Number of Healing "Counts"

Well, Puppiy posted a little bit in his Labyrinth of Rules section about a month ago that the ruling for the multiple healing counts of [Holy Elf's Healing] (e. Gift of the Mystical Elf) has finally been nixed in the Japanese game. This means that, regardless of the number of Monsters on the Field, the healing count is only one big lump sum.

HOWEVER, two other cards remain to be multiple counts in the Japanese game:

[WHITE-UNIFORMED ANGEL] (e. NUMINOUS HEALER)
Activating this card to gain 1000 will do 500 damage with [Big Bang Girl] (e. Fire Princess)
If you have two [White-Uniformed Angel] in your Cemetery:
Gain 500
500 damage
Gain 500
500 damage
This ruling has not changed.

[LIFE ABSORBER] (e. LIFE ABSORPTION MACHINE [?])
If it's already been activated, activating [Magical Scientist]'s effect 3 times, 1000 x 3
During your next Standby Phase,
through the effect of [Life Absorber], you will gain 500 three seperate times, triggering the [Big Bang Girl] three times
This will do 500 [Big Bang Girl] damage times the number of costs that you paid
This ruling has not changed either.

In addition to that, [Cross Soul]'s (e. Soul Exchange) effect has ALSO changed to the ruling in the English game. In other words, you no longer have to "do" the sacrificing right after [Cross Soul] is played. However, there're still some unsure areas where and when the Monster can be sacrificed, as brought up by Puppiy -- only during the Main Phases? Until the end of the turn?

Multi-Triggers

Can I activate Breaker's effect during an opponent's turn?
Can I activate Tribe-Infecting Virus during an opponent's turn?
Can I activate Cannon Soldier's effect during an opponent's turn?
Can I activate Exiled Force's effect during an opponent's turn?

No! No! No! NO! NO!

Gang, there are VERY FEW Multi-Trigger effects in this game. Let's review what a Multi-Trigger Effect is.

A Multi-Trigger Effect is an effect that you can VOLUNTARILY activate during an opponent's turn. No, [Psycho Shocker] (e. Jinzo) is NOT a Multi-Trigger Effect -- it's a Permanent/Continuous Effect. [Mysterious Puppeteer] is NOT a Multi-Trigger Effect -- it's simply a Triggered Effect. [Man-Eating Bug] is NOT a Multi-Trigger effect -- it's a Reverse/Flip Effect.

What I mean by "voluntarily activate" is that you have the choice of activating it or not. Triggered and Reverse effects, like [...Puppeteer] and [...Bug], don't give you the choice -- they happen whether you like it or not. A Multi-Trigger Effect usually either directly states, or implies, that it can be used during an opponent's turn.

Though unofficial, here is a listed of nearly every Multi-Trigger in the game:

• Sanga, Hyuuga, Suuga (e. Sanga of the Thunder, Kazejin, Suijin). These cards state that their effects are used when attacked. Thus, they can be activated during an opponent's turn.
• Magic Absorber (e. Maryokutai): This effect states that it is used when an opponent plays a Magic card, so it can be used during an opponent's turn.
• Injection Angel Lilly (e. Injection Fairy Lilly): States that it is used during your Damage Step or an opponent's Damage Step, so it can be used during an opponent's turn.
• Swift Black Ninja (e. in the next English set): SPECIFICALLY states that it can be used during an opponent's turn.
• Kuribo (e. Kuriboh): It states that it is used during an opponent's Battle Phase, which is during an opponent's turn.
• Shabti's Charm (e. Charm of Shabti): Nothing much says that it really IS a Multi-Trigger, but it is one.
• Deathrook Demon (e. Desrook Archfiend): Used when a [Genocide King Demon] is destroyed.
• Gravekeeper Observer (e. Gravekeeper Watcher): States that it is used when an opponent plays an effect that discards cards from his or her hand.
• Dragon Warrior (e. Ryu Senshi): It states that it can negate a Normal Trap, so must be Spell Speed 2, and therefore able to be used during an opponent's turn.
• Black Paladin (e. Dark Paladin): It states that it can be used when a Magic card is played, and thus must be Spell Speed 2, and usable during an opponent's turn.

