Forum:90% of Answers Here - Most Common FAQ's

ATTENTION! PLEASE READ THIS SECTION FIRST (DON’T JUST TL;DR)

This page contains a list of many FAQ’s for rulings. Please do not edit this page; instead, post suggestions/comments/questions in this forum, and don’t forget to sign your posts with four tildes (~). If a point made is unclear, you can ask about it there and I will do my best to clarify it.

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Before you make a new thread, PLEASE check the card’s Ruling Page. You can link to the page from the card’s article or go directly to it by searching for “Card Rulings:” followed by the name of the card without a space. For example, Card Rulings:Jinzo. Note that all of these rulings ARE official, as they are cited directly from judges or Konami’s website. If a ruling is uncited, you may start a new thread to confirm it, but please let us know that the ruling has no citation. As before, you can use Ctrl+F to search long rulings pages for your specific problem.

Other Pages to Reference

The Official Rule Book

Breakdown of the Battle Phase

Priority

Missing the Timing

Simultaneous Effects Go On Chain

Negating Summoning

Some Monster and Trap cards include the effect of negating Summons. There is often confusion among newer players about what summons can be negated. This section will explain the differences between the types of summoning and why some summons cannot be negated.

Common cards that negate Summons: Thunder King Rai-Oh, Royal Oppression, Solemn Judgment, Solemn Warning

Summons That Can Be Negated

Any Summon of a monster that does not start a Chain can be negated. This includes all Normal and Flip Summons, as well as 'Contact Fusions', Synchro Summons and Inherent Special Summons. Examples of Inherent Special Summons include Cyber Dragon and Machina Fortress. A monster that has its summon negated in this way is treated as not having been properly Summoned, and is also considered to have never hit the field. This means that effects such as Stardust Dragon and Jinzo are never applied. It also means that Semi-Nomi monsters can’t be resummoned through other effects.

Note: Semi-Nomi monsters, when first successfully summoned, can be resummoned through other effects such as Monster Reborn. Nomi monsters cannot. The two are distinguished within their respective phrases: "Must first be Special Summoned by..." for Semi-Nomi and "Must be Special Summoned by..." for Nomi.

Summons That Cannot Be Negated

If a monster would be summoned through a resolving card effect such as Monster Reborn, then the Summon cannot be negated by cards like Thunder King Rai-Oh. This includes any type of Fusion Summon, because the Fusion Monster is Summoned by the effect of Polymerization (or similar). The Summon cannot be negated because the monster is Summoned at the effect’s resolution, and the timing is wrong. However, you can negate the effect that would Summon the monster, as well as activate effects that respond to Summons, such as Bottomless Trap Hole. If a monster is summoned during the Damage Step, such as Gorz the Emissary of Darkness, Tragoedia or monsters summoned by Searchers, then you cannot negate that summon, only the effect that would summon it, and only with a Counter Trap. Royal Oppression cannot be used during the Damage Step.

Targeting

For the sake of avoiding the word target, I shall refer to affected cards as "victims".

Another source of frequent confusion is Targeting. There is often debate on whether a card Targets or not.

Cards that are commonly debated as to Targeting: Fissure, Smashing Ground

Effects that Target

As a rule, Equip Cards Target, and Costs do not Target. Generally, if a card includes the term "select", "choose", "designate", "pick", or a similar term, it targets. This also usually applies to cards that designate "1 monster", but not always. For a counterexample, Smashing Ground affects one monster, but does not Target because its victim is chosen automatically. (This is still considered true even when you choose the victim in the event of a tie.) Counters themselves do not Target, but the effects that place them usually do, if you have to select a card to place them on. For example, A-Counters do not Target, but the effect of "A" Cell Breeding Device does. Traps that affect one monster, such as Trap Hole or Magic Cylinder, do Target, because they are activated when certain conditions are met and Target their victim.

