User:Falzar FZ/Misc

Intro

 * This page is designed to be a reference page; with the overuse of id tags so that specific sections/lines/sentences can be directly linked to. For example, where necessary, I could give a simple answer at Forum:Yu-Gi-Oh! Ruling Queries, followed by a link to a specific section for those who want to read about it more specifically and/or anything similar to it.
 * This page is designed to contain frequently asked questions, frequently asked scenarios, questions/scenarios which can apply to many other similar cards/scenarios, interesting facts and figures and to explain a large portion of game mechanics which is not in the rule book but can be obtained by cross referencing multiple sources.
 * This page is not official; but it is comprised and based on observations of official rulings, translations of official OCG rulings (such as from the Konami OCG FAQ), WC11, etc.
 * I cannot guarantee that this page is completely error free; but even Konami makes the occasional typo, even after double/triple checking; but I will generally re-read the paragraph whenever I link to it.

Stuff
Best title ever :P


 * Ctrl+F works wonders.
 * Be sure to read the Rulebook.
 * Be sure to check the Card Rulings pages here as well. (Yes, they are trustworthy as long as you know how to use them properly)
 * Common Yu-Gi-Oh! terms can be found at Category:Gameplay and Category:Gaming Terms.
 * The rest are probably here:


 * A tip to using it effectively is to only search with minimal key terms, and add "Ruling Queries" (including the quotes) to limit your search only to the Ruling Query Forum.
 * e.g. "Stardust" "Bottomless" "Ruling Queries"

Game Mechanics

 * Send ≠ Discard - Sending "Goldd" with "Hand Destruction" will not Trigger its effect.
 * Discard = Send - Discarding "Ojamagic" with "Card Destruction" will Trigger its effect.


 * Send ≠ Destroy - Sending a card to the Graveyard with "Dark End Dragon" cannot be negated by "Stardust Dragon"
 * Destroy = Send - Destroying "Sangan" with "Dark Hole" will Trigger its effect.


 * Send ≠ Tribute - If you used "Soul Exchange", you cannot Send the opponent's monster to the Graveyard to Special Summon "Arcana Force EX - The Dark Ruler"
 * Tribute = Send - If you Tribute "Sangan" for a Tribute Summon, it was sent from the field to the Graveyard, so "Sangan's" effect will activate.


 * Cost ≠ Effect - Discarding "Goldd" for the cost of "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" will not Trigger its effect.
 * Effect ≠ Cost


 * Condition ≠ Effect - "Skill Drain" cannot negate True Conditions
 * Effect ≠ Condition - If "Exodia the Forbidden One" is declared with "Prohibition", when a player has all five pieces of "Exodia" in their hand, they win the Duel. This is a win condition and cannot be prevented with "Prohibition".


 * Negate ≠ Destroy - If "Light and Darkness Dragon" negates "Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress", her whole effect will be negated, but she will not be destroyed. "Lyla" can activate her effect again.
 * Destroy ≠ Negate - If you chain "Mystical Space Typhoon" to "Dark Hole", it will not negate it. "Dark Hole" will still destroy all monsters on the field. If you chain "Mystical Space Typhoon" to a Continuous Spell/Trap Card, "Mystical Space Typhoon" will not negate it, the Continuous Card will just resolve without effect only because Continuous Cards must remain face-up on the field to properly resolve, per Game Mechanics.


 * Lose LPs ≠ Effect Damage - "The Immortal of Thunder"/"Jirai Gumo" will still make a player lose LPs if "Prime Material Dragon"/"Rainbow Life" is active; and "Barrel Behind the Door"/"Spell of Pain" cannot be activated against them.


 * Paying Life Points as a Cost ≠ Effect Damage - You will still lose Life Points after activating "Solemn Warning"/Solemn Judgment" even if "Prime Material Dragon" was on the field.


 * Draw = Add - This is why "Thunder King Rai-Oh" had to say "except by drawing them", in order to get the effect right. If "Blackwing - Breeze the Zephyr" was drawn by a card effect, then you can Special Summon it. Or you could just read "Droll & Lock Bird"
 * Add ≠ Draw - If "Protector of the Sanctuary" is on your side of the field, your opponent cannot use "Pot of Greed", but they can use "Sangan".


 * Level ≠ Rank - "Advance Draw" cannot be used on Xyz Monsters regardless of their Rank.
 * Rank ≠ Level - Xyz Monsters will not be affected by "Gravity Bind" regardless of their Rank.

Summons

 * Summon ≠ Special Summon - If a player Normal Summons/Flip Summons "Gene-Warped Warwolf", "Thunder King Rai-Oh's" effect cannot be used to Negate the Summon.
 * Special Summon = Summon - If you Special Summon "Cyber Dragon", "Torrential Tribute" can be activated.


 * Tribute Summon/Tribute Set = Normal Summon/Set - If you Tribute Summon "Caius", you cannot Normal Summon again in the same turn.
 * Normal Summon/Set = Tribute Summon/Tribute Set - If you Tribute Summon "Caius", "Trap Hole" can be used against it.
 * Normal Summon/Set ≠ Tribute Summon/Tribute Set - If you Normal Summoned "Caius" without a Tribute (by "Star Blast"), "Caius'" effect cannot be activated because it was not Normal Summoned with a Tribute.


 * Flip Summon ≠ Normal Summon - "Black Whirlwind" will not Trigger if you Flip Summon a "Blackwing" monster.
 * Normal Summon ≠ Flip Summon - If you Flip Summon "Morphing Jar", you can still Normal Summon in the same turn; and vice-versa.


 * Special Summon ≠ Synchro Summon - If you Special Summon, "Stardust Dragon" with "Starlight Road", it cannot be revived because it was not Properly Synchro Summoned.
 * Synchro Summon = Special Summon - If you Synchro Summon, you can activate "Solemn Warning" to negate the Special Summon.


 * Return ≠ Summon - If you Return a monster with "Future Visions"/"D.D. Sprite"/"Paradox Fusion", cards such as "Torrential Tribute"/"Bottomless Trap Hole" cannot be used.


 * Special Summon face-down = Special Summon = Summon - "Torrential Tribute" can be activated after "The Shallow Grave" resolves.


 * Ok, I think you get the idea, so here's the Hierarchy of Summons/Sets:
 * Summon
 * Normal Summon
 * Tribute Summon
 * Gemini Summon
 * Flip Summon
 * Special Summon (always in face-up ATK/DEF mode; unless stated otherwise)
 * Ritual Summon
 * Fusion Summon
 * Contact Fusion
 * Synchro Summon
 * Xyz Summon
 * Special Summon face-down (this one is also considered to be a Set) (and vice-versa; e.g. "Space Time Police" has 2 Trigger Effects. On the 2nd Trigger Effect, if the Banished card was a monster, you can use "Royal Oppression" on it as it is treated as an effect that Special Summons in face-down Defense Position)
 * Set
 * Tribute Set
 * Return

Summon Negation & Negating Effects that Special Summon

 * If a monster's Summon was Negated, then it's effects are never applied.
 * You can use "Solemn Judgment" to Negate the Normal Summon of "Jinzo", since its Summon was Negated, its effect never applies.
 * If you used "Solemn Judgment" to Negate the Normal Summon of "Marauding Captain", then it is not considered to be Normal Summoned, so its effect to Special Summon another monster never even activates.
 * If you used "Solemn Judgment" to Negate the Synchro Summon of "Black Rose Dragon", then it is not considered to be Synchro Summoned, so its effect to Nuke the field cannot activate.
 * If you Negate the Synchro Summon of a Synchro Monster, then "Tuningware"/"Doppelwarrior" isn't considered to be sent to the Graveyard for any purpose, so its effect does not activate.
 * If you Negate the Tribute Summon of a Monster where the Tributed monster was "Zolga", then "Zolga" isn't considered to be sent to the Graveyard for any purpose, so its effect does not activate.
 * If you used "Solemn Judgment" to Negate the Normal Summon, then the monster is not considered to be destroyed on the field. So "Sangan" will not Trigger, but "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai" and "Black Brutdrago" will.

Summon Negation vs. Negating Effects that Special Summon

 * In general:
 * If the Summon must happen in response to something, then it's usually a Trigger Effect. (e.g. "Gorz")
 * If the monster can Special Summon itself ONLY from the Graveyard, then it's usually an Ignition Effect (e.g. "Plaguespreader Zombie")
 * If the monster's text specifies that the effect activates, then it's usually an Ignition Effect (e.g. "Ally Genex Birdman")
 * If the monster can be Special Summoned outside of the Main Phase, then it's usually a Trigger or Ignition Effect (e.g. "Treeborn Frog")
 * If the effect doesn't fall into any of the above categories, then it's usually an Inherent Special Summon. ("The Tricky" doesn't fall into categories 1-4, so it's an Inherent Special Summon.)


 * "Solemn Judgment"/"Horn of Heaven"/"Thunder King Rai-Oh"


 * These only negate the Game Mechanic known as an Inherent Special Summon; they do NOT negate card effects. Unless stated otherwise on the card, they can also negate Flip Summons and Normal Summons.
 * Inherent Special Summons are Special Summons that are carried out through a Summoning Condition or a Game Mechanic that Special Summons monsters (e.g. Synchro Summon, Xyz Summon, 'Contact Fusions'). These Special Summons do not activate an effect and thus, do not start or use a chain.
 * Inherent Summons through Summoning Conditions include cards such as "Cyber Dragon", "The Tricky", "Trap Eater", "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos" and "Dark Armed Dragon".
 * As stated above, these CANNOT negate card effects. So it CANNOT negate:
 * Cards that Special Summons after resolving its effect, e.g. Ritual Spell Cards, "Polymerization", "Miracle Fusion", "Gorz", "Tragoedia", "Giant Rat", "Pyramid Turtle", "Monster Reborn", "Call of the Haunted", etc.
 * They cannot 'Negate the Summon' of these cards because the Special Summons is considered to be already Successful after resolving its effect, so the time window for negating the Summon has been closed.
 * (note that "Solemn Judgment" can stop cards like "Monster Reborn" only because "Solemn Judgment" can negate the activation of Spell and Trap cards as well; not just Special Summons)


 * "Solemn Warning"/"Royal Oppression"


 * Like it says on the cards, these can negate both Inherent Summons and as well as "Effects that Special Summon"
 * The can negate anything that the above cards ("Solemn Judgment"/"Horn of Heaven"/"Thunder King Rai-Oh") card negate; and as well as card effects that Special Summon.
 * Because of this, these can also negate the cards that Special Summons after resolving its effect.
 * (note that "Solemn Warning" can stop "Giant Rat"/"Gorz" because "Solemn Warning" is a Counter Trap, so it can be used in the Damage Step; whereas "Royal Oppression" cannot stop "Giant Rat" only because "Royal Oppression" cannot be used in the Damage Step)

Nomi and Semi-Nomi

 * A Nomi monster is a monster which contains the line: "This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by... "
 * Examples of Nomi monsters include: "Armed Dragon LV10", "Doom Dozer", "Dark Armed Dragon", "Rainbow Dark Dragon", "Tech Genus Halberd Cannon‎‎" and "Shooting Quasar Dragon".
 * Special Summoning of these cards can only be done while the card is in the owner's hand and it can only be Special Summoned to your own side of the field; unless specifically stated otherwise in card text.
 * These cards cannot be Special Summoned by "Monster Reborn" or "D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation" regardless on whether it was properly Special Summoned before or not.