There are probably a few more, but those are the major ones.

All other effects can be grouped into Cost/Activated Effects (such as [Revolver Dragon] (e. Barrel Dragon), [Cannon Soldier] and [Exclusivity Virus] (e. Tribe-Infecting Virus), Reverse/Flip Effects (the ones that say "Reverse:" or "FLIP:"), Permanent/Continuous Effects (those ones that say "while this card is on the Field...) and Triggered Effects (the ones that say "When [such-and-such happens], do [this]...).

Priority

There are STILL a number of problems on Priority and how it relates to Monsters at the time of Summoning. When lurking around message boards, I see questions raised about Priority pop up on a regular basis. It's a lot more simple than people are thinking it is. The problem is, since people can't find it in the rulebook, they think it doesn't apply.

First of all, you're not going to learn EVERYTHING about this game from the rulebook. You're also not going to have every single item solved for you by Konami and/or Upper Deck. This is where unofficial sites like mine come in.

Second, it IS in the rulebook.

THE PRIORITY OF THE TURN PLAYER

During each Phase or Step, the right to activate first belongs to the Turn Player. This is called the [Priority] of the Turn Player.

The opposing player, while waiting for the Turn Player's Priority, cannot voluntarily activate Effects other than Triggered Effects and Reverse {e. Flip} Effects beforehand. [Exercising Priority to activate a card] and [Surrendering Priority] causes the right of Priority to switch to the opposing player. Before you end a Phase or Step, you must surrender Priority.

Using this in a duel, before you end a Phase or Step, you must declare that you are surrendering Priority, and allow your opponent to respond with cards. However, to make a Duel as smooth a game as possible, declaring the end of a Phase or Step is the same as surrendering Priority.

So, if the end of a Phase is declared, it is possible for the opposing player to state [Before ending, I will activate this card] and use a card, since he or she is exercising the right of Priority.

The Priority to activate cards belongs to the Turn Player After activating a card, or stating the end of a Step or Phase, Priority switches to the opposing player

Now, I see that many of you have been flipping through your English rulebooks to find where that passage is. But you're not going to find it.

"But you just said it was in the FRIGGIN' rulebook!" many of you are screaming.

Yes, I did. It's in the rulebook. The Konami "Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game Duel Monsters - Official Rulebook." Page 47.

Of course I completely neglected to tell you that it's from the JAPANESE rulebook, but the rulebook nonetheless. That's from KONAMI, people! The writers of all of the rules and rulings of Yugioh!

THIS IS THE REASON THAT YOU CAN'T "UP AND ACTIVATE" A CARD EFFECT DURING AN OPPONENT'S TURN WITHOUT YOUR OPPONENT DOING SOMETHING FIRST. That "something" is listed above: after activating a card, or stating the end of a Step or Phase.

So, how does this ALL relate to Monsters and Summoning? Read on.

Basically, there's an imaginary chart which gives the "steps" of what happens when a Monster is summoned. No, you're not going to find it in ANY rulebook, so don't bother looking. No, this chart isn't official. But it sure as HELL explains why certain things happen when summoning, and why Priority is so important to it.

Here's what happens:

A. Place the Monster from your hand on the Field (i.e. Normal Summon) (ALSO: Play the card or effect that is Special Summoning a Monster)

In this particular step, you either play the Monster from your hand (a Normal Summon), play the Monster that have Special Summon requirements (such as Dark Necrophia) or play a card effect that allows you to Special Summon a Monster). Since you are playing a card, Priority switches to your opponent for the next step.

A1. Your opponent has the option of playing effects to negate

If a Normal Summon, this is where cards like [Declaration of God] (e. Solemn Judgement) and [Ascending Horn] (e. Horn of Heaven) are played.

