Battle Step
| Battle Step
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese |
バトルステップ | ||
| Japanese (romanized) |
Batorusuteppu | ||
| English |
Battle Step | ||
| |||
The Battle Step (Japanese: バトルステップ Batorusuteppu) is one of the four steps of the Battle Phase. The Battle Step begins immediately after the Start Step, regardless of whether the player can or wants to declare an attack. The Battle Step is also entered immediately upon conclusion of the Damage Step.
During an open game state in the Battle Step, the turn player can either declare an attack or proceed to the End Step.
Declaring an attack
If the turn player wishes to declare an attack, they must choose 1 monster to attack with, and an attack target or declare the attack to be a direct attack. If the opponent controls monsters, the player cannot declare a direct attack unless a card effect allows them to.
Upon declaring an attack, the attack declaration window opens (this is still during the Battle Step). During this timing, the turn player has priority to activate a card or effect. If the turn player does not activate a card or effect, the opponent now has the opportunity to do so. If either player activates a card or effect, after that chain resolves, another chain can be activated in response to the previous chain (this chain occurs during the Battle Step, but is not in response to the attack). During any timing after attack declaration in the Battle Step, if neither player activates a card or effect, the Battle Step ends and play proceeds to the Damage Step.
After attack declaration during the Battle Step, if the attack target is no longer on the opponent's side of the field, or if another monster is placed on the opponent's side of the field, a replay occurs. During a replay, the the turn player can either choose another attack target (or make the attack a direct attack), or decide not to attack at all. Choosing a new attack target in a replay is not considered to be declaring an attack, so cards and effects that must be activated in response to an attack declaration cannot be activated. Even if no attack target is chosen (and the attack is not made a direct attack), the monster is still considered to have declared an attack, so cannot declare another attack or change its battle position in Main Phase 2.
Examples
Example 1
During the Battle Step, the turn player declares an attack with a monster and does not activate a card or effect. The opponent activates their Set "Sakuretsu Armor" in response to the attack. The turn player then chains "Trap Jammer". Both players decide not to chain any cards or effects to "Trap Jammer", so the chain resolves. "Trap Jammer" negates the activation of and destroys "Sakuretsu Armor".
The opponent has another copy of "Sakuretsu Armor" Set, but they cannot activate it because any activation would be in response to the resolution of "Trap Jammer", not the attack declaration. It is no longer possible to respond to the attack declaration.
Example 2
During the Battle Step, the turn player declares an attack with a monster and does not activate a card or effect. The opponent activates their Set "Sakuretsu Armor" in response to the attack. The turn player then chains "Trap Jammer". Both players decide not to chain any cards or effects to "Trap Jammer", so the chain resolves. "Trap Jammer" negates the activation of and destroys "Sakuretsu Armor".
The opponent has a Set "Book of Moon", and wants to activate it. They can activate it in response to the resolution of "Trap Jammer", because "Book of Moon" does not need to be activated in response to an attack declaration and it is still the Battle Step.
Example 3
During the Battle Step, the turn player declares an attack with a monster and does not activate a card or effect. The opponent also does not activate a card or effect. Since both players passed, play immediately proceeds to the Damage Step. The turn player then wants to activate "Magician's Circle", but they cannot, because any activation would be in response to the start of the Damage Step, not the attack declaration.
If the turn player wanted to ensure they could activate "Magician's Circle", they needed to respond to the attack declaration at their first opportunity.
Example 4
During the Battle Step, the turn player declares an attack with a monster and activates "Magician's Circle" in response. The opponent chains "Seven Tools of the Bandit". Both players decide not to chain any cards or effects to "Seven Tools of the Bandit", so the chain resolves. "Seven Tools of the Bandit" negates the activation of and destroys "Magician's Circle".
After this chain resolves, the turn player activates "Enemy Controller" (using its first effect) and targets the attack target for this effect. The opponent chains "Raigeki Break", also targeting the attack target. Both players decide not to chain any cards or effects to "Raigeki Break", so the chain resolves. "Raigeki Break" destroys its target, then "Enemy Controller" resolves without effect because it no longer has a target.
Because the attack target is no longer on the field during the Battle Step, a replay occurs. The turn player must choose a new attack target (or make the attack a direct attack), or decide not to attack at all.