 * A Semi-Nomi monster is a monster which contains the line: "This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by..." and (by default) any Ritual/Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Monsters are also considered to be Semi-Nomi.
 * Examples of Semi-Nomi monsters include: "Chaos Sorcerer", "Gigantes", "Divine Grace - Northwemko", "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus", "Cyber End Dragon", "Stardust Dragon" and "Number 39: Utopia".
 * Semi-Nomi monsters can be Special Summoned by "Monster Reborn" or "D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation", but only if they have been Properly/Successfully Summoned by their condition first. By a Successful Summon, I mean a Summon which was not Negated, and by Properly Summoned, I mean:
 * "Chaos Sorcerer" and "Gigantes" must have been Successfully Special Summoned from the hand at least once in order to be revived.
 * "Divine Grace - Northwemko" must have been Successfully Ritual Summoned at least once in order to be revived.
 * "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" must have been Successfully Special Summoned ('Contact Fused') from the Extra Deck at least once in order to be revived.
 * "Cyber End Dragon" must have been Successfully Fusion Summoned from the Extra Deck at least once in order to be revived.
 * "Stardust Dragon" must have been Successfully Synchro Summoned from the Extra Deck at least once in order to be revived.
 * "Number 39: Utopia" must have been Successfully Xyz Summoned from the Extra Deck at least once in order to be revived.
 * In the case of monsters like "Chaos Sorcerer", "Gigantes" and "Divine Grace - Northwemko", the Inherent Special Summoning of these cards can only be done while the card is in the owner's hand and it can only be Special Summoned to your own side of the field; unless specifically stated otherwise in card text.
 * In the case of monsters like "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus", "Cyber End Dragon", "Stardust Dragon" and "Number 39: Utopia", the Inherent Special Summoning of these cards can only be done while the card is in the owner's Extra Deck and it can only be Special Summoned to your own side of the field; unless specifically stated otherwise in card text.
 * If a Semi-Nomi monster was Properly/Successfully Summoned, then it was returned to the hand, Deck or Extra Deck, it's 'Properly/Successfully Summoned Status' is reset, so if it was later sent to the Graveyard or Banished Zone, it cannot be revived unless it was Properly/Successfully Summoned again.

Gemini Summoning

 * A Gemini Summon is a form of a Normal Summon, so you can't Normal Summon/Set on the same turn before or after Gemini Summoning.
 * Since it is a form of a Normal Summon "Torrential Tribute"/"Bottomless Trap Hole" may be used after a Gemini Summon.
 * If you're Gemini Summoning a Level 5+ Gemini Monster, then you don't offer Tributes, since you're not Tribute Summoning it.
 * If a Gemini Monster is in face-up defense position and you Gemini Summon it, it will (and must) remain in face-up defense position.
 * If you have a Defense Position Gemini Monster, you can change the battle position to Attack Position, then Gemini Summon it. But you cannot change the battle position if you Gemini Summon it first.
 * If you have a Gemini Monster that was Set in a previous turn, you can Flip Summon it, then Gemini Summon it.

How to perform it

 * People tend to point at the monster, and say that they are Gemini Summoning it.
 * The monster isn't removed from the field, and you cannot change where it is on the Monster Card Zone.

vs. Equips, Conditions, Counters, etc.
'Gemini Summoning' a Gemini monster will NOT:
 * Treat it as a different monster.
 * Force any equip cards to lose their target and be destroyed. (Also, If "Birthright" is removed from the field, the Gemini is still also destroyed.)
 * Remove any conditions applied to that monster. (e.g. "Swing of Memories" will still destroy the monster at the End Phase).
 * Remove any counters on it.

Xyz Monsters/Summoning/Materials

 * Similar to Fusion/Synchro Summons, an Xyz Summon is a type of Special Summon, and an Xyz Monster is considered to be Semi-Nomi, thus it cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard or Banished Zone unless it was properly Xyz Summoned first. If they were to be Special Summoned, the Xyz Materials are not placed under them again.
 * If Semi-Nomi monsters such as "Chaos Sorcerer"/"The Dark Creator" are Properly Special Summoned through their own effect, and then they are used as Xyz Materials for a Xyz Monster, once they are sent to the Graveyard, can they be Special Summoned by the effect of "Monster Reborn"


 * Similar to Fusion/Synchro Summons, as long as you have the Materials to do so, you can perform as many Special Summons as you want. Unlike Normal Summoning only once per turn, there is no limit.


 * Similar to Synchro Summons, you cannot use a face-down monster as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon. You can only use face-up monsters.
 * Similar to Synchro Summons, if you control 5 monsters, you can perform an Xyz Summon.
 * Similar to Synchro Summons, when you perform an Xyz Summon, the Battle Position of the Materials are irrelevant.
 * After an Xyz Summon, you place the Xyz Materials face-up and vertically under the Xyz Monster, and you place the Xyz Monster in face-up Attack Position or face-up Defense Position on top of the pile.
 * The Xyz Materials will remain face-up vertical regardless of the Xyz Monster's own Battle Position.
 * Furthermore, the Xyz Materials are Public knowledge.


 * If an effect requires you to Detach an Xyz Material from an Xyz Monster, there is no specific order on which one to Detach first, the controller of the Xyz Monster gets to choose which one to Detach.
 * When an Xyz Monster is Successfully Xyz Summoned, the player can choose any order to pile up the Xyz Materials. However, once this order is chosen, it cannot be modified.


 * Unlike Counters, if an Xyz Monster is flipped face-down, the Xyz Materials attached are not sent to the Graveyard.
 * If an Xyz Monster is flipped face-down by "Book of Moon", the Xyz Materials remain vertical and face-up. Xyz Materials will never be face-down, and will always remain vertical.


 * An Xyz Monster's Rank is not its Level.


 * Xyz Monsters do not have a Level. Therefore, they cannot be used for Synchro, Ritual, or Xyz Summons, and any effects that would refer to the Level of a monster, such as those of "Gravity Bind", "Level Limit - Area B", and even "Burden of the Mighty" cannot be applied to an Xyz Monster under any circumstances.
 * Since Xyz Monsters do not have Levels, "Cloning"/"Scanner"/"Give and Take" cannot be used on them at all.
 * Cards such as "Harmonic Waves"("Surging Resonance")/"Synchro Boost"/"Demotion" cannot be used on Xyz Monsters. If the only monster on the field is an Xyz Monster, those cards cannot be activated.
 * Since Xyz Monsters have no Level, they do not fall under the category of "Level 2 or lower" monsters. Therefore, if the only monsters you control are "Dewdark of the Ice Barrier" and an Xyz Monster, "Dewdark of the Ice Barrier" cannot use its effect to attack directly.


 * You cannot use Token Monsters for an Xyz Summon. This is because Tokens can only exist while they are on the field. Xyz Materials are not considered to be on the field, so Tokens cannot be used.
 * You can use monsters which cannot be Tributed (e.g. "Fox Fire"/"Summoner Monk") for an Xyz Summon.
 * You can use monsters which cannot be Fusion Material Monsters (e.g. "Gladiator Beast Tegale") for an Xyz Summon.
 * You can use monsters which cannot be Synchro Material Monsters (e.g. "Gagaga Magician") for an Xyz Summon.
 * You can use Trap Monsters for an Xyz Summon. In this case, you can use the Spell/Trap Zone that the Trap Monster originally occupied, the moment it becomes an Xyz Material.


 * When an Xyz Monster is removed from the field, the Xyz Materials are considered to be sent to the Graveyard simultaneously.
 * If you use "Dimensional Prison"/"Compulsory Evacuation Device"/"Solemn Judgment" on an Xyz Monster, the Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard.
 * If you negate an Xyz Summon with "Solemn Warning"/"Solemn Judgment", the monster used are sent to the Graveyard as Xyz Materials; they are not treated as monsters.


 * When you Xyz Summon, the Materials are not considered have been removed from the field.


 * You can use a monster which was revived through "Call of the Haunted" for an Xyz Summon. In this case, "Call of Haunted" will not be destroyed and remain face-up on the field, because the monster was not destroyed.
 * You can use a monster which was revived through "Graceful Revival"/"Miracle Fertilizer" for an Xyz Summon. In this case, "Graceful Revival"/"Miracle Fertilizer" will not be destroyed because the monster was not removed from the field.
 * If you used "Doom Shaman's" effect to Special Summon a Fiend-Type monster, then you use "Doom Shaman" for an Xyz Summon, the Fiend-Type monster will not be destroyed because "Doom Shaman" was not removed from the field. If "Doom Shaman" is later sent to the Graveyard, the Fiend-Type monster will still not be destroyed, because it detached from "Doom Shaman" the moment "Doom Shaman" became an Xyz Material and that "Doom Shaman" was not removed from the field.


 * Xyz Materials are not considered to be 'on the field'.


 * If you used the effect of "Plaguespreader Zombie"/"Genex Ally Birdman" to Special Summon itself, then you use "Plaguespreader Zombie"/"Genex Ally Birdman" for an Xyz Summon, when you activate an Xyz Monster's effect and detach an Xyz Material, "Plaguespreader Zombie"/"Genex Ally Birdman" will be sent to the Graveyard and will not be Banished, because Xyz Materials are not considered to be 'on the field'.
 * If you used "Elemental Hero Absolute Zero"/"Reborn Tengu"/"Sangan" for an Xyz Summon, "Elemental Hero Absolute Zero"/"Reborn Tengu" cannot activate its effect because it is not considered to have left the field. If it is detached from the Xyz Monster as an Xyz Material, "Elemental Hero Absolute Zero"/"Reborn Tengu"/"Sangan" still cannot activate its effect because it is not considered to be 'on the field'.
 * If you used "Vylon Stella"/"Vylon Sphere" for an Xyz Summon, "Vylon Stella"/"Vylon Sphere" cannot activate its effect because it is not considered to have left the field. If it is detached from the Xyz Monster as an Xyz Material, it still cannot activate its effect because it is not considered to be 'on the field' so it is not considered to be sent from the Monster Card Zone either.
 * If "Tongue Twister" was Tribute Summoned, and then used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Monster. When it is sent to the Graveyard, its effect will not activate.
 * If "D.D. Survivor" was used as an Xyz Material for an Xyz Monster and then Detached for the activation of an effect while "Macro Cosmos" was active, "D.D. Survivor" will not activate because it was not "face-up on your side of the Field". If it was "D.D. Scout Plane", then it will activate because it only cares about being Banished, unlike "D.D. Survivor", it does not care that it was not on the field.
 * If you only have an "Archfiend" as an Xyz Material, if you activate "Falling Down", it will destroy itself because there are no "Archfiends" 'on the field'.
 * If you only have one "Rai-Jin" and it is an Xyz Material, you can Summon another copy of "Rai-Jin" because the previous copy is not 'on the field'. The same applies to all other cards which contain the line "There can only be 1 face-up " " on the field." or "You can only control 1 " " monster."
 * You cannot use "Cyber Dragon"/Machine-type Xyz Materials for the Special Summon of "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon" because Xyz Materials are not considered to be 'on the field'.
 * Xyz Materials are not considered to be 'on the field', so "Secret Barrel" will not count them.
 * If you used a "Spear Cretin" that had been flipped for an Xyz Summon, you cannot activate "Spear Cretin's" effect when it is sent to the Graveyard because it forgets that it was flipped the moment "Spear Cretin" became an Xyz Material.
 * Similarly, when Trap Monster Trap Card is activated and "Trap Reclamation" is chained. If that Trap Monster is used as Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon, when that Trap Monster were to be sent to the Graveyard later on, it will not be returned to the hand by "Trap Reclamation's" effect.


 * When an Xyz Monster is destroyed by "Blasting Fuse"/"Black Rose Dragon"/"Judgment Dragon", the Xyz Materials are considered to be sent to the Graveyard, not destroyed.
 * If you used "Light and Darkness Dragon" for an Xyz Summon, when the Xyz Monster is destroyed, the Xyz Materials are considered to be sent to the Graveyard, not destroyed, so "Light and Darkness Dragon" cannot activate its effect.
 * If you used "Dandylion" for an Xyz Summon, when the Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard, "Dandylion" can activate its effect because it does not care if it was a monster, it does not care if it was on the field, it only cares that it was sent to the Graveyard.


 * When you activate an Xyz Monster's effect and detach an Xyz Material, the Xyz Material is sent to the Graveyard.
 * If "Banisher of the Radiance"/"Macro Cosmos" is on the field, the Xyz Material will be Banished.
 * If "Dimensional Fissure" is on the field, the Xyz Material is sent to the Graveyard. This is because Xyz Material are not treated as monsters.


 * If an Xyz Monster is destroyed while it has Xyz Materials.
 * If "Banisher of the Radiance"/"Macro Cosmos" is on the field, the Xyz Monster and the Xyz Materials will be Banished.
 * If "Dimensional Fissure" is on the field, the Xyz Monster is Banished, but the Xyz Materials will be sent to the Graveyard. This is because Xyz Material are not treated as monsters.


 * If you used "Dragunity Phalanx" for an Xyz Summon, you cannot activate Dragunity Phalanx's effect, as becoming an Xyz Material is not the same as becoming an Equip Card, and Xyz Materials do not have effects.
 * You cannot use "The King of Divine Punishment, Dark Highlander's" effect on an Xyz monster which does not have any Equip Spell Cards. If it did have Equip Spell Cards equipped to it, only the Equip Spell cards will be destroyed, the Xyz Materials will not be destroyed because they are not Equip Spell Cards.


