Card Rulings:Inverse Universe

"Inverse Universe":

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TCG Rulings

• After "Inverse Universe" resolves, monsters whose ATK and DEF are calculated or modified because of their own individual effects have their ATK and DEF "frozen" at the switched values.
  • Examples:
  • The ATK and DEF of "Tragoedia" will not change even if the number of cards in your hand changes.
  • The ATK and DEF of "Gren Maju Da Eiza" will not change.
  • The ATK and DEF of "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" will not change.
  • The ATK of "Arcanite Magician" will not change, even if the number of Spell Counters does.

• If "Shrink" targets a monster that has been affected by "Inverse Universe" its ATK will be half of its original, printed ATK. After "Shrink" wears off, the monster's ATK becomes its original, printed ATK.

• If "Ojama Country" is switching the ATK and DEF of all monsters and "Inverse Universe" is played, the ATK and DEF values will be switched again. Even if "Ojama Country" leaves the field later, the values set by "Inverse Universe" will remain.

• Monsters affected by "Inverse Universe" have their ATK and DEF switched for as long as they are face-up on the field.

• You can activate "Inverse Universe" during the Damage Step, but not during damage calculation.

• If the ATK of a monster is being changed by an Equip Spell and "Inverse Universe" is activated, the ATK and DEF switch, but the Equip Spell does not reapply its effect to the new ATK. When the Equip Spell is destroyed, the ATK and DEF of the monster do not change. New Equip Spells will modify the new ATK.

Mentions in Other Rulings

• Pestilence: If Inverse Universe is applied to a monster equipped with Pestilence, the ATK and DEF switch and the monster’s DEF becomes 0. If Pestilence is equipped after Inverse Universe is applied, the monster’s ATK will be 0.

OCG Rulings

• "Inverse Universe" can also be activated during the Damage Step, but not during damage calculation or onwards.

• When "Inverse Universe" resolves, its effect replaces the monster's ATK and DEF values.
  • Example: There is one Spell Counter on "Breaker the Magical Warrior" (1900 ATK / 1000 DEF). After "Inverse Universe" resolves, "Breaker the Magical Warrior" will have 1000 ATK / 1900 DEF. Afterwards, the ATK of "Breaker the Magical Warrior" will remain at 1000 ATK / 1900 DEF, even if Spell Counters are removed from or added to "Breaker the Magical Warrior". If "Skill Drain" is later activated, then "Breaker the Magical Warrior" will still remain at 1000 ATK / 1900 DEF.
  • Example: "Elemental Hero Neos Alius" (1900 ATK / 1300 DEF) is equipped with "Axe of Despair" (+1000 ATK). After "Inverse Universe" resolves, "Elemental Hero Neos Alius" will have 1300 ATK / 2900 DEF. These values do not change if "Axe of Despair" is destroyed. Afterwards, if "Elemental Hero Neos Alius" is then equipped with "Black Pendant" (+500 ATK), then "Elemental Hero Neos Alius" will have 1800 ATK.

• The ATK and DEF which are replaced by the effect of "Inverse Universe" remain as long as the monster remains face-up on the field. If the monster is flipped face-down or is removed from the field, then its ATK and DEF return to their original amounts.

• If a monster has its ATK and DEF switched by "Ojama Country" and is then affected by "Inverse Universe", then its ATK and DEF are switched again. Afterwards, if "Ojama Country" is removed from the field or if there are no longer any face-up "Ojama" monsters on the field, then the ATK and DEF switched by "Inverse Universe" do not change.

Q&A Rulings

• Q: If there is a Link/Effect Monster on my opponent's field, such as "Decode Talker", can I activate "Inverse Universe"?

A: Since Link Monsters do not have DEF, the effect of "Inverse Universe" that switches the ATK and DEF of Effect Monsters on the field cannot be applied to them. If the only face-up Effect Monsters on the field are Link Monsters, "Inverse Universe" cannot be activated. Furthermore, if there are non-Link Effect Monsters on the field as well as Link/Effect Monsters, the effect of "Inverse Universe" will not apply to the Link Monsters, but applies normally to the other Effect Monsters.