This is ALSO the reason why those two cards CANNOT be used on Special Summons that use an external card effect to play them (such as Last Will). Why? Because such Monsters are not Special Summon until the RESOLUTION of the effect that is Special Summoning them. Since Counter Traps must be used on the card that preceeds it, if there is no Monster that is on the Chain Block before it, it can't be used on it. The OFFICIAL rulings from Upper Deck state otherwise on this matter, so if you are playing the English game, you should abide by what has been stated by them.

If your opponent declines to negate and destroy such a card, you proceed to the next step, since Priority has NOW shifted back to the Turn Player. The opposing player has "surrendered" Priority, since he or she did not negate and destroy the card in question.

B. Resolve the Summon (Normal Summons are considered successfully summoned) / Resolve the card that is Special Summoning a Monster, placing the Monster on the Field.

The Monster successfully hits the Field. The imaginary little faerie on the table holds up a sign that says "Hey, people! This Monster just successfully hit the Field!" She will hold up that sign until everyong is done with their effects in this summon.

B1. Enable Permanent (e. Continuous) Effects
This is where the Permanent Effects of cards "turn on," such as [Psycho Shocker] (e. Jinzo) and [Lord of Dragons] (e. Lord of D.). You CANNOT Chain Permanent Effects. In the case of multiple effects, start resolving them with the Turn Player. Permanent Traps have Priority over [Psycho Shocker]. As a side note, since the effect of [Psycho Shocker] is turned on at this point, it's the reason why you can use [Solemn Judgement] and [Horn of Heaven] to negate the Normal Summon of [...Shocker] in the previous block.

Since no card was "played" in this step, Priority REMAINS with the Turn Player.

B2. Activate effects triggered by a successful summon
This is where those effects that state "When this card is successfully Normal Summoned..." (such as Breaker and Troop Commander/Marauding Captain) are activated, NOT resolved. This is a VERY important concept to remember, as it deals with Breaker and Priority.

Now this is ALSO VERY IMPORTANT! This is the time that exercise your right to Priority to use the effect of [Initiate Troops] (e. Exiled Force), [Cannon Soldier] and the like! You say at this point "I'm activating this card's effect!"

If an effect WAS activated during this Step, Priority DOES switch to the opposing player for the next step.

B3. Activate quick effects to respond to the summon
This is the final step, where cards that respond to summons, such as [Pit Trap] (e. Trap Hole) and [Tidal Wave] (e. Torrential Tribute) are to be activated. You could also activate Traps that AREN'T reserved for summons, such as [Destruction Ring] (e. Ring of Destruction). As another side note, since [...Shocker]'s effect was already turned one, this is the reason why you can't activate Trap cards at this point.

After this, simply resolve any effects that were activated in B2, and the faerie puts her sign down.

Gaaaaaaah!

Okay now, let's look at the main problem cards that people are having with Priority -- [Initiate Troops] (e. Exiled Force) and [Magic Warrior Breaker] (e. Breaker the Magic Warrior). We'll break it down using the chart above.

INITIATE TROOPS (e. EXILED FORCE)

A: Normal Summon [Initiate Troops] from your hand. Priority passes to the opposing player.

A1: Your opponent does not negate and destroy the summon. Priority passes back to the Turn Player.

B: [...Troops] is considered to be successfully Normal Summoned.

B1: [...Troops] doesn't have a Permanent Effect, so nothing is done here. However, if there is a bonus to Monsters (such as Gaia Power), it would be applied here.

B2: [...Troops] doesn't have a Triggered ability, but since Priority still resides with the Turn Player here, you can choose to activate [...Troops]'s effect now. If you do, remember that ALL costs for activating effects must be paid at the time of activation. Sacrificing itself is a cost to using [...Troops]'s effect, so it is removed from the Field and its effect is activated. Since an effect HAS been activated, Priority passes to your opponent.