 * A monster name is declared by "Prohibition". If that monster is Special Summoned to the field by "Monster Reborn", the prohibited monster cannot be used as a Xyz Material for a Xyz Monster. The same applies to Synchro Summons and Fusion Summons.


 * While "Rivalry of Warlords" is active, if you control 2 face-up Warrior-Type monsters, you can only choose to Xyz Summon a Warrior-Type Xyz Monster. The same applies to Tribute Summons, Synchro Summons and Fusion Summons.


 * If an Xyz Material of an Xyz Monster is Detached and sent to the Graveyard as a cost for a Card Effect, "Skull Invitation"/"Coffin Seller" will inflict damage.


 * A "Dandylion" equipped with "Mist Body" battled with "Armed Sea Hunter" and had its effects negated. Later, that "Dandylion" was used as a Xyz Material for a Xyz Summon and became a Xyz Material. When that "Dandylion" is sent to the Graveyard, it can activate its effect and it will not be negated.


 * If an Xyz Monster is returned to the Extra Deck by "Compulsory Evacuation Device", the Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard (the Xyz Materials are not returned to the hand).


 * If an Xyz Monster is Banished temporarily by "Interdimensional Matter Transporter", the Xyz Materials are sent to the Graveyard. When the Xyz Monster Returns to the field, the Xyz Materials will remain in the Graveyard.


 * If the control of an Xyz Monster is changed (e.g. "Mind Control"/"Creature Swap"), the Xyz Materials switch fields as well and remain under the Xyz Monster.
 * If the an Xyz Monster changes its Monster Card Zone (e.g. "Senet Switch"), the Xyz Materials are moved as well and remain under the Xyz Monster.


 * While "Skill Drain" is active, it is possible to Xyz Summon an Xyz Monster. The Xyz Monster will have its effects negated, but you still place the Xyz Materials under it.

Ritual Monster Conditions

 * You can Special Summon Ritual Monsters from your hand (e.g. "Ritual Foregone"), but they cannot be revived from the Graveyard or Banished Zone because they were not Properly Ritual Summoned.


 * "This card can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card..."
 * See also: Ritual Summoning Conditions.

Fusion Monster Conditions

 * "This card cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon."
 * "Cyber-Stein" cannot Special Summon it.
 * You can use Fusion Substitute Monsters.
 * See also: Fusion Summoning Conditions.


 * "A Fusion Summon of this card can only be conducted with the above Fusion Material Monsters."
 * "Cyber-Stein" can Special Summon it.
 * You cannot use Fusion Substitute Monsters.
 * See also: Fusion Summoning Conditions.


 * You can use "The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion" to Special Summon (with Light - Hex's Effect) "Cyber Twin Dragon" and "Cyber End Dragon".
 * You cannot use "The Light - Hex-Sealed Fusion" to Fusion Summon (with Power Bond) "Cyber Twin Dragon" and "Cyber End Dragon".


 * "(You do not use "Polymerization")"
 * "Polymerization" cannot Fusion Summon it.
 * "Cyber-Stein" cannot Special Summon it.
 * You cannot use Fusion Substitute Monsters.
 * Must be Special Summoned from the Extra Deck by the Condition written in its text.

Ignoring the Summoning Conditions

 * "Ignoring the Summoning Conditions"
 * The hand/Deck are different from the Graveyard/Banished Zone.
 * Nomi Monsters cannot be revived even by 'ignoring their Summon Conditions', if it has not been Properly Special Summoned by the Summoning Condition written in its own text first.
 * Nomi Monsters can be Special Summoned from the hand/Deck, regardless, but note that this is not a Proper Special Summon, so if the monster is later sent to the Graveyard, it cannot be revived at all.


 * "Rainbow Gravity" cannot Special Summon a "Rainbow Dragon"/"Rainbow Dark Dragon" in the Graveyard that has not been Properly Special Summoned.
 * "Rainbow Gravity" can Special Summon a "Rainbow Dragon"/"Rainbow Dark Dragon" in the Deck, regardless.


 * "Level Modulation" cannot Special Summon a "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8"/"Armed Dragon LV7"/"Silent Swordsman LV7"/"Silent Magician LV8"/"Winged Kuriboh LV10" in the Graveyard, that has not been Properly Special Summoned.
 * "Level Up!" can Special Summon a "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8"/"Armed Dragon LV7"/"Silent Swordsman LV7"/"Silent Magician LV8"/"Winged Kuriboh LV10" in the hand/Deck, regardless.


 * "Assault Revival" can only Special Summon an "/Assault Mode" monster that was Properly Special Summoned in the first place, and was then sent to the Graveyard. It cannot Special Summon an /Assault Mode monster that was sent directly to the Graveyard from the hand/Deck.


 * "Dark Flat Top" can only Special Summon a "Flying Fortress SKY FIRE" that was Properly Special Summoned in the first place, and was then sent to the Graveyard. It cannot Special Summon a "Flying Fortress SKY FIRE" that was sent directly to the Graveyard from the Extra Deck.


 * "Spell Gear" can Special Summon the "Ancient Gear Golems" from the hand and Deck, regardless.
 * "Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem" can Special Summon an "Ancient Gear Golem" from the Graveyard, regardless, because "Ancient Gear Golem" is not a Nomi monster and has no Special Summoning Condition.

Token Monsters



 * See Token Monster and Card Rulings:Token Monsters.

Activate

 * When you activate a card; if the card has a Cost, you must pay the Cost at that time; and if the effect Targets, you select the Targets at that time as well. Only now can the opponent respond to this.
 * e.g. You activate "Monster Reborn", since its effect Targets, you select the Target at that time. Then your opponent can choose if they want to activate something in response to that; such as "Solemn Warning". During resolution, "Solemn Warning" resolves first, then "Monster Reborn" does not resolve since its activation was negated.
 * e.g. You activate "Monster Reborn", you select the Target, in this example, a "Red Dragon Archfiend" in your opponent's Graveyard. Your opponent can then chain "Call of the Haunted" in response to this and also selects that "Red Dragon Archfiend" as the Target. During resolution, "Call of the Haunted" resolves first and "Red Dragon Archfiend" is Special Summoned, then "Monster Reborn" resolves without effect.

Targetting

 * A very good guide and a list can be found at The Big Grand List of Things that Target.


 * As a general rule:


 * Equips: Target
 * Costs: Do not target
 * Effects that does things to the hand, Deck or Extra Deck do not target. So "Gigaplant", "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon", "Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier", "Star Blast", "Charge of the Light Brigade", "Foolish Burial" do not target at all.
 * Counter Trap Cards: Do not target (except for "Negate Attack" which targets the attacking monster, "Intercept" which targets the Tribute Summoned monster, and "Gemini Counter" which targets 1 face-up Gemini Monster you control).


 * Cards that are often mistaken:


 * Counters themselves do not target, but the Effect's of the cards do if you need to select which monster to put the Counter on (an example for A-Counters can be found here).
 * Activation Negation effects do not target. This includes "Tytannial, Princess of Camellias", "Stardust Dragon", "Solemn Judgment", "Prime Material Dragon", "Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En".
 * The traps which affect 1 monster generally targets. This includes "Draining Shield", "Sakuretsu Armor", "Trap Hole" and "Magic Cylinder". This is because these are mistranslated, the OCG card says the monster is targetted.
 * "Bottomless Trap Hole": Does not target. "Destroy and remove from play the monster(s) ."
 * "Necro Gardna": Does not Target. You don't really select the monster your opponent controls.
 * Cards which destroy 'up to' or 'equal to' a number of other cards do not target, as the cards to be destroyed are selected on resolution of the effect. This includes "Saber Slash", "Flip Flop Frog", "Fortune Lady Wind".
 * Cards like "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole", "Ally of Justice Catastor", "D.D. Warrior Lady" and "Drillroid" do not target.
 * "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" and "Honest" do not target.
 * "Smashing Ground": does not target. You don't choose the monster being destroyed.
 * "Magical Dimension": The whole effect does not target, including the destroy 1 monster part. "Tribute 1 monster and Special Summon 1 Spellcaster-Type monster from your hand. Then, you can destroy 1 monster on the field."
 * "Patrician of Darkness": Although it says "selects the targets", the effect does not target. It's a Continuous Effect, not a Trigger Effect, and you're selecting the attack target, not the target of an effect.
 * "Inferno Reckless Summon": Does not Target. You don't really select anything.
 * "Ancient Fairy Dragon": The effect to destroy a Field Spell does not target. If there are 2 Field Spell Cards on the field (remember they can be set) the effect of "Ancient Fairy Dragon" will destroy both of them, so you don't choose anything. Yes, badly worded effect, I know, but that was from official rulings.
 * "Creature Swap": Does not target. The monsters are selected during resolution of the effect. " Each player selects 1 monster they control..."
 * "Future Visions": The first effect apparently targets. "When a monster is Normal Summoned, remove from play that monster."

Continuous/Lingering Negation Effects

 * Card effects ALWAYS activate and resolve in the EXACT SAME place, regardless of where the card ends up. The actual card does not have anything to do with where the effect resolves.
 * If an effect activates on the field, it will always resolve on the field, even if it was Tributed as a cost, like in the case of "Exiled Force", "Lonefire Blossom" and "Mystic Piper".
 * "Honest's" effect activates in the hand and resolves in the hand, even though it was Sent to the Graveyard as a cost to activate its effect.
 * "Skill Drain" has no effect on monsters that Tribute themselves as a cost, because "Skill Drain" only negates the effect of the monster if the actual card is still "face-up on the field" during resolution of the effect.
 * "Forbidden Chalice"/"Debris Dragon"/"Musto, Priest of Gusto" will not negate effects that activate in the Graveyard, such as "Sangan"/"Dandylion" because their effects activate and resolve in the Graveyard.
 * "Debris Dragon" will negate "Lonefire Blossom" because its effect activates and resolves on the field. If "Forbidden Chalice"/"Musto, Priest of Gusto" is used on "Exiled Force", then in a new chain, "Exiled Force" is activated, "Exiled Force" will be negated for the same reason.


 * Although it is unrelated to this, "Black Rose Dragon's" effect to destroy all cards on the field will be negated by "Skill Drain". "Black Rose Dragon's" effect to destroy all cards on the field does not have a cost, "Black Rose Dragon" will be face-up on the field during resolution of its effect, so it will be negated by "Skill Drain".
 * However, if you chained "Book of Moon"/"Compulsory Evacuation Device" to "Black Rose Dragon's" effect on "Black Rose Dragon", then during resolution, "Black Rose Dragon" will not be face-up on the field, and only then, will "Black Rose Dragon" be able to destroy all cards on the field.


 * Also, these cards will not negate True Conditions. So "Skill Drain"/"Forbidden Chalice" will not negate "Debris Dragon's" "This card cannot be used as a Synchro Material Monster, except for the Synchro Summon of a Dragon-Type Synchro Monster. The other Synchro Material Monster(s) cannot be Level 4." Condition.

Continuous Effects in the middle of a Chain

 * Only Continuous Effects can be applied as a chain resolves. Trigger, Quick, and every other effect that activates and uses a Chain cannot interrupt Chains as they resolve; they cannot be 'added' into the Chain as the Chain resolves.
 * e.g. You have a Set "Call of the Haunted" and 1 "Stardust Dragon" in the Graveyard. Your opponent activates "Mystical Space Typhoon".
 * Chain Link 1: Mystical Space Typhoon (selects a Target)
 * Chain Link 2: Call of the Haunted (selects "Stardust Dragon")
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: Call of the Haunted (Special Summons "Stardust Dragon")
 * You cannot interrupt the chain and activate "Stardust Dragon's" effect here.
 * Chain Link 1: Mystical Space Typhoon (Destroys Targetted card)
 * Continuous Effect of "Call of the Haunted" destroys "Stardust Dragon"
 * End of Chain


 * "Destroy Instead" effects of cards like "Gravekeeper's Visionary" and "Power Tool Dragon" are Continuous Effects. They do not activate, they are just applied during resolution of the effect.
 * e.g. "Dark Hole" is used, during resolution you discard 1 card for "Gravekeeper's Visionary" and the rest of the monsters are destroyed.


