid using those methods when overriding the default
+#   implementation. If that isn't possible, raise an issue to discuss adding
+#   those to the public API.
+
+
 import numpy as np
 
 from pandas.errors import AbstractMethodError
diff --git a/pandas/tests/extension/base/interface.py b/pandas/tests/extension/base/interface.py
index 2162552e9650d..8664cd311a859 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/extension/base/interface.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/extension/base/interface.py
@@ -50,3 +50,15 @@ def test_is_extension_array_dtype(self, data):
         assert is_extension_array_dtype(data.dtype)
         assert is_extension_array_dtype(pd.Series(data))
         assert isinstance(data.dtype, ExtensionDtype)
+
+    def test_no_values_attribute(self, data):
+        # GH-20735
+        # Currently, pandas has places where we accepts Union[ndarray, EA]
+        # but in practice expect an ndarray, since we get `data.values.dtype`.
+        # This warns users to avoid using a `.values` attribute that is not
+        # an ndarray-like
+        if hasattr(data, 'values') and not hasattr(data.values, 'dtype'):
+            msg = ("ExtensionArray contains a 'values' attribute that does "
+                   "not have a dtype attribute. This may cause issues in "
+                   "pandas' internals.")
+            raise ValueError(msg)
diff --git a/pandas/tests/extension/test_values.py b/pandas/tests/extension/test_values.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..754be455a6ed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pandas/tests/extension/test_values.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import pytest
+
+from pandas.tests.extension.base import BaseInterfaceTests
+from pandas.tests.extension.json.array import JSONArray
+
+
+class JSONArray2(JSONArray):
+    @property
+    def values(self):
+        return self.data
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def data():
+    return JSONArray2([{"A": [1, 2], "B": [3, 4]}])
+
+
+class TestBaseInterfaceTests(BaseInterfaceTests):
+    def test_no_values_attribute(self, data):
+        # GH-20735
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as m:
+            super(TestBaseInterfaceTests, self).test_no_values_attribute(data)
+        assert m.match("ExtensionArray contains")