Replay

Replay
Japanese (base text)	巻き戻し
Japanese (romanized)	Makimodoshi
English	Replay
Other names French: Replay German: Replay Italian: Replay Korean: 리플레이 Ripeullei Spanish: Repetición Traditional Chinese: 回朔 Huíhuò / Wui4 sok3

A Replay (Japanese: 巻き戻し Makimodoshi) is an event during the Battle Step in which the attacking player selects a new attack target after an attack has been declared.

Mechanics

Cause

A replay occurs if any of the following occur during the Battle Step after an attack has been declared.

• A monster is placed on or leaves the side of the field of the opponent of the attacking player (including changing control).
• A monster is attacking directly, but can no longer do so.

If the conditions for a replay are met during a Chain, the replay will occur after that Chain resolves.

Replays will not occur during the Damage Step. Even if monsters are placed on or removed from the opponent's side of the field during the Damage Step, the attack will continue without a replay.

Function

When a replay occurs, the attacking player must do one of the following.

• Choose an attack target (including the original attack target, if it is still a valid attack target).
• Choose to make a direct attack (if possible).
• Cancel the attack.

Choosing an attack target during a replay is not declaring an attack, so cards that can be activated in response to an attack declaration (such as "Mirror Force") cannot be activated during a replay. However, cards and effects that are activated in response to a monster being targeted for an attack (such as "Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth") can be activated.

If a monster declares an attack and a replay occurs, and it does not choose to continue the attack, the attacking monster is considered to have declared an attack that turn, but not to have attacked. Since it is considered to have declared an attack, it cannot declare another attack or change its battle position for the rest of that turn, and cards like "Chaos Sorcerer" cannot use effects that require that they not attack that turn. However, for the purposes of cards such as "Combination Attack", it is not considered to have attacked.

History

Prior to May 2006, in the TCG, if a replay occurred and the monster did not select a new attack target, that monster could still declare an attack at another point in that Battle Phase. This is now no longer the case, so if a monster chooses not to attack during a replay, it cannot attack for the rest of that Battle Phase.

Examples

Example 1

Player 1 controls no monsters.

1. Player 2 attacks Player 1 directly with "Dark Magician".
2. Player 1 responds to the attack with a Set "Scapegoat".

Since a monster was placed on Player 1's side of the field, a replay occurs. "Dark Magician" can no longer attack Player 1 directly, so Player 2 must choose either to attack a "Sheep Token" or not attack at all.

Example 2

1. Player 1 declares an attack with "Luster Dragon", choosing Player 2's "7 Colored Fish" as the attack target.
2. Player 2 responds to the attack with "A Rival Appears!", Summoning a "Nanobreaker" from their hand in Defense Position.

Since a monster was placed on Player 2's side of the field, a replay occurs. Player 1 can now either choose an attack target ("7 Colored Fish" or "Nanobreaker") or stop their attack.

Example 3

Player 1 controls a "Warrior Dai Grepher". Player 2 controls a "The Six Samurai - Yaichi" and a Set "Cunning of the Six Samurai".

1. Player 1 attacks Player 2's "The Six Samurai - Yaichi" with "Warrior Dai Grepher".
2. Player 2 responds to the attack with their Set "Cunning of the Six Samurai", Tributing their "The Six Samurai - Yaichi" to Special Summon "The Six Samurai - Zanji".

Even though the number of monsters on Player 2's side of the field has not changed overall, since a monster was placed on Player 2's side of the field and a monster left their side of the field, a replay occurs. Player 1 can now attack "The Six Samurai - Zanji" or stop their attack.

Example 4

Player 1 controls a "Red Archery Girl" and a Set "Call of the Haunted". Player 2 controls an Attack Position "Celtic Guardian". Player 1 has activated "Absolute End" this turn.

1. Player 2 declares a direct attack with "Celtic Guardian".
2. Player 1 responds to the attack with "Call of the Haunted", Summoning a "Illusionist Faceless Mage" from their Graveyard.

Since a monster was placed on Player 1's side of the field, a replay occurs, despite there being no change in the monsters that can be selected as an attack target. Player 2 can attack directly or stop their attack.

Example 5

Player 1 controls "Ghostrick Mansion" and a face-down Defense Position monster. Player 2 controls "Star Eater".

1. Player 2 attacks Player 1 directly with "Star Eater", due to the effect of "Ghostrick Mansion".
2. After the attack is declared, the effect of "Star Eater" is applied, making it unaffected by "Ghostrick Mansion", and thus unable to attack directly.

Since "Star Eater" can no longer attack directly, a replay occurs. When choosing an attack target during a replay, "Star Eater" is still unaffected by other card effects, so can target face-down Defense Position monsters, but cannot attack directly. "Star Eater" can now either target the face-down Defense Position monster or stop its attack.