 * Already active Continuous Effects do not use a Chain, they are just applied.
 * e.g. If "Royal Decree"/"The Fabled Unicore" is already face-up on the Field, Counter Traps can be activated, but they will be negated when they resolve.


 * Equips are destroyed the moment it loses its target. Attached monsters are affected the moment it loses its target.
 * e.g. If "Machina Peacekeeper" is equipped to "Machina Gearframe", and "Gearframe" is used as a Synchro Material Monster, or is Tributed for a Tribute Summon/Set, or is used as a Cost. Then "Machina Peacekeeper's" effect would Miss the Timing. "Peacekeeper" is destroyed by Game Mechanics the moment "Gearframe" leaves the field, before the monster is Tribute Summoned or Special Summoned.
 * e.g. If "Kinka-Byo" Special Summoned "Fortune Lady Light", and "Kinka-Byo" is used for a Tribute Summon, then "Fortune Lady Light" will Miss the Timing; because "Kinka-Byo" is Tributed, "Light" is Banished, then the monster is Tribute Summoned.
 * similarly, if "Kinka-Byo" Special Summoned "Fortune Lady Light", and "Kinka-Byo" is Banished by "D.D. Sprite's" Summoning Condition to Special Summon "D.D. Sprite", then "Fortune Lady Light" will Miss the Timing; because "Kinka-Byo" is Banished, "Light" is also Banished, then "D.D. Sprite" is Special Summoned. The last thing to occur was "D.D. Sprite" being Special Summoned, not "Fortune Lady Light" being removed from the field by a card effect, so "Light" will Miss the Timing.
 * e.g. If a Tuner is equipped with a "Vylon" Equip Spell Card and is used for a Synchro Summon, the Synchro Material monsters are sent to the graveyard (Equips are destroyed), then the monster is Synchro Summoned, so "Vylon Element" (When... you can...) will Miss the Timing, but "Vylon Component" (If... you can...) cannot Miss the Timing.

Destroy Instead and Cannot be Destroyed

 * If there's a situation where "Power Tool Dragon" and all its Equip Cards would be destroyed simultaneously, you may not try to save "Power Tool Dragon" by sending one of the Equips instead. Since the Equip Spells are already 'marked for destruction' you cannot send them instead of "Power Tool Dragon".
 * If 2 or more face-up Psychic-Type monsters would be destroyed by the same effect, you can destroy "Telekinetic Shocker" instead and the Psychic-Type monsters are not destroyed. However, if "Telekinetic Shocker" will also be destroyed by the same effect, you cannot use its effect since it is already 'marked for destruction' so you cannot destroy this card instead.
 * These are Continuous Effects and do not use a chain.


 * In the case of Union Monsters, there seems to be a Contradiction.
 * In the TCG, it is ruled that if an effect will simultaneously destroy the Union and the Equipped monster, you will not be able to use the effect save the equipped monster. Both will be destroyed.
 * In the OCG, it is ruled that if both are to be destroyed simultaneously, then the "If the equipped monster would be destroyed, destroy this card instead." effect of the Union monster can be applied. The Union monster will be destroyed instead of the Equipped monster.


 * For cards that say "This card cannot be destroyed by a card effect" such as "Ancient City - Rainbow Ruins", it will not be destroyed if all cards are destroyed simultaneously.

Add it to your Hand Instead

 * Similar to the 'Destroy Instead' effects, if the action cannot be done, then it cannot be done 'instead'.
 * So if you have no cards in your deck, you are not allowed to activate the effect of "Spirit Burner"/"Magical Blast"/"Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru" to add it to your hand instead.


 * If you activate the effect of "Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru", and something is chained to remove it from the graveyard before the effect resolves, then you do not get to draw. You activated it 'instead of' drawing, it doesn't matter that you didn't actually end up putting it in your hand. It's like a Cost.
 * Similarly, "Malefic World's" effect during the Draw Phase starts a Chain. If the effect is used and "Mystical Space Typhoon" is chained, when it resolves, "Mystical Space Typhoon" will destroy "Malefic World", then "Malefic World" resolves without effect. You cannot draw afterwards even if you were not able to add a card to your hand with "Malefic World's" effect.


 * If you have multiple copies of "Spirit Burner"/"Magical Blast"/"Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru" in your Graveyard, you can activate them all in a Chain, however only one effect will resolve properly (the last one to be activated; the first to resolve), so you will only add one card to your hand; because you already used your 'Draw' 'instead'. You cannot activate any of them in a new Chain afterwards for the same reason.

Book of Moon/Compulsory Evacuation Device/Bottomless Trap Hole vs. Monster Effects
Generally, flipping the monster face-down (e.g. "Book of Moon") or removing it from the field (e.g. "Compulsory Evacuation Device"/"Bottomless Trap Hole") WILL NOT stop the effect resolving (e.g. It will NOT stop the Trigger Effect of monsters like "Green Gadget" and "Junk Synchron"; and it will not stop Prioritised Ignition Effects of monsters like "Gale" and "Gigaplant").

However it WILL stop cards like:
 * "Zombie Master" (due to a specific ruling [If you activate "Zombie Master" effect, and an effect is chained that removes "Zombie Master" from the field or flips it face-down, the effect disappears and you cannot Special Summon the targeted monster.] This ruling is made in the TCG because int was mistranslated and the OCG card says so on the card)
 * "Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress" (she needs to be able to switch into defense mode on resolution. [You can change this card from face-up Attack Position to face-up Defense Position and destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card your opponent controls.])
 * "Alchemist of Black Spells" (he needs to be able to switch into defense mode on resolution. [you can change this face-up Attack Position card you control to face-up Defense Position and place a Spell Counter on a face-up card you control that you can place a Spell Counter on.])

Then there's a few 'obvious' ones ("Dark Crusader", "Elemental Hero Prisma"), whose resolutions try to affect the monster itself, so could not affect it if it is flipped face-down or removed from the field - i.e. Prisma can't change his name if he's face-down, Dark Crusader can't gain ATK.

Another example would be what happens when "Torrential Tribute" is chained to the effect of a "Monarch":
 * Using a Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Monarch" (Selects target)
 * Chain Link 2: "Torrential Tribute"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Torrential Tribute" (Destroys all monsters)
 * Chain Link 1: "Monarch" (destroys/removes whatever it targetted; unless it is a monster, since it is already gone, the monarch will resolve without effect) (In the case of "Raiza", if it targetted "Torrential Tribute", then it will also resolve without effect)

'Returning' Effects vs. Activated/Chained Cards
An 'activated' Normal Spell, Ritual Spell, Quick-Play Spell, Normal Trap or Counter Trap will be unaffected by an effect that tries to return it to hand or deck. (Cards with a 'Continuous' property such as Field Spells, Equip Spells, Continuous Spells, Continuous Traps are not in that list. They will be returned to hand or deck.)

As an example, if the opponent has multiple face-down Spell/Trap Cards on the field and one of which is "Compulsory Evacuation Device". When "Giant Trunade" is activated, they may chain "Compulsory Evacuation Device" to this. During resolution, "Compulsory Evacuation Device" will resolve, then "Giant Trunade" will resolve. After the chain has finished resolving, the cards "Giant Trunade" and "Compulsory Evacuation Device" will be sent to the Graveyard; the remaining Spell/Trap Cards will have been returned to the hand.

Book of Moon vs. Summon Response Cards

 * "Book of Moon" will stop "Black Whirlwind", "Bottomless Trap Hole" and "Trap Hole" because they can't read the ATK points. "Book of Moon" will not stop "Torrential Tribute".
 * "Compulsory Evacuation Device" will just 'save' the monster you returned to your hand from being destroyed, "Trap Hole" will resolve without effect; "Bottomless Trap Hole" will destroy and Banish what's left; and if that was the only monster then it will resolve without effect; "Torrential Tribute" will still destroy all other remaining monsters on the field.

Card Property Resets (Book of Moon/Interdimensional Matter Transporter)

 * Flipping a monster face-down (e.g. "Book of Moon"), removing a monster from the field (e.g. "Interdimensional Matter Transporter") or Destroying it and reviving it again, will reset things including:
 * The ATK/DEF of monsters which set their ATK/DEF when they are Summoned, such as "Evil Hero Dark Gaia" (to 0 ATK) and "Beast King Barbaros" (to 3000 ATK).
 * The Level of monsters, such as "Fortune Lady Dark".
 * Any counters on the monster will be removed.
 * A Gemini Monster that has been Gemini Summoned will not be considered to be Gemini Summoned after being flipped face-down.
 * Any Equip Spell Cards attached to the monster will be destroyed by Game Mechanics because there is no valid target for them Equip Card.
 * "Once per turn" conditions, so if "Chaos Sorcerer" was Summoned in a previous turn, and during this turn you used its effect once. If you flip it face-down and Flip Summon it, you can either use its effect once again or you can attack with it.


 * You can Flip Summon a monster that has been flipped face-down by "Book of Moon" if the monster was not Summoned on the same turn, did not declare an attack, and if the monster has not had its Battle Position changed manually before in the same turn.

Prevention vs. Negation

 * Preventing Activations ≠ Negating Effects.


 * "Archlord Kristya"/"Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo"/"Jowgen the Spiritualist" prevents Special Summons from happening at all. They prevent you from even beginning to attempt a Special Summon in the first place, so you cannot even begin to Tribute them as a Cost to Special Summon "Lava Golem"; and you cannot Tribute "Archlord Kristya" for the effect of "Athena". You also cannot use them as Synchro Material Monsters or Xyz Materials. You cannot activate 'Fusion' cards (e.g. "Polymerization") if they are face-up on the field.
 * "Jinzo" prevents Trap Cards from being activated the moment it is Successfully Summoned (Summon was not Negated). So "Bottomless Trap Hole"/"Torrential Tribute" cannot be activated. While it is face-up on the field, neither player can activate Trap Cards.


 * "Royal Decree" only negates the effects of Trap Cards. It does not prevent the activation of cards, it does not prevent the activation of effects. You may activate "Compulsory Evacuation Device" while "Royal Decree" is face-up, but it will be negated when it resolves.
 * "Skill Drain" only negates the effects of Monsters if they are face-up on the field during resolution of the effect. So you may activate the effect of "Gale", but it will be negated if it is still face-up on the field on resolution. If you activate the effect of "Card Trooper", the Cost of sending cards to the Graveyard will still be paid, but it will not gain any ATK points during resolution of the effect.

Activating a Card vs. Activating an Effect

 * Activating a Card ≠ Activating an Effect of a card
 * Activation of a Card refers to the initial flip face-up of a card, or the initial face-up placement of a card onto the field from the hand.
 * Activation of an Effect of a card refers to the card effect that starts a Chain Link itself.


 * "Magical Citadel of Endymion" will only gain a counter after the Activation of a Card. So will only gain a Spell Counter during the Activation of the Card "Spell Absorption", but will not gain a Spell Counter during the Activation of the Effect of "Spell Absorption".
 * "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos" - "negate the activation of a [Spell or Trap Card ] and destroy it."
 * "Dark Bribe" - "Negate the activation of an opponent's [Spell or Trap Card ] and destroy it."
 * "Herald of Perfection" - "When your opponent activates a [Spell Card ], [Trap Card ], or [Effect Monster's effect ], you can send 1 Fairy-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard to negate the activation and destroy that card."
 * "Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En" - "when your opponent activates a [Spell/Trap Card ], you can negate it's activation and destroy it"
 * "Stardust Dragon" and its other forms are a bit different. They are different because they have been mistranslated. Unlike "Herald of Perfection" and similar cards, it's supposed to be able to negate activation of effects, not just cards. The lore should be something like "negate the activation of a [Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster's effect ] that destroys a card(s)". It can be used to negate both the Activation of a Card, and the Activation of the Effect of a card; but only if it would destroy something at the time. So it can be used to negate the Activation of the Effect of "Ancient Forest" after the Battle Phase, but it cannot be used to negate the Activation of the Card because it doesn't destroy at that time. "Stardust Dragon" can be used against the Activation of the Card "Dark Hole".
 * The same applies to "Tytannial, Princess of Camellias", which actually does say "[Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster's effect ] that targets a card".


 * All Counter Traps can only negate the activation of a card ; this is when the card is initially flipped face-up. It cannot be used against the activation of an effect . This is a specific Game Mechanic for Counter Traps; so even if the card says 'effect', it can only negate 'cards', e.g. Barrel Behind the Door.

