Returning Activated Cards
When cards are activated, and a chain is formed, the cards activated in the chain are not sent to the Graveyard until the chain is completely resolved OR they are destroyed by a card effect in the middle of the chain (see "Chains, Activation, and Resolution").
However, once a Normal Spell Card, Quick-Play Spell Card, Normal Trap Card, or Counter-Trap Card has been activated (even though it has not resolved yet), the fact that the card will be sent to the Graveyard after the chain resolves has already been decided.
Because it has already been decided that the card will be destroyed, the card cannot be returned to the hand or Deck. This is similar to how Monster Cards that have been destroyed by Damage Calculation cannot be returned to the hand, even though they are not actually sent to the Graveyard until after effects are resolved.
- Example 1: "Giant Trunade" is activated. Because "Giant Trunade" has been activated, it is already decided that it will be sent to the Graveyard, so it does not return itself to the hand.
- Example 2: "Giant Trunade" is activated, and "Jar of Greed" is chained to it. Because "Jar of Greed" has been activated, it is already decided that it will be sent to the Graveyard, so it cannot be returned to the hand. (Any other cards will be returned to the hand, but "Jar of Greed" will not.)
- Example 3: "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" is activated targeting a face-down card. The card is "Jar of Greed" and the controller chains it to "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast". Because "Jar of Greed" has been activated, it is already decided that it will be sent to the Graveyard, so it cannot be returned to the Deck. (The effect of "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" disappears.)
Exception: Because "Swords of Revealing Light" is destroyed by its effect, rather than by the game mechanics, it can be returned to the hand or Deck before it is destroyed by its effect.