Effects that DO NOT TARGET

Cards affecting the Hand, Deck, or Extra Deck, such as Gigaplant, Reinforcement of the Army, or Success Probability 0% do not Target. Negation Effects, such as Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, or Solemn Judgment do not Target. Cards that have or can have multiple victims, such as Bottomless Trap Hole or Saber Slash, do not Target because their victims are chosen automatically (like with Smashing Ground) or at the effect's resolution. In the example of Saber Slash, the number of face-up X-Sabers may change between activation and resolution, so victims are selected at resolution. Cards that have other effects prior to a Targeting effect, like Magical Dimension, are not considered to Target at all. Cards that select monsters at resolution, like Creature Swap, do not Target. Monster effects that activate during Battle, such as D.D. Warrior Lady, Ally of Justice Catastor, Drillroid or Honest, do not Target. This is because they only affect monsters that fulfill the condition, which in these cases is battling. Cards like Ancient Fairy Dragon, although poorly worded, do not Target because Ancient Fairy Dragon will destroy all Field Spells (one active and one set), not just one.

When Targeting Cards are Chained To

If a card that Targets is chained to, and the result is that the Targeted monster is no longer eligible, the Targeting card resolves without effect. This often applies to monsters needing to be face-up. For example, if Brain Control targets a monster, and that monster is flipped face-down by Book of Moon, then it is no longer eligible (Brain Control requires the monster to be face-up) and Brain Control resolves without effect. The reason Smashing Ground does not Target is that if the original victim is flipped face-down, Smashing Ground will automatically redirect to a new monster, because its victim was never declared.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cards such as Bottomless Trap Hole and Black Whirlwind that are based on ATK and DEF resolve without effect if the monster in question is flipped face-down, because face-down monsters are considered to have unknown ATK and DEF (even though the players know).

Destruction vs. Negation

This is perhaps the most common source of confusion among newer players. This section will discuss the difference between "negate" and "destroy", as well as clarify which cards are also negated when they are destroyed.

Destruction refers to destroying a card and moving it from the field to the Graveyard. This does not necessarily cancel the card’s effect. It does in some cases, but not others.

Any monster that states "while this card is face-up on the field" will have its effect canceled when it is destroyed. Any Equip, Field, or Continuous Spells (Spell Speed 1), along with Continuous Traps (Spell Speed 2) are negated when they are destroyed, because they are all treated as containing the phrase “while this card is face-up on the field”, The effect will be canceled if an effect is chained to its activation that would destroy the card.

Any monster that lacks this phrase, along with Normal, Quick-Play, and Ritual Spells, and Normal (Spell Speed 2) and Counter Traps (Spell Speed 3), are NOT canceled when they are destroyed. The effect is only canceled if an effect chains to it specifically states that it "negates" the effect.

One of the most common mistakes among newer players is the belief that Chaining Mystical Space Typhoon (Spell Speed 2) to any Spell or Trap card will negate the effect. It will not.

Sending vs. Destruction/Discarding

See also: The below section on Macro Cosmos/Dimensional Fissure

Another issue with destruction is that people often confuse sending cards to the Graveyard and destroying cards. If a card SENDS cards from the field to the Graveyard, it cannot be chained to by effects such as My Body as a Shield and Stardust Dragon, because it does not DESTROY them. Read the card(s) in question carefully to see if they destroy or send.

There is also a difference between sending cards from the Hand to the Graveyard and discarding. The difference lies in whether the effect can be fulfilled. If Macro Cosmos or Dimensional Fissure is active, you cannot activate effects that require you to SEND cards from your hand to the Graveyard as a cost, like Quickdraw Synchron. You can still activate effects that require you to discard, the discarded card will just be removed from play instead. Effects that send cards to the Graveyard at resolution also still take effect; the affected cards will be removed from play.

Cards such as Dark World and Fabled monsters also rely on this difference. They will not activate if they are only sent, but will activate when discarded. Again, read the card in question carefully to determine whether it sends or discards cards.

Cost vs. Effect

A cost is different from an effect. Costs are always paid, whether the card in question resolves properly or not.

"Losing", "Halving", and Life Point costs are not treated as damage. They do not trigger the effect of cards like Gellenduo and they cannot be reversed by the effect of cards like Rainbow Life, or redirected with cards like Barrel Behind the Door.