Continuous Cards and Ignition-like/Trigger-like/Quick-like Effects

 * In general, Continuous Spells and Continuous Trap Cards have Continuous Effects that don't activate. However, there are Continuous Cards which have effects that do activate (uses a Chain Link).
 * Field Spell Cards like "Umi" have Continuous Effects. "Black Garden" has a Trigger-like effect which activates when a monster is summoned, and it has an Ignition-like effect to destroy and Special Summon a monster.
 * Continuous Spell Cards like "Blaze Accelerator" have Ignition-like effects.
 * Continuous Trap Cards like "Royal Oppression" have Quick-like effects.


 * "Naturia Beast" says: "Negate the activation of a Spell Card " so as mentioned in the above section, it cannot negate the Activation of the Effect, but only the Activation of the Card.


 * "Tytannial" says: "negate the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Effect Monster's effect "
 * If an effect negates the activation of an effect (like "Stardust Dragon" or "Tytannial, Princess of Camellias"), then it can negate when the card is flipped, and when the effect is activated.

Negating vs. "Once per... effects"/"If you... you cannot... effects"

 * Keep in mind that Negating the Activation is different from Negating the Effect


 * "Your opponent can activate only 1 Spell/Trap Card each turn." - "Great Shogun Shien"
 * If "Great Shogun Shien" is face-up, and the activation of your opponent's Spell/Trap Card is negated (e.g. by "Magic Jammer", "Legendary Six Samurai - Shi En"), they can still activate 1 more Spell/Trap Card after that.


 * "You can only activate 1 "Pot of Duality" per turn. You cannot Special Summon a monster(s) during the turn you activate this card." - "Pot of Duality"
 * If the activation of "Pot of Duality" is negated (e.g. "Solemn Judgment"), you can still activate 1 more "Pot of Duality" after that; or you can Special Summon a monster instead. If only the effect was negated, then you cannot since the activation was not negated the Condition is still applied.
 * If the activation of a card that Special Summons (e.g. "Call of the Haunted") is negated (e.g. "Solemn Judgment"), or if only the effect was negated (e.g. "Trap Stun"), or if the effect could not resolve (e.g. "D.D. Crow"), then you can still activate "Pot of Duality" after that.
 * If you attempt to Inherently Special Summon a monster, and the Summon is Negated. You still attempted to Inherently Special Summon, so you cannot activate "Pot of Duality" after that.


 * "Each player can only use the effect of... once per Duel." - "Blackwing - Hiren the Sudden Gust", "Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite", "Glow-Up Bulb", "Spore", "Twin-Headed Behemoth", "Unknown Synchron"
 * Even if the activation was negated, the effect was still 'used', so you cannot activate it again. If the effect was negated, the effect was still 'used', so you cannot activate it again.
 * The effect can only be used once per duel, this applies to every copy at once, not once each. So if the effect of one copy activates, then you cannot activate the effect of any copy for the remainder of the Duel; even if the card was returned to the Deck.
 * The card says 'each player', not because the opponent can use your card, but only because if they happen to have their own copy of the same card, they can use it once as well.


 * You can only attempt to Normal Summon Once per turn.
 * If the Summon is negated, you still attempted, so you cannot Normal Summon again in the same turn.


 * "Once per turn during your Main Phase, you can..." - "Chaos Sorcerer"
 * If the Activation of the effect is negated but the card was not destroyed (e.g. by "Light and Darkness Dragon"), "Chaos Sorcerer" cannot activate its effect again that turn.


 * "You cannot Normal Summon or Set the turn you..." - "Miracle Fertilizer", "Hidden Armory"
 * If you Normal Summoned or Set already, you cannot activate "Miracle Fertilizer's" effect.
 * If you Normal Summoned or Set already, you cannot activate "Hidden Armory".
 * If you attempt to Normal Summoned a monster, and the Summon is Negated. You still attempted to Normal Summoned, so you cannot activate "Miracle Fertilizer's" effect, you cannot activate "Hidden Armory", and you cannot Normal Summon again during the same turn.
 * If you activated "Miracle Fertilizer's" effect, then you cannot Normal Summon or Set afterwards.
 * If you activated "Hidden Armory", then you cannot Normal Summon or Set afterwards.
 * You can activate multiple copies of "Miracle Fertilizer" and/or "Hidden Armory" on the same turn.

Spell and Trap Card Targets/Affects

 * Spell and Trap Cards cannot affect themselves. So "Mystical Space Typhoon" and other similar Spell and Trap Cards (such as "Double Cyclone", "Mystical Space Typhoon", "Icarus Attack" and "Gravel Cane") all cannot select themselves as a Target.
 * "Heavy Storm" and "Malevolent Catastrophe" do not destroy themselves, "Crystal Abundance" does not send itself to the Graveyard and "Giant Trunade" does not return itself to the hand.
 * "Blasting Fuse" is probably the only card that will destroy itself with its effect, but only because of BKSS. Maintenance Costs are Conditions, not effects, so those cards (e.g. "Mirror Wall") can destroy themselves.


 * This does not apply to monsters. "Black Rose Dragon" will destroy herself.

Macro Cosmos/Dimensional Fissure vs. Cost and Effect

 * You can activate "Iron Chain Dragon", "Foolish Burial", "Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter" and "Future Fusion" while "Macro Cosmos"/"Dimensional Fissure" is on the field. The cards will be Banished instead. It works because sending the monsters is part of the effect.
 * You cannot activate "Honest", "Rescue Cat" and "Celestia, Lightsworn Angel" while "Macro Cosmos"/"Dimensional Fissure" is on the field because sending the monster to the Graveyard is part of the Cost; and if you cannot Pay the Cost, you cannot activate the effect in the first place.
 * You cannot declare an attack if "Macro Cosmos" and "Gravekeeper's Servant" are on the field because you cannot fulfill the Cost of Sending the card to the Graveyard in order to attack.
 * You cannot declare an attack if "Dimensional Fissure" and "Gravekeeper's Servant" are on the field because you cannot be certain that you can fulfill the Cost of Sending the card to the Graveyard in order to attack.


 * Sending the Fusion Material Monsters to the Graveyard for EVERY 'Fusion' card is part of the effect. It is not a Cost.
 * e.g "Polymerization", "Power Bond", "Dark Fusion", "Future Fusion", etc, can all be activated while "Macro Cosmos"/"Dimensional Fissure" is on the field. They will resolve, the monsters are Banished instead, and the Fusion Monster will be Special Summoned.


 * "Macro Cosmos" and "Dimensional Fissure" only look for cards being 'Sent' to the Graveyard, which will include Discards, Destroys and Tributes, but not a 'Return' effect.
 * Returning is different from Sending, so you can use "Fortune's Future"/"Miracle Dig"/"Burial from a Different Dimension" to return a monster(s) to the Graveyard, and they will not be removed.

Activation of an Unresolvable Card

 * If you can't pay the Cost, you are not allowed to activate it in the first place.


 * e.g. If your only card in your hand is "Lightning Vortex", you cannot activate it because you know that you cannot Discard 1 card for the cost after you activated it.
 * e.g. If you have 1000 Life Points, you cannot activate "Solemn Warning".


 * If you know that a card cannot resolve properly, you are not allowed to activate it in the first place.


 * You are expected to know the contents of your deck, and to look at your hand, Field, Graveyard & Banished Zones if you're unsure about what is remaining in your deck; so in a tournament, if you do illegally activate, then you will be penalised (the severity depends on the house rules). In a friendly duel, you can probably 'rewind' back to the time before you activated the card, with the permission of your opponent.
 * You are not allowed to activate "Terraforming" if you don't have any Field Spell Cards in your deck.
 * You are not allowed to activate "Lightning Vortex" and Discard for Cost, if there are no face-up monsters on your opponent's side of the field.
 * "Ojamagic" has no actual resolvable effect if you manually activate it. So you are not allowed to Activate the Card at all.
 * "Magician's Circle" cannot be activated if you don't have a Spellcaster to Special Summon in your deck; but it can be activated if you do have a valid Spellcaster in your deck, but the opponent has no valid Spellcaster in their Deck. This is because you are not expected to know the contents of your opponent's deck, then during resolution, it will resolve as best as it can, so you can Special Summon a Spellcaster and your opponent will not; then your opponent must allow you to look through their deck to verify that there really were no valid monsters.
 * Afterwards, you can activate a second copy of "Magician's Circle" during another attack, even though you just looked through your opponent's deck.


 * "Vylon Sigma" has an Optional Trigger Effect, if you choose to activate it while you have no valid cards in your deck, you may be penalised in a tournament.
 * "Sangan" has a Mandatory Trigger Effect, since you don't choose to activate it or not, and the fact that it is Mandatory, you will not be penalised, but it will automatically activate. So if you don't have a valid target, you must allow your opponent to look through your deck to verify that you really don't have a valid card.


 * You can Special Summon the monster you Discarded for the Cost of "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner"; but you are not allowed to activate the effect of "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner" if you have no valid monsters to Special Summon in your Graveyard, even if you thought you would have a valid monster after paying the Cost.
 * The point here is, you are not allowed to activate it in the first place, so the cost can't be paid.
 * The same applies to "Zombie Master"


 * You cannot activate "Pot of Avarice" if you have less than 2 cards in your deck. Even if you thought you would have cards to draw after returning the 5 cards.
 * The point here is, you are not allowed to activate a card if it cannot fully resolve properly at the time just before activation.

Looking through your opponent's Deck/Hand

 * This is normally not Public knowledge, but if any card requires a player to search his deck for a certain card, and that player claims to not have one, the opponent can check his deck to prevent cheating. Listed below are a few examples.


 * "Mind Crush" - In the TCG, if the opponent doesn't have the named card, you can check their hand to confirm. If the maximum legally allowed number of copies of the declared card cannot be verified as Public knowledge, you may ask your opponent to verify their hand. In the OCG, your opponent reveals their hand first, then discards the cards.


 * "Emissary of the Afterlife" - If you add a monster to your hand, and your opponent claims that he does not have a valid monster, then you can look through your opponent's deck to verity it, but your opponent cannot look through your deck because you did add a valid monster to your hand; and vice versa. If neither player has a Level 3 or lower Normal Monster in their Deck, the effect of "Emissary of the Afterlife" disappears, but both players get to look at their opponent's Decks before they are shuffled.
 * "Dark Designator" - Just declare a Forbidden card, or a Limited card that they already used, and you can look through your opponent's deck.
 * "Nobleman of Crossout" - If you destroy the targeted Flip Effect Monster, then both players must reveal their Decks to each other to verify that all cards of the same name as the Flip Effect Monster are Banished; but unlike other cards (such as "Chain Destruction"), both players must reveal their decks even if 3 copies of the Flip Effect Monster are already in public view, BKSS.
 * "Arsenal Robber" - If your opponent cannot send an Equip Spell Card, then you can look through your opponent's deck.


 * "Magician's Circle" and "Sangan" - See above.


 * "Abyssal Designator" - If your opponent sends a monster to the Graveyard with the declared Type and Attribute, you cannot see their hand and Deck. But if they claim to have no such card, you can check their hand and Deck to confirm. So you can declare something like Divine-Beast-Type and DARK Attribute (no cards are like that), if you want to look through your opponent's hand and deck.


 * "Spell Vanishing", "Trap Dustshoot", "Crush Card Virus", "Deck Devastation Virus", "Eradicator Epidemic Virus" - These should be self-explanatory, it's part of their effects to check your opponent's hand.

Errata

 * You always only use the effect of the newest errata, regardless of what your card says.
 * e.g. If you have an old copy of "Waboku", you ignore what your card says and follow the newest errata.

Negate the Attack

 * "Negate the attack" vs. "selected as an attack target"
 * Negating the attack will not stop a monster from being considered to be selected as an attack target.
 * e.g. The opponent controls both "Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick”" and "Magic Cylinder". If you declare an attack on the "Karakuri", the "Karakuri" will be Chain Link 1 (Trigger Effect) then "Magic Cylinder" will be Chain Link 2. During resolution, "Magic Cylinder" will resolve first, negating the attack and inflict damage, then the "Karakuri" will still change its Battle Position because it was 'selected as an attack target'.


