Spell Speed

Not to be confused with Speed Spell, an anime- and video game-exclusive term.

Spell Speed
Japanese	スペルスピード
Japanese (romanized)	Superu Supīdo
English	Spell Speed
Other names French: Spell Speed German: Zaubergeschwindigkeit Italian: Spell Speed Korean: 스펠 스피드 Seupel Seupideu Portuguese: Velocidade de Magia Spanish: Velocidad de Hechizo Traditional Chinese: 咒文速度 Zhòuwén Sùdù / Zau3 man4 Cuk1 dou6

Spell Speed (Japanese: スペルスピード Superusupīdo) refers to how "fast" a card effect resolves after activation. Despite their name, they are not restricted to the effects of Spell Cards, but rather apply to any card effect that can activate. There are 3 Spell Speeds:

• Spell Speed 1
• Spell Speed 2
• Spell Speed 3

When a card effect activates on a Chain, only effects with an equal or greater Spell Speed can respond to it. However, Spell Speed 1 effects cannot be used in response to another Spell Speed 1 effect. The only time two Spell Speed 1 effects can exist on the same Chain (and the only time Spell Speed 1 effects can be anything higher than Chain Link 1) is if both effects activate at exactly the same time due to some external factor; see Simultaneous Effects Go On Chain for more explanation.

Summoning a monster and declaring an attack are not card effects and do not "activate", therefore they do not have a Spell Speed and do not start a Chain. If a card like "Bottomless Trap Hole" or "Mirror Force" is used in response to such an action, that card will be considered Chain Link 1.