L3-02 SPIRIT MIRROR Normal Trap Change the target of the effect of a Magic card that targets 1 player to another player. ULTRA RARE

This particular card of the week is another question-answer review, namely for Spirit Mirror. I have had a number of people ask what this card can and can't do, so it's not a card of the week review.

Spirit Mirror was introduced in the comic and animated series, when Yugi and Kaiba confronted Light Mask and Dark Mask.

So, what CAN and what CAN'T Spirit Mirror do? Basically, if there is a Magic card that specifically targets your opponent, or self-references the player that is playing it, Spirit Mirror can be used to change the "target" of that Magic card. Most people use this for Jar of Greed and Angel's Gift, but there are some other cards that can be re-directed.

Puppiy's Japanese Expert Rules Page gives a sample list of a number of the cards that Spirit Mirror can alter:

Some other items to note:

• [Sebek's Blessing] is used during the Damage Step, [Spirit Mirror can't be activated on it.
• Can't be used against [Thieving Smoke Bomb]. This is because it's an Equipment card, and doesn't actually cause a discard until its effect is triggered.
• Can't be used on cards that target both players: [Hellflame], [Blessed Rain], [Rich Goblin], [Stealing Goblin], [Hand obliteration], [Exchange], [Ante Battle], [Pulled to the Grave], [Designator of the Twilight Zone], [Final Countdown To the End], [Reversal Quiz], [Friendship -- YU-JYO].
• Can't be used on cards that target a card in a deck: [Master of Fusion], [Calling Reinforcements], [Toon Index], [Ancient Telescope], [Distressing Selection], [Terra Forming], [Dark Tutor], [Time Capsule], [Guessing Game]
• Can't be used against [Choosing Machine], or cards that "place" cards from a hand into a Cemetery or Special Summon from a hand.
• Can't be used against Permanent Magic cards that are on the Field that are activated while on the Field. [Inspection], [Wave Motion Cannon], [Mirage of Nightmares], [Reward of Rebirth], [Treasure of the Outer World]

Spirit Mirror is activated when the card is activated. If there is a Life Point cost, the player that played the Magic card is STILL the one that pays the cost -- it doesn't switch to the player that uses the Mirror.

Cards like Thunder Bolt and Harpy's Feather Sweep don't target a player -- it affects all of your opponent's cards on the Field.

Odd ruling: if your opponent plays an Angel's Gift, and you use Spirit Mirror, if you discard [Ibii], [Electric Snake] or [Cat-Mimic King], their effects will activate, since it's still your opponent's Angel's Gift that is causing you to discard.

Edo's Rating: No rating. This card is too much of a pain in the ass. Maybe a 2.