 * "Negate the attack" vs. "If this card attacks"
 * If the Attack is Negated, the monster is not considered to have Declared an attack.
 * e.g. The opponent controls "Magic Cylinder". If you declare an attack with "Goblin Attack Force", "Magic Cylinder" will be Chain Link 1. During resolution, "Magic Cylinder" will resolve, negating the attack and inflict damage. At the end of the Battle Phase, "Goblin Attack Force" will not change its Battle Position because its attack was negated.
 * e.g. "Ancient Forest" will not destroy the monster if its attack was negated.
 * e.g. After an attack has been declared, if the attack is stopped but not negated (by an effect like "Gravity Bind"), then the monster is still considered to have declared an attack, so the monster is not destroyed during the End Phase by "Savage Colosseum". However, if the monster's attack is negated (by an effect like "Negate Attack"), then the monster is not considered to have declared an attack, so the monster is destroyed during the End Phase by "Savage Colosseum".
 * e.g. When a monster's attack is negated by "Magic Cylinder", the monster is not treated as having declared an attack, so the effect of "Red Dragon Archfiend" will still destroy it during the End Phase.


 * Ignore the text on what the "Gladiator Beasts" say. What they actually mean is that "Gladiator Beasts" can only 'tag out' if it has gone through Damage Calculation and survived.

The End Phase

 * When there are two effects which end during the End Phase, if you control both, you choose which to apply first.


 * "Brain Control" vs. "Lightsworn" mill
 * Since you control both effects. You could activate the End Phase mill Trigger Effect first and mill cards from your deck, before allowing the monster to return to the opponent's control. Or you could allow the monster to return first, so that the mill trigger never activates.


 * "Phantom of Chaos" vs. "Lightsworn" mill
 * If you used "Phantom of Chaos'" effect to remove a "Lightsworn" monster, you control both the effect of "Phantom of Chaos" and its copied effect, so you choose which one is applied first. You can choose to 'turn off' the effect of "Phantom of Chaos" first, and afterwards you won't have to mill, since "Phantom of Chaos" no longer has the copied effect; or you can mill first, before you 'turn off' the effect.

Trap Monsters

 * In Progress

0 ATK vs. 0 ATK

 * When two attack position monsters with 0 ATK battle, neither monster is destroyed. This has always been true in the OCG and has recently been fixed in the TCG.

0, 1, Half, Max, etc.

 * You can use "Shrink"/"TGX1-HL" on a monster with 0 ATK and it will resolve as normal, even though there is no net change for "Shrink", you are allowed to activate it. (Half of 0 is 0)
 * If you have an odd number of Life Points and you have a Cost or an Effect which halves it, it will be rounded up. So if you have 125 Life Points, it will be halved to 63.
 * You can use "Solemn Judgment" when you have 1 Life Point. Your Life Point will be halved, then rounded up, so you're back on 1 Life Point again. "Solemn Judgment" will still resolve properly.


 * When your Life Points reach 0, at the end of the current effect, you lose. You are not allowed to chain or activate anything, and if there are other cards in the chain, they do not resolve.
 * e.g. Chain Link 1: "Dian Keto the Cure Master", Chain Link 2: "Self-Destruct Button". Resolve; Chain Link 2: "Self-Destruct Button" makes both players Life Points 0, the duel ends there, Chain Link 1 does not get to resolve.


 * You are not allowed to pay Life Points equal to or more than what you currently have at the time of activation. So if you have 8000 Life Points, you are not allowed to pay 8000 Life Points for Wall of Revealing Light, the maximum you can pay at that time is 7000 Life Points.


 * If you have a Level 1 monster and "A Legendary Ocean", that monster's Level will remain on Level 1. The minimum Level for a monster in the TCG/OCG will always be 1.
 * You can activate "Miniaturize" on a monster that has 0 ATK (not Original ATK) and is on Level 1; in this case, the monster will remain on 0 ATK and Level 1.


 * There is no maximum Level by effects. All cards that increase Levels can increase the Level above 12 (e.g. "Greed Quasar", "Give and Take", "Synchro Boost"). Only effects that say a limit will have a limit (e.g. "Fortune Ladies"). Those limits are only for their own effect, so "Synchro Boost" can raise a level 12 "Fortune Lady" to level 13.


 * Non-Xyz monsters only have Levels. They do not have Ranks at all; so they are not considered to be Rank 0.
 * Xyz Monsters only have Ranks. They do not have Levels at all; so they are not considered to be Level 0. Since they have no Levels at all, they cannot be used as Synchro Material Monsters at all.
 * "Magical Hats" is special, the monsters do not have any Levels, Ranks, Types or Attributes at all, its level is not considered to be 0, and it cannot be used for any action that references Levels, Ranks, Types or Attributes.
 * Video Games indicate a 'Spell/Trap Attribute' and 'Level 0'; but this is not true at all. It is only a placeholder, so ignore it and pretend that it isn't there.


 * There is no maximum amount of Life Points.
 * In video games, the limit shown there is 65535, but this is not the real maximum. This is only the side effect of a computer's Memory Limit (RAM Limit).
 * See also: The next section on Infinite Loops.

Infinite Loops

 * You are not allowed to activate a card if you know it will cause an 'Uncontrollable' Infinite Loop.
 * See the article on Infinite Loops for distinguishing between 'Uncontrollable' Infinite Loops and 'Controllable' Infinite Loops.
 * If it is a 'Controlled' Loop, then you do the combo a few times, and if the opponent doesn't do anything, tell them how many times you want to repeat the loop (This must be a finite number, e.g. 1 Trillion. Note that Infinity is not a finite number). If they agree and say they can't stop it then the loop goes ahead.
 * If it was a Life Points loop, then the duel does not end there. It is still possible for someone to Deck Out and lose or use an alternate win method like "Exodia", "Vennominaga the Deity of Poisonous Snakes", "Final Countdown" and "Destiny Board". Or they can use cards such as "Reversal Quiz", "Yu-Jo Friendship"&"Unity", "Self-Destruct Button" and "Life Equalizer".

Original ATK vs. Current ATK

 * In Progress

? ATK/? DEF

 * '?' will only be treated as 0 when it is forced to have a value for the purposes of 'calculation', otherwise they are undefined.


 * If a monster's ATK or DEF is represented as a '?' on the card, it cannot be searched from the Deck using the relevant value, since it does not have a value whilst in the Deck; it also cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard using a relevant value.
 * Cards like "Magician's Circle" and "Limit Reverse" may not Special Summon Monsters with undefined ATK.


 * On the field, if an effect asks for Original ATK, then the Original ATK of a monster with '?' ATK is treated as 0 Original ATK.
 * So if there are two "Destiny Hero - Dreadmasters" on your side of the field, they each will look at the original ATK of other "Destiny Heroes" and add it to their own. They see '?' from each other, and since it's now being involved in a calculation, it will be treated as 0.


 * Monsters with an ATK of '?' are treated as '0' in the hand in the TCG, but still treated as '?' in the OCG. It means that "Deck Devastation Virus" can destroy them in hand in the TCG, but not the OCG.
 * If "Skill Drain" is negating the effect of a monster with ? ATK, it will have 0 ATK.

Face-down and Costs/Fusions

 * You may Tribute face-down monsters for a Cost of a Card Effect if it doesn't specifically say that you have to use a face-up card.
 * e.g. You can Tribute a face-down "Sangan" for the Cost of "Crush Card Virus"
 * e.g. You can Tribute a face-down Winged-Beast for the Cost of "Icarus Attack"
 * e.g. You can Tribute a face-down "Sphinx" to Special Summon "Exxod, Master of The Guard"
 * Note that 'Send' is different from 'Tribute'. Unless there is a specific mention in the rulings (e.g. "Transcendent Wings"/"Symbols of Duty"/"Manticore of Darkness"), you cannot Send an 'exact type' face-down monster for a Cost.
 * e.g. You cannot Send a face-down Fiend-Type monster for "Darkness Neosphere".
 * e.g. You cannot Banish face-down monsters for "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon"/"Evil Dragon Ananta".


 * You can use face-down monsters for a 'Contact Fusion', but you must show your opponent the monsters to verify that they are correct.
 * You can use face-down monsters and fuse with "Polymerization", et al.
 * You cannot use your opponent's face-down monsters for "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon" or "Super Polymerization" because your opponent's face-down cards are not considered to be 'Public knowledge' and are only 'known' by the player controlling them (even if your opponent's monsters were face-up some time ago and had recently been flipped face-down).

Attack once again in a row

 * When a cards says "it can attack once again in a row", it literally means once again (so two attacks is the maximum number of attacks in total), and 'in a row' (so you cannot attack with another monster first, then attack with the monster again; but you can cancel the attack second attack, in this case, it cannot attack again that turn).
 * Cards which say this include: "Alien Hunter", "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning", "Brain Golem", "Divine Dragon - Excelion", "Element Doom", "Element Dragon", "Element Magician", "Koa'ki Meiru Bergzak", "Laval Twin Slayer", "Lord British Space Fighter", "Ruin, Queen of Oblivion", "Stygian Sergeants" and "Worm Warlord".
 * For many of those, the card says "If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it can attack once again in a row." - and as mentioned above, two attacks is the maximum number of attacks in total, so if the monster destroys the second monster by battle, it cannot attack again.

Specific Name and Specific Name cards

 * If an effect asks for a "Specific Name", then it means it, literally. If an effect asks for a "Specific Name" card, then it means any card which contains those words in its name, kinda like Archetypes.


 * e.g. "Ancient Gear" - "While an "Ancient Gear" is face-up on your side of the field, you can Special Summon this card from your hand in Attack Position." - You cannot Special Summon "Ancient Gear" from your hand if you only control an "Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon". If you control another copy of "Ancient Gear", then you can Special Summon "Ancient Gear" from your hand.
 * e.g. "Red Dragon Vase" - "Activate only if you control a face-up "Red Dragon Archfiend". Draw 2 cards." - You cannot activate this card if you only control "Red Dragon Archfiend/Assault Mode". You can only activate "Red Dragon Vase" if you control a "Red Dragon Archfiend".


 * e.g. "Volcanic Rocket" - "You can add 1 "Blaze Accelerator" card from your Deck or your Graveyard to your hand." - So you can choose to add "Blaze Accelerator" itself or "Tri-Blaze Accelerator".
 * e.g. "Gladiator Beast Equeste" - "Add 1 "Gladiator Beast" card from your Graveyard to your hand." - So you can choose to add "Gladiator Beast War Chariot" or a "Gladiator Beast Bestiari". You cannot add "Gladiator Proving Ground" because it does not contain "Gladiator Beast" in its name.


 * e.g. "Gladiator Proving Ground" - "Add 1 Level 4 or lower "Gladiator Beast" monster from your Deck to your hand." - So you can choose to add "Gladiator Beast Bestiari", but you cannot add "Gladiator Beast War Chariot" because it is not a monster.

Monsters treated as a Spell Card

 * While a monster is treated as a Spell Card, it is not treated as a monster at all.


 * e.g. "Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki" - "While you control another face-up "Six Samurai" monster with a different name, this card gains 1500 ATK." - If "Kageki" is the only monster you control, and it is equipped by "Spirit of the Six Samurai", "Kageki" does not gain ATK.


 * e.g. "XYZ-Dragon Cannon" - "This card can only be Special Summoned from your Extra Deck by removing from play the above cards you control." - If you have a "X-Head Cannon" equipped with "Y-Dragon Head", and a "Z-Metal Tank", you can Banish them to Special Summon "XYZ-Dragon Cannon".
 * e.g. "Dragunity Dux" - "This card gains 200 ATK for each face-up "Dragunity" card you control." So if you control "Dragunity Dux", and a "Dragunity Legionnaire" equipped with "Dragunity Aklys", there are 3 "Dragunity" cards on the field, so "Dragunity Dux" gains 600 ATK.


 * Monsters treated as a Spell Card do not have any effects.


 * e.g. If you use "Destiny Hero - Plasma" to equip an opponent's monster, that monster does not have an effect, so you cannot activate the equipped monster's effect.
 * e.g. If you use "Mermaid Archer's" effect to equip "Star Boy", then "Star Boy's" effect to increase the ATK of WATER monsters will disappear.
 * e.g. If you use "Koa'ki Meiru War Arms's" effect to equip "Spirit of the Six Samurai", you cannot use the effect of "Spirit of the Six Samurai" because it was not equipped by its own effect. A Union monster must have been equipped by its own effect (or "Roll Out!"/"Formation Union" BKSS), to be able to have an effect to destroy it instead of the equipped monster, and to be able to 'unequip' itself.
 * e.g. If you use "Relinquished"/"Destiny Hero - Plasma" to equip an opponent's "Armory Arm", you cannot activate its effect and Unequip it.
 * As of now, there is only one exception. "Dragunity Phalanx" can Special Summon itself regardless, because its effect specifically says so, and it is not a Union or Union-like monster. If you use "Relinquished"/"Destiny Hero - Plasma" to equip an opponent's "Dragunity Phalanx", you can activate its effect and Special Summon it to your own side of the field.

