Priority
(Priority of Ignition Effects has been removed, while other mechanics involving priority have been restructured and fall under Fast Effect Timing.[1])
Priority (優先権 Yūsenken) is a term that refers to a player's right to be able to activate his/her card's effects as Chain Link 1. Priority does not allow players to automatically activate and resolve effects without a Chain, but simply assures a card's activation as Chain Link 1.
Priority determines who can activate a card or effect at any particular point in the game. Priority is a property that a player has, not that a card has. The turn player always starts with priority.
Ignition Effect priority was removed from the OCG on March 19, 2011, while it was removed from the TCG on April 25, 2012.
Passing priority
The player with priority can decline to activate their effect by stating "I pass priority".
While building a Chain, the opponent of the player whose effect was just activated automatically has priority to respond to that activation. The opponent of the turn player also automatically has priority when the turn player attempts to proceed to the next Step or Phase.
While during the Draw, Standby and End Phase the turn player still has priority, the opponent may often activate a card or effect without confirming that the turn player has not claimed their priority. To avoid disputes, it is etiquette to ask the turn player if they would like to play a card during a respective phase before doing anything (since declining to play a card results in passing their priority to the opponent).
Ignition Effect Priority
This is an outdated example and no longer represents how the game mechanic functions in the TCG or OCG.
- Before revision
The Ignition Effect of a monster can be activated during the Summon response window.
- After revision
The Ignition Effect of a monster cannot be activated during the Summon response window.
Example
Player A has a face-up "D.D. Warrior Lady" and a "Bottomless Trap Hole" that has been Set for at least one turn. It is currently Player B's turn.
Player B Special Summons "Chaos Sorcerer" with its Summoning procedure.
Player B, the turn player, has priority, so can activate the Ignition Effect of "Chaos Sorcerer". Player B does so, targeting "D.D. Warrior Lady". The effect of "Chaos Sorcerer" is now Chain Link 1. Player A then activates "Bottomless Trap Hole", since the Special Summon of "Chaos Sorcerer" was the most recent action to have occurred; "Bottomless Trap Hole" is now Chain Link 2.
The Chain now resolves in reverse order:
- Chain Link 2: "Bottomless Trap Hole" resolves. "Chaos Sorcerer" is destroyed, and banished.
- Chain Link 1: The effect of "Chaos Sorcerer" resolves. "D.D. Warrior Lady" is now banished.