Similarly, discarding as a cost is not the same as discarding for an effect. This is a key difference between most Dark World and Fabled monsters. Dark Worlds need to be discarded as an effect, which is not covered by costs such as Lightning Vortex. Fabled, on the other hand, only need to be discarded, and will activate if discarded for a cost.

Activation and Resolution

Card effects always activate and resolve in the same place, regardless of where the card ends up. For example, even if Lonefire Blossom tributes itself for its effect, it will still resolve on the field, and as such, will be negated by cards like Forbidden Chalice. Unless a card explicitly states otherwise, it does not need to remain face-up on the field for its effect to resolve.

Equip, Continuous, and Field Spells, as well as Continuous Traps, must remain face-up on the field for their effects to resolve. If destroyed by a card such as Mystical Space Typhoon, they will not resolve properly. They do not carry the same "phantom" effect as other cards that do not need to remain face-up on the field..

Commonly Asked About Cards

Jinzo

See also: Card Rulings:Jinzo, the above section on negating Summons, the below section on Skill Drain

Jinzo’s summon can be negated with a Counter Trap like Solemn Judgment or Forced Back, because it is considered to have never hit the field, so its effect is not yet applied.

If Jinzo is on the field, Skill Drain cannot be activated. Skill Drain cannot be activated in response to Jinzo’s summoning. Skill Drain can be chained to an effect that would summon Jinzo. If Skill Drain is active before Jinzo is summoned, Jinzo will not negate Traps.

Dragunity Aklys

See also: Card Rulings:Dragunity Aklys, Missing the Timing

If a monster Equipped with Dragunity Aklys is removed from the field and Aklys is sent to the Graveyard, you can NOT destroy a card on the field. Since the monster is no longer present, Aklys was not Equipped to a monster when it was destroyed; it was instead destroyed by game mechanics.

If Aklys is destroyed by a card that does not destroy the monster it is Equipped to, you can activate its effect.

Cards that respond to summons, such as Bottomless Trap Hole and Torrential Tribute, cannot be activated in response to a monster summoned by Aklys' effect. They will miss the timing because the last thing to happen is Aklys being Equipped, not the summon.

If Book of Moon is chained to the effect of Aklys that summons a monster, the monster will still be summoned, but Aklys will not be Equipped. Additionally, cards such as Bottomless Trap Hole can be activated in response to the summon.

Stardust Dragon

See also: Card Rulings:Stardust Dragon, The above section on negating Summons, The below section on Skill Drain

Stardust Dragon can be resummoned with an effect, including its own, ONLY if it was Successfully Synchro Summoned at least once.

If it was Special Summoned by Starlight Road, it cannot be resummoned by any effect as Starlight Road does not Synchro Summon the monster.

If it had its Synchro Summon negated, it cannot be resummoned by any effect.

Stardust Dragon cannot negate the effect of a card if it is unknown whether the card will destroy a monster or not. For example, Snipe Hunter may or may not destroy its target, so Stardust Dragon cannot negate it.

If Stardust Dragon would be destroyed during the End Phase, you can Tribute it for its effect and then resummon it during the same End Phase.

Book of Moon

See also: Card Rulings:Book of Moon

Most monsters do not need to be face-up on the field for their effects to resolve, so chaining Book of Moon to an Ignition or Trigger effect will generally not negate it.

Book of Moon will reset the following:

• The ATK of monsters whose ATK is set when they are Summoned, such as Evil Hero Dark Gaia and Beast King Barbaros.
• Counters, including Spell Counters, A-Counters, and other specific types of counters.
• Gemini Monsters that have been summoned again to gain their effects (they will again be treated as Normal Monsters).
• "Once per turn" conditions, such as Chaos Sorcerer or Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn. It is possible to use their effects again or attack with Chaos Sorcerer.

You can Flip Summon a monster that has been flipped face-down by Book of Moon, as long as the monster was not Summoned on the same turn, did not declare an attack, or had not had its Battle Position manually changed that turn.

Card effects dependent on ATK, such as Bottomless Trap Hole and Black Whirlwind will resolve without effect if Book of Moon is Chained to the monster in question, because the ATK will be treated as unknown at that point.