But the card doesn't say...

 * Cards like "Lonefire Blossom" says Tribute, but it doesn't say from where - Then it implies that you must Tribute your own monsters. You must always Tribute your own cards, unless it specifically says otherwise, like in the case of Lava Golem.
 * Cards like "Ultimate Baseball Kid" says Send, but it doesn't say from where - Then it implies that you must Send your own monsters. You must always Send your own cards, unless it specifically says otherwise.
 * Cards like "Hammer Shot"/"Fragrance Storm" says Destroy, but it doesn't say from where - Then it can destroy a monster on either side of the field.
 * Cards like "Dark Armed Dragon"/"Hardened Armed Dragon"/"Gaia Plate the Earth Giant"/"Gigantes" doesn't say Special Summon from where, but it is implied that Summoning Conditions can only be applied from your hand to your side of the field. The only times when this does not apply is when the card specifically says otherwise.
 * "Ojama Knight" had the text "As long as this card remains face up on the field" removed in the latest errata because it is only a reminder text, older cards do that. Revised text (aka newer versions) don't need this because of the rulings with Continuous Effects being only applied while it is on the field.
 * If the card doesn't say 'for each', then it just means in total.
 * e.g. "Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki" just says 'this card gains 1500 ATK', so that means +1500 ATK in total, regardless of how many other "Six Samurai" monsters you control.
 * e.g. "Mage Power" says 'for each Spell and Trap Card you control', so that means x500 per Spell/Trap including "Mage Power" itself, and (if you control one) your Field Spell as well.


 * "Gladiator Beast Heraklinos" doesn't say 'Once per turn' so can I use it more than 'Once per turn'? - This is one of the few cases where the answer is 'Yes'. Since this is a Quick Effect that doesn't say "Once per turn", yes as long as you can pay the cost and as long as the activation timing is correct (e.g. You cannot chain to a Spell Speed 2 card to Spell Speed 3 Counter Traps). A similar thing occurs with cards like "Ultimate Offering".
 * Cards like "Number 17: Leviath Dragon"/"Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind"/"Black Garden" do not "until the End Phase". That means the changes will remain as long as the affected monster remains face-up on the field. If the affected monster is flipped face-down or if it leaves the field, the stat changes are no longer applied.
 * "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai" and "Black Brutdrago" just says when they are destroyed, but it doesn't say from where - Since "Solemn Judgment" says that it destroys and that "Grandmaster"/"Brutdrago" does not say from where, then if you Negate the Special Summon and Destroy it, then they will activate.
 * Cards such as "Foolish Burial"/"Lightsworns"/"Future Fusion"/"Needlebug Nest"/"Needle Worm" just says "Deck", this implies from the Main Deck only, not the Extra Deck.
 * The only exception to this should be "Chain Destruction", per its rulings; if "Chain Destruction" is used on a Fusion/Synchro/Xyz monster, those other copies in your Extra Deck are destroyed as well.


 * When you search your deck, you must always shuffle.
 * In the case of cards like "Deep Diver", you search the card, shuffle your deck, then place the card at the top of your deck.


 * Whenever you search for a card and a value can be verified, you must show the card to your opponent before Special Summoning it or adding it to your hand.
 * e.g. You must show your opponent the "Nimble Momongas" or the monster from "Super-Nimble Mega Hamster" before you Special Summon it face-down. Your opponent will know what monster it is, and what Monster Card Zone it is in.
 * e.g. After "Terraforming" resolves, you must show your opponent before adding it to your hand.

Shuffling

 * After searching a card from your Deck by an effect, you must shuffle your Deck, unless the card's effect states otherwise. After returning a card(s) to their Deck(s), players must also shuffle it, unless stated otherwise. You cannot randomly pick up your Deck at a random point in a duel and shuffle it.
 * You can shuffle your hand at any time.
 * You cannot shuffle the cards in your Graveyard.
 * You cannot shuffle the cards in your Banished (Removed from Play) Zone.
 * You cannot shuffle your monsters in your Monster Card Zones regardless of their Battle Positions, without a card effect such as "Senet Switch".
 * You cannot shuffle your Spells and Traps in your Spell/Trap Card Zones, without a card effect.

Side Deck



 * You can put Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Monsters in your Side Deck.
 * The number of cards in your Main Deck, Side Deck and Extra Deck must all be exactly the same before and after Side Decking.
 * e.g. If you started off with 42 cards in your Main Deck, 15 cards in your Side Deck and 13 cards in your Extra Deck; after the Side Decking process, you must have 42 cards in your Main Deck, 15 cards in your Side Deck and 13 cards in your Extra Deck.
 * e.g. If you started off with 14 cards in your Side Deck, you cannot just move 1 card from your Main Deck to your Side Deck without moving 1 card from your Side Deck back into your Main Deck.
 * e.g. If you only moved 1 Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck to your Side Deck, you must replace it with another Extra Deck monster (Fusion/Synchro/Xyz Monster), you cannot replace it by adding a card to your Main Deck.


 * See also: Side Deck.

Chaining

 * Whenever you are 'Negating the Activation', you must chain directly to the thing you want to negate (except "Vanity's Call", because the card specifically says so).
 * e.g. If the opponent activates "Dark Hole", and you chain "Magic Jammer", then if the opponent chains "Seven Tools of the Bandit", you cannot chain another "Magic Jammer" to try and negate "Dark Hole" but you can chain "Dark Bribe" to try and negate "Seven Tools of the Bandit".


 * Whenever you are 'Negating the Summon', you must chain directly to the monster you want to negate.
 * e.g. When you Normal Summon "Vorse Raider" and your opponent activates "Solemn Warning" to negate the Summon, you can chain "Seven Tools of the Bandit", but your opponent cannot activate another "Solemn Warning".
 * This also applies to monsters which can Negate Summons. "Steelswarm Roach" cannot activate its effect multiple times in the same chain for this reason.


 * When you are 'Negating the Effect...' with a card like "Effect Veiler", it does not need to be chained directly because it is not Negating the Activation.
 * e.g. Your opponent activates "Chaos Sorcerer's" effect, you chain "Skill Drain", the opponent chains "Mystical Space Typhoon" selecting "Skill Drain" as the target, you chain "Effect Veiler" selecting "Chaos Sorcerer" as the target. During resolution, "Effect Veiler" negates the effect of "Chaos Sorcerer", "Mystical Space Typhoon" destroys "Skill Drain", "Skill Drain" resolves without effect, and "Chaos Sorcerer" resolves but is negated by "Effect Veiler".


 * When you are 'Negating the effects of all...', you don't need to chain it directly to it.
 * e.g. Your opponent activates "Mirror Force", you chain "Mystical Space Typhoon", the opponent chains "Call of the Haunted", you chain "Trap Stun". During resolution, "Trap Stun" resolves first, then "Call of the Haunted" resolves but is negated by "Trap Stun", "Mystical Space Typhoon" destroys the targetted card, then "Mirror Force" resolves but is negated by "Trap Stun".


 * When activating a card, it can be activate in response to the previous card (if the timing is correct), or to the action on the field.
 * e.g. Your opponent Summons "Vorse Raider", you activate "Bottomless Trap Hole", the opponent can activate "Torrential Tribute". During resolution, "Torrential Tribute" resolves first, then "Bottomless Trap Hole" resolves without effect.
 * e.g. The opponent declares an attack, you activate "Dimensional Prison", the opponent chains "Forbidden Lance", you chain "Waboku", the opponent chains "Trap Stun", you chain "Mirror Force". During resolution, "Mirror Force" resolves first, then "Trap Stun" resolves, then "Waboku" resolves but is negated, then "Forbidden Lance" resolves, then "Dimensional Prison" resolves but is negated.


 * However, keep in kind that you cannot chain Spell Speed 2 cards to Spell Speed 3 cards.
 * e.g. Your opponent Summons "Vorse Raider", you activate "Bottomless Trap Hole", the opponent chains "Solemn Judgment". You cannot chain to that with "Torrential Tribute". After the chain resolves, it is too late to activate "Torrential Tribute" in a new chain because the Summoning action on the field was already over.
 * e.g. There is only 1 Attack Declaration Step. So if your opponent's monster declares an attack and you activate "Dimensional Prison", if the opponent chains "Seven Tools of the Bandit", you cannot chain "Mirror Force". After the chain resolves, it is too late to activate "Mirror Force" in a new chain because Attack Declaration was already over. You can activate "Mirror Force" if your opponent declares another attack with another one of their monsters.


 * The Spell/Trap Cards which are not Continuous (or do not have Continuous-like Properties) that are used in the chain are not sent to the Graveyard as they resolve, the are Sent to the Graveyard after the whole chain resolves.
 * e.g. You have "Fairy Wind", "Jar of Greed" and "Reckless Greed" set.
 * Chain Link 1 "Jar of Greed", Chain Link 2 "Fairy Wind", Chain Link 3 "Reckless Greed".
 * During resolution, Chain Link 3 (Draw 2 cards), Chain Link 2 (Destroys all other face-up Spell/Trap Cards, in this case, the cards "Jar of Greed" and "Reckless Greed", and then inflicts damage), Chain Link 1 (Draw 1 card).
 * The remaining cards are now sent to the Graveyard by Game Mechanics, in this case, "Fairy Wind".
 * e.g. You have "Jar of Greed" and "Reckless Greed" set.
 * Chain Link 1 "Jar of Greed", Chain Link 2 "Reckless Greed".
 * During resolution, Chain Link 2 (Draw 2 cards), Chain Link 1 (Draw 1 card).
 * The cards are now sent to the Graveyard by Game Mechanics, in this case, "Jar of Greed" and "Reckless Greed".

Counters

 * Unlike other Counters, for example, A-Counters, Spell Counters are rather special, where only monsters that state that they can hold Spell Counters in their effects can hold Spell Counters.
 * e.g. If "Skill Drain" negates its effect, it also negates the ability to have Spell Counters, so those Spell Counters are removed.
 * If a monster holds A-Counters, and then "Skill Drain" is played, the A-Counters remain on the monster.

Field Spell Cards

 * For when Field Spell Cards will be destroyed when being replaced by another Field Spell Card, see the section on Geartown.

Only Control 1 / There Can Only be 1 Face-Up

 * Cards which say "only control 1" or "There can only be 1 face-up" include: "Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon", "Malefic Red-Eyes B. Dragon", "Malefic Stardust Dragon", "Alector, Sovereign of Birds", "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai", "Earthbound Immortals", "Rai-Jin" and "Gravekeeper's Chief". The following apply to all of them.


 * If "Skill Drain" is negating the effect "There can only be 1 face-up ... monster on the field." of a monster like "Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon", then you still cannot Special Summon a second "Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon", since its effect is still active while it is in the hand.
 * If the monster can be Set, then you can Set the monster. You cannot Flip Summon it, but if it was flipped face-up by battle and was not destroyed, then both copies will remain on the field. If "Skill Drain" is later destroyed, you select one of them to keep and the other copy will be destroyed.

Setting in the Wrong Card Zone

 * You're not meant to do it, but it's funny when an "Infernity" player sets monsters in their Spell/Trap Card Zone just to be handless, or when a player sets a non-Field Spell Card into their Field Spell Zone just to destroy their "Geartown".
 * If you suspect someone of cheating like this, you can't ask them to show you the card, but you can ask the judge (or a neutral onlooker) to verify it. If they are caught cheating, you will then win by default (in a tournament).

Archetypes

 * If a card says it can search for an "X-Saber" card, then you can search for "X-Saber Airbellum" and "XX-Saber Darksoul".
 * If a card says it can search for an "XX-Saber" card, then it can only search for cards like "XX-Saber Darksoul"; it cannot search for "X-Saber Airbellum" because it does not have "XX-Saber" in its name.


