Respond

A Quick Effect used in response to activation

To respond to an action is to activate card or effect "when" an action took place.

Responding can be divided into two category:

• Responding to an activation (action that start a Chain).
• Responding to an action that does not start a Chain.

If a card or effect can only be activated in response to the action that cannot be responded to, that card or effect misses the timing.

Responding to an activation

A card that will prevent the Set card from being activated in the same Chain

Whenever a card or effect activated, there is a window to respond to that activation in the same Chain. Any following activation is considered a respond to all previous activations with lower Chain Link. However, this is not considered as a countering to all activations. Countering effect can only be activated immediately in response to a certain activation like most of Counter Trap effect.

Responding to an action that does not start a Chain

Actions that do not start a Chain include any action other than activating card/effect, like Summoning a monster, drawing and declaring an attack.

By activating cards or using optional effects, actions without Spell Speed can only be responded to if it was the one causes the game state to change from "open" to "close", OR it was the last one to occur at the end of card resolving, and Chain (if cerated).

For example, If the "drawing" action occurred as Chain Link 2 or higher, unless the activation of all other cards and effects that would resolve after it are negated, that action cannot be responded to using card like "Appropriate". Also, if the action was caused by an effect that immediately "then" performed another action (e.g. "Soul Taker" destroying a monster), the first action cannot be responded to using card like "Chthonian Blast".

Actions that do not start a Chain can only be responded to, not Chained to. It is incorrect to say that an action that does not start a Chain is "Chained" to.

Example

It is currently Player A's Main Phase 1. Player A Normal Summons a monster with 1500 or more ATK. Since player A is the turn player, they have the opportunity to respond before their opponent can due to Fast Effect Timing.

• Chain Link 1: Player A activates "Mystical Space Typhoon" in response to the Normal Summon.
• Chain Link 2: Player B Chains "Bottomless Trap Hole", responding to the Summon.

Since Chains resolve backwards, the Chain would resolve as follows:

• Chain Link 2: Player B destroys and banishes the Summoned monster (if possible).
• Chain Link 1: Player A destroys "Mystical Space Typhoon's" target.