Forbidden Chalice and Debris Dragon/Junk Synchron

See also: Card Rulings:Forbidden Chalice, Card Rulings:Debris Dragon, Card Rulings:Junk Synchron

The negation effects of Debris Dragon and Junk Synchron work exactly like the negation effect of Forbidden Chalice. If Debris Dragon is removed from the field, the monster's effect will still be negated, since Debris Dragon does not say it must be face-up on the field to continue to negate. However, if the affected monster is flipped face-down and then face-up again, or otherwise removed from the field and replayed, it will regain its effect.

Forbidden Chalice will not negate effects that activate and resolve in the Graveyard, like Sangan.

Forbidden Chalice CAN negate the effect of a monster that Tributes itself as a cost. This is because Forbidden Chalice negates effects that activate and resolve on the field, even if the monster is no longer face-up or on the field. For example, even if Exiled Force is in the Graveyard, its effect is considered to resolve on the field, so it is negated by Forbidden Chalice (but not Skill Drain).

Forbidden Chalice cannot be chained to a monster effect where the monster is removed from the field as a cost, because it is no longer an eligible Target.

A Gemini Monster will be treated as an Effect Monster because the effect treating it as a Normal Monster is negated.

Conditions, including restrictions such as the ones found on Quickdraw Synchron and Ronintoadin, as well as Maintenance Costs, are not negated by Forbidden Chalice. They are still in effect when the monster is targeted by Forbidden Chalice.

Mystical Space Typhoon

See also: Card Rulings:Mystical Space Typhoon

As mentioned above, negate and destroy are two different things. Mystical Space Typhoon does not negate cards from resolving. If it is used on a Continuous Spell or a Continuous Trap Card, Mystical Space Typhoon still does not negate its effect, the Continuous card merely resolves without effect because of its properties as a Continuous Card.

Spell and Trap cards cannot affect themselves. Mystical Space Typhoon (and similar) cannot destroy itself, Giant Trunade does not return itself to the hand, etc.

Divine Wrath

See also: Card Rulings:Divine Wrath, The above section on Negate vs. Destroy

Divine Wrath can still be used to negate an effect, even if it cannot destroy the monster. For example, Divine Wrath can be used against Red Nova Dragon.

Divine Wrath can negate an effect that activates (starts a Chain) at any time from anywhere, including the Hand, Graveyard, Extra Deck (in this case however, the monster is not destroyed), and Removed From Play Zone, and during the Damage Step, but not from the Main Deck.

Macro Cosmos/Dimensional Fissure

See also: Card Rulings:Macro Cosmos, Card Rulings:Dimensional Fissure, The above section on Sending vs. Destruction/Discarding

Any effect with a cost requiring sending cards to the Graveyard cannot be activated. Sending cards to the Graveyard is different from discarding. However, effects that send cards to the Graveyard at resolution, like Iron Chain Dragon, still work; the cards are instead removed form play.

If you have Gravekeeper's Servant active, your opponent cannot attack because sending a card to the Graveyard is a cost of attacking.

If Imperial Iron Wall is also active, cards are sent to the Graveyard.

Skill Drain

See also: Card Rulings:Skill Drain

Skill Drain has no effect on monsters that Tribute themselves as a cost, because Skill Drain only negates the effect of the monster if the actual card is still face-up on the field during resolution of the effect.

Gemini Monsters on the field are treated as Effect Monsters because their effects treating them as Normal Monsters is negated.

Monsters that would self-destruct by its effect, like Elemental Hero Captain Gold, do not self-destruct while Skill Drain is active; if Skill Drain is removed from the field, the monster will self-destruct.

Conditions, including restrictions such as the ones found on Quickdraw Synchron and Ronintoadin, as well as Maintenance Costs, are not negated by Skill Drain. They are still in effect when Skill Drain is active.

If Jinzo is on the field, Skill Drain cannot be activated. Skill Drain cannot be activated in response to Jinzo’s summoning. Skill Drain can be chained to an effect that would summon Jinzo. If Skill Drain is active before Jinzo is summoned, Jinzo will not negate Traps.