B3: Your opponent can now react with cards, such as [Pit Trap], [Destruction Ring] and [Tidal Wave]. The problem with the former two is that they require a TARGET to be used upon. THIS IS THE REASON WHY YOU CAN'T HIT [...TROOPS] WITH [PIT TRAP] OR [DESTRUCTION RING]. Why? They need a target, and since [...Troops] is no longer on the Field (remember that it had to sacrifice itself to use its effect?), it is not a valid target. HOWEVER, [Tidal Wave] CAN be activated. Why? Because it doesn't require a target (it destroys ALL Monsters on the Field). Though it CAN be activated when a Monster is summoned, it still AFFECTS all Monsters on the Field, making it a non-targeted effect.

Resolve [...Troops]'s effect, destroying a Monster on the Field. The faerie then takes a rest from holding up her sign.

You can pretty much apply the [...Troops] example to other Cost Effect Monsters, such as [Cannon Soldier], [Exclusivity Virus] (e. Tribe-Infecting Virus) and even [Revolver Dragon] (e. Barrel Dragon).

MAGIC WARRIOR BREAKER (e. BREAKER THE MAGICAL WARRIOR)

A: Normal Summon [Breaker] from your hand. Priority passes to the opposing player.

A1: Your opponent does not negate and destroy the summon. Priority passes back to the Turn Player.

B: [Breaker] is considered to be successfully Normal Summoned.

B1: [Breaker] doesn't have a Permanent Effect, so nothing is done here.

B2: [Breaker] DOES have a Triggered ability, which states "When this card is successfully Normal Summoned, put 1 Magic counter on this card." This effect is activated NOW. IMPORTANT NOTE! Remember that "Activation" and "Resolution" are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. [Breaker] does NOT receive its Magic counter until its effect RESOLVES. Since it does not have a Magic counter until it resolves, you can't use Priority to destroy a Magic/Trap card on the Field. Besides, since [Breaker]'s effect is putting a Magic counter on itself is activated, Priority passes to the opposing player.

B3: Your opponent can now react with cards, such as [Pit Trap], [Destruction Ring] and [Tidal Wave]. Side note: Since [Breaker] does NOT have its Magic counter yet, the bonus for that Magic counter won't be included in any damage done by [Destruction Ring]. In other words, you would do only 1600, not 1900.

If [Breaker] is still on the Field, you resolve its effect, putting a Magic counter on it. If [Breaker] is no longer on the Field, no Magic counter can be placed on it and this effect fizzles.

Different Games

Well, we've all heard it at one time or another:

"There is no English game and Japanese game. There is only the Yugioh Trading Card Game.

I really wish that I could subscribe to that method of thinking. Though I am not official, I would have to go on record in saying that they are two different games, but very similar.

At the CORE, yes, they are almost the same game. They use the same basic rules, most rulings are the same, and the execution and setup are the same. In that sense, are they the "same" game? Yes.

Now we start to poke and prod out way through the minute differences within the two games.

It was only a short while ago when players of the English game were told that Quickplay Magic/Spell cards could be played from a player's hand during ANY Phase of his or her own turn. In addition, they could not be activated the turn that they were set. Before that, they were told that they could be activate the turn they were set. Of course, players of the Japanese game knew this for a while, which was a clear "rule" difference between the games. The problem was, even though the English players (at that earlier time) were told a completely different rule than the Japanese version, the official Japanese rulebook told otherwise.

The thing that is really confusing me at this time is the relationship with "[Do this] during your Standby Phase or destroy this card" text on a variety of cards in the English game and the Japanese game. Players of the Japanese game know that this kind of text is NOT an effect, and thus CANNOT BE NEGATED. Most of the players of the English game are aquainted with other kinds of costs -- Discarding a card to use [Tribute To the Doomed], Tributing a Monster for a high-level summon or [Horn of Heaven], paying Life Points for [Solemn Judgement], etc. You get the drift. Those little things are COSTS to use the cards, and it is a WELL established fact that when you pay a cost for a card, even if the effect is negated, you do NOT get the cost back. In other words, even if the EFFECT of the card is negated, the COST is NOT. Therefore, Costs are NOT Effects.

This area of this article deals mainly with the English rulings that have been coming out of the pipeline about how [Skill Drain] does negate that kind of text on Monsters in the English game.