Forum:Red dragon archfiend VS "Destroyed by battle"

Alright, as usual I came across a weird situation and I had a Ruling quoted to me that I do not really understand. Concerning "Red Dragon Archfiend", when it attacks a Defense-position monster, it destroys all the opponent's Defense-position monsters with its effect. This I understand. My question instead is why the OCG ruling says that the monster that was attacked is destroyed by that same effect.

Card Rulings:Red Dragon Archfiend: "When "Red Dragon Archfiend" attacks and destroys a Defense Position "Giant Rat", "Red Dragon Archfiend"'s effect destroys "Giant Rat", so "Giant Rat"'s effect is not activated.[2]" (OCG Ruling)

What I understand about the Damage Step (aside the fact that it is VERY easy to misunderstand) is that there are multiple Substeps. Coincidentally, Breakdown of the Battle Phase is an excellent guide to this. As far as I understand, the monsters are destroyed by battle at the end of the Damage Calculation. This relates to Substep 4. Substep 5 deals with effects of monsters that activate immediately after the Damage Calculation and Substep 6 regards effects like FLIP effects. Substep 7 is the time where the monster is sent to the Graveyard and therefore is the time where effects of monsters "destroyed by battle (and sent to the graveyard)" activate. This explains why FLIP effects can not be used on monsters that are destroyed by that battle. Because the monster is already destroyed, it is just in transition to the Graveyard. (Otherwise, I would just return my "Penguin Soldier" over and over and it would be far overpowered.)

What I do not understand is why, if the monster is destroyed when I understand it is (at the end of the 4th Substep), "Red Dragon Archfiend" has its effect destroy the monster. Would not that effect be part of the Substep 5? Would it not be unable to affect the monster because it is already "Destroyed by Battle"? Why does it prevent the effects of monsters like "Giant Rat"?


 * Note that I am a player of the TCG. As such, for reference of the OCG for the accuracy of understanding the Ruling, The monster is considered destroyed during the OCG Substep 3, Effects of monsters like "Red Dragon Archfiend" and FLIP monsters occurs as Substep 4, and "Destroyed by Battle" effects (and similar time effects) are Substep 5.

Regardless of OCG or TCG, the monster is deemed "Destroyed by Battle" prior to the effect activating. This is why I do not understand the OCG Ruling. Is anyone able to explain this for me?-- LordGeovanni - ( Talk To Me ) *Kupo* 09:58, April 10, 2014 (UTC)