Damage Step

Order of a Turn:


 * Draw Phase
 * Standby Phase
 * Main Phase 1
 * Battle Phase
 * Start Step
 * Battle Step
 * Damage Step
 * End Step
 * Main Phase 2
 * End Phase

During the Damage Step of the Battle Phase, the damage is calculated from the declared attack. If the defending monster is face-down, it is flipped face-up first during this Phase. If the defending monster has a Flip Effect, it is applied after Damage calculation, but still within the Damage Step. The Flip Effect does not affect monsters that have already been destroyed as a result of Damage Calculation. This includes the monster itself, so a flipped "Penguin Soldier" that was destroyed in battle cannot select itself as a target since it has already been destroyed.

Objection. Penguin Soldier can be returned to the owner's hand after being attacked by the opponent. The reason behind this is:

During the Battle Phase, there are 4 steps.

Step 1: The declaration of the attack. You can activate Sakaretsu Armour, Wide Spread Ruins etc.

Step 1.5: Chain/link ( Trap Jammer, Trap Stun etc.)

Step 2: Damage Step.

Step 3: Flip Step.

Step 3.5: Chain/link ( If a penguin soldier is being attacked, it gets flipped up but not yet destroyed. Penguin Soldier states that you can return two monster cards. The penguin soldier can return an opponents monster and itself. Therefore, the penguin soldier is returned to the owners hand before the Destruction Step)

Step 4: Destruction Step.

In the Damage Step, only certain cards and effects may be activated. These include:


 * Counter Trap Cards ("Solemn Judgment", "Dark Bribe").
 * Normal Trap Cards, Continuous Trap Cards, Quick-Play Spell Cards, and Quick Effect Monster Cards that alter the ATK and/or DEF of one or more monsters on the field ("Blast with Chain", "Rush Recklessly", "Castle Walls", "Reinforcements", "Shrink", "Honest"). The card must DIRECTLY affect ATK/DEF to be valid; you cannot activate Scapegoat during the Damage Step even if you control United We Stand, for example, because Scapegoat does not directly change the ATK/DEF on any monsters.
 * Mandatory Trigger Effects ("King Tiger Wanghu").
 * Flip Monster Effects (which are mandatory by nature) ("Cyber Jar").
 * Quick Effect Monster Cards that negate the activation of other cards or effects ("Herald of Perfection, "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8").
 * Any card whose text specifically says it may be activated during the Damage Step ("Nutrient Z", "Kuriboh").
 * Cards that do not meet the activation criteria, but whom Konami/UDE have stated may be activated in the Damage Step ("Null and Void").

Cards that Special Summon monsters when destroyed in battle, such as "Shining Angel", "Mystic Tomato" and "Pyramid Turtle" all Special Summon monsters during the Damage Step, and as such, "Torrential Tribute" and "Bottomless Trap Hole" cannot be used against them, since these cards cannot be activated in the Damage Step. For the same reasons, "Royal Decree" cannot be used against Trap Cards like "Skull Dice" in the Damage Step, since it does not alter ATK or DEF. The Flip Effects of Flip Effect Monsters such as "Cyber Jar" activate after Damage calculation if flipped up as a result of battle but is still within the Damage Step, so Royal Oppression cannot negate it.

"Spellbinding Circle" cannot be used in the Damage Step since it does not change the ATK or DEF of its target. However, "Shadow Spell" can be used. Although "Shadow Spell" has the same attack prevention effect as "Spellbinding Circle", it lowers its target's ATK by 700.

At the end of the Damage Step, the Monster Card(s) destroyed as a result of battle are sent to the Graveyard, unless a card effect specifies that they go elsewhere, such as when "Macro Cosmos" or "Dimensional Fissure" is active.

Also See

 * Breakdown of the Battle Phase