 * "Ojamuscle" (En) and "おジャマッスル" ("Ojamassuru") (Jp): English Rulings say it's an "Ojama" Card, they ignored the English Name and based it on the Japanese Name.
 * "Frog the Jam" (En) and "Kaerusuraimu" (Jp): To be a "Frog", the Jap name must have ("ガエル") ("Gaeru") (Jp). Since it says "Kaeru", it's not a "Frog", they ignored the English Name and based it on the Japanese Name again. Instead of a ruling this time, they put the line "except Frog the Jam" if an effect refers to a "Frog" in English cards.


 * Summary: Ignore the English name or any other translation. Only look at the Japanese Name.

A/D Changer
"A/D Changer" can only:
 * face-up Attack --> face-up Defense
 * face-up Defense --> face-up Attack
 * face-down Attack (from "Darkness Approaches") --> face-down Defense
 * face-down Defense --> face-up Attack (think of it as, Game Mechanics flips the card face-up for this one)

"A/D Changer" cannot:
 * face-down Defense --> face-down Attack (because face-down Attack is not a 'legal position' by default; Only a card that specifically says you can have it can do that, e.g. "Darkness Approaches")
 * face-up Attack --> face-down Defense


 * "A/D Changer" has an Ignition Effect, it can only be used during your own Main Phase.

Ally of Justice Catastor

 * Both trigger simultaneously but "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole" is an Optional Trigger Effect and "Ally of Justice Catastor" is is a Mandatory Trigger Effect. So "Catastor" will always be Chain Link 1 and "Mole" will always be Chain Link 2, meaning "Mole" will return itself to hand (and Catastor to the Extra Deck) before "Catastor" resolves (without effect).


 * Monsters are considered to have "battled" if they pass through Damage Calculation (Sub-Step 4). If a monster is removed from the field before Damage Calculation (Sub-Step 1 - 3), then the monsters are not considered to "have battled" and Battle Damage is not applied.
 * So, if a face-up "Legendary Jujitsu Master" is removed from the Field before Damage Calculation by "Ally of Justice Catastor's" effect, then his effect will not be activated during the End of the Damage Step (Sub-Step 7), since it is not considered to have "battled".
 * If he is removed from the Field after Damage Calculation (e.g. "Red Dragon Archfiend"), then his effect will be activated during the End of the Damage Step (Sub-Step 7), since he passed through Damage Calculation and he is considered to have "battled".


 * If "Vylon Disigma" is equipped with a DARK Monster and it battles "Ally of Justice Catastor", then it depends on who attacks (SEGOC):
 * If "Vylon Disigma" attacks, "Vylon Disigma's" effect is Chain Link 1, and "Ally of Justice Catastor's" effect is Chain Link 2.
 * During resolution, "Ally of Justice Catastor's" effect destroys "Vylon Disigma". Then, when "Vylon Disigma's" effect resolves, its Equip Cards are no longer on the Field, so "Ally of Justice Catastor" is not destroyed.
 * If "Ally of Justice Catastor" attacks, "Ally of Justice Catastor's" effect is Chain Link 1 and "Vylon Disigma's" effect is Chain Link 2.
 * During resolution, "Vylon Disigma's" effect destroys "Ally of Justice Catastor". Then, "Ally of Justice Catastor" destroys "Vylon Disigma".

Black Garden

 * If "Black Garden" is already face-up on the field and there are no monsters on either player's field.
 * If "Legendary Six Samurai - Kageki" is Normal Summoned then the Chain goes like this:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Kageki" (Optional Trigger Effect)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Kageki" (Special Summons "Mizuho") (Continuous Effect is applied now, so "Kageki" has 1700 ATK)
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" ("Kageki" now has 850 ATK and a Token is Special Summoned)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" ("Mizuho's" ATK is halved and another Token is Special Summoned)


 * If "Black Garden" is already face-up on the field.
 * If "Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World", "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" and "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" are in your hand; as well as "Card Destruction". When you activate "Card Destruction", the Chain goes like this:
 * Chain Link 1: "Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World" (Mandatory Trigger Effect) (These are all Mandatory Trigger Effects and you control all of them, so you choose what order you want, but this is the example I will use)
 * Chain Link 2: "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" (Mandatory Trigger Effect)
 * Chain Link 3: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Mandatory Trigger Effect)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Special Summoned)
 * Chain Link 2: "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" (Special Summoned)
 * Chain Link 1: "Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World" (Special Summoned)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Response to "Goldd" being Summoned)
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Garden" (Response to "Sillva" being Summoned)
 * Chain Link 3: "Black Garden" (Response to "Beiige" being Summoned)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Black Garden" ("Beiige's" ATK is halved and one Token is Special Summoned)
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Garden" ("Sillva's" ATK is halved and another Token is Special Summoned)
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" ("Goldd's" ATK is halved and yet another Token is Special Summoned)


 * If a Special Summoning effect Special Summons multiple monsters simultaneously, then the ATK of all the monsters will be halved and only one Token is Special Summoned. This is because "Black Garden" counts the number of times a Special Summon occurs, not how many monsters were Special Summoned.
 * If "Black Garden" is already face-up on the field.
 * e.g. "Gottoms' Emergency Call"
 * Chain Link 1: "Gottoms' Emergency Call" (Selects 2 Targets, for example, "XX-Saber Fulhelmknight" and "XX-Saber Gardestrike")
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Gottoms' Emergency Call" (Special Summons the Targetted monsters simultaneously)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (The ATK of "Gardestrike" and "Fulhelmknight" are halved simultaneously and one Token is Special Summoned)


 * You control "Black Garden" and "King Tiger Wanghu". If a monster with more than 1400 ATK is Summoned:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Response to the monster with more than 1400 ATK)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Halves ATK, Special Summons a Token)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Response to the Token)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Destroys the Token)

The first scenario is:
 * You control "Black Garden" and "King Tiger Wanghu". If a monster with 1400 or less ATK is Summoned, since you control both, you can choose the order of the 2 Mandatory Trigger Effects, per SEGOC.
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Response to the monster with 1400 or less ATK)
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Garden" (Response to the monster with 1400 or less ATK)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Garden" (Halves ATK, Special Summons a Token)
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Destroys the monster)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Response to the Token)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Wanghu" (Destroys the Token)

The second scenario is:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Response to the monster with 1400 or less ATK)
 * Chain Link 2: "Wanghu" (Response to the monster with 1400 or less ATK)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Wanghu" (Destroys the monster)
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Could not halve the ATK, so it does not Special Summon a Token)


 * For "Scapegoat" vs. "Black Garden", this depends on who controls the cards.
 * If you control both "Black Garden" and "Scapegoat". If you activate "Scapegoat":
 * Chain Link 1: "Scapegoat"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Scapegoat" (Special Summons 4 Tokens, and sets the condition that you cannot Summon any more)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Response to the Summon)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (The ATK of all 4 Tokens are halved simultaneously; and zero Tokens are Special Summoned, since you cannot Summon because of "Scapegoat's" condition)
 * If your opponent controls "Black Garden" and you activate "Scapegoat":
 * Chain Link 1: "Scapegoat"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Scapegoat" (Special Summons 4 Tokens, and sets the condition that you cannot Summon any more)
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (Response to the Summon)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Black Garden" (The ATK of all 4 Tokens are halved simultaneously (half of 0 is 0, and yes that counts); and one Token is Special Summoned since the monsters were Summoned simultaneously)


 * When a monster is Summoned face-up, if an effect is chained to flip the monster face-down (or to remove the monster from the field) before the effect of "Black Garden" resolves, then you do not Summon a "Rose Token" because you could not halve the ATK.


 * For "Black Garden" vs. "Monarchs", it is basically the same as "Future Visions" vs. "Monarchs" in the section below, I don't feel like repeating it and typing it out again at the moment, I might do it later though.

Bottomless Trap Hole

 * Bottomless Trap Hole vs. Continuous Monster Effect ATK Boost
 * Any continuous ATK/DEF changing effect will be applied immediately on summon, and the monster will be considered as 'summoned with' that ATK.
 * e.g. when "Fortune Lady Dark" is successfully summoned, her stat boost is applied immediately and she is 'summoned with' 2000 ATK, so Bottomless can be used against her.
 * e.g. when "Command Knight" is successfully summoned, his stat boost is applied immediately and he is 'summoned with' 1600 ATK, so Bottomless can be used against him.
 * Note that "Arcanite Magician's" Spell Counter gaining effect is a Trigger Effect, so when he is successfully summoned, he is 'summoned with' 400 ATK, so "Bottomless" cannot be used against it. At this time, its Trigger Effect activates, and when it resolves, it will have 2 Spell Counters. Only now will he have 2400 ATK, but it is now too late to activate "Bottomless Trap Hole".

Creature Swap

 * The destroyed monster will always return to the Original Owner's Graveyard.
 * Cards such as "Sangan", "Dandylion", "Mystic Tomato", "Pyramid Turtle", "Goblin Zombie", "Troop Dragon", "Nimble Momonga", etc, activate in the Graveyard. Since the cards will always be sent to the Original Owner's Graveyard, the Original Owner always controls the effect.


 * Neither player can activate "Creature Swap" if the only monster you control is "Blindly Loyal Goblin", "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV4" or "Botanical Lion". If you control "Blindly Loyal Goblin" and 1 other monster when "Creature Swap" is activated, you must select the other monster.


 * Tokens are considered to be Normal Monsters, so yes, their control can be swapped.


 * If your opponent controls your monster which says "by your opponent's card", its effect will not activate when it is destroyed by either player's card.
 * This applies to cards including "Anarchist Monk Ranshin", "Atomic Scrap Dragon", "Dark Necrofear", "Dragunity Arma Leyvaten", "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai", "Lightning Tricorn", "Loki, Lord of the Aesir", "Naturia Cherries", "Phantom Beast Rock-Lizard", "Power Breaker", "Sacred Knight Joan", "Scrap Dragon", "Scrap Twin Dragon", "Shark Cruiser", "Stardust Phantom", "Thor, Lord of the Aesir", "Tiki Soul", "Vampire Lord", "Vanguard of the Dragon", "Voltic Bicorn", "Wattdragonfly", "Wattfox" and "Wattlemur".
 * Furthermore, "Exchanged" "Dark World" monsters will not get their "by your opponent's card" effect either when they are discarded by either player's card.

Dark World

 * When Synchro Summoning, the cards are 'Sent' the the Graveyard, not 'Discarded'. "Dark Worlds" don't activate when being 'Sent', so cards like "Eccentric Boy" will not Trigger their effects.


 * "Dark World" monsters say that they only Trigger when Discarded by a Card Effect. Costs are not Card Effects, so if you Discard them for a Cost (e.g. "Snipe Hunter"), it will not Trigger.
 * "Fabled" monsters on the other hand, generally do not say "by a Card Effect", and since they only care about being Discarded, they will Trigger when Discarded by either a Cost or a Card Effect. They also will not miss the timing only because they are Mandatory Trigger Effects.

Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude

 * "Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude" has a rather special effect, "If it is a Normal Spell Card, send it to the Graveyard and you can activate its effect  during the Main Phase of your next turn."
 * Since you are activating the effect and not activating the card itself, you get to bypass Activation Requirements and Costs.
 * A very good list can be found at The list of Normal Spells that benefit from being sent to the Graveyard by Diamond Dude.
 * e.g. "The Beginning of the End" has an Activation Condition and it has a Cost, both will be ignored, so you draw 3 cards, essentially for free.


 * A common misunderstanding is that it only bypass Activation Requirements and Costs, it does not bypass parts of effects. "Pot of Avarice" has no cost. You must return 5 monsters before you can draw 2 cards.

Dandylion

 * "Debris Dragon" + "Dandylion" --> "Black Rose Dragon"
 * The effect of "Dandylion" activates after "Black Rose Dragon" is successfully Summoned. The effect of "Black Rose Dragon" also activates at this time, so the two effects form a Chain according to SEGOC.

"Dandylion" has a Trigger Effect that Activates in the Graveyard, so Debris Dragon doesn't negate it; it also has a Mandatory Trigger Effect so it doesn't Miss the Timing.
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Mandatory Triggers will always be first)
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Rose Dragon" (Optional Triggers will always go after Mandatory Triggers)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Rose Dragon" (destroys all cards on the field)
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Special Summons the Tokens)


 * "Plaguespreader Zombie" + "Doppelwarrior" + "Dandylion" --> "Black Rose Dragon"
 * "Plaguespreader Zombie", "Doppelwarrior" and "Dandylion" are sent to the Graveyard (if "Plaguespreader Zombie" was Special Summoned with its effect, it will be removed from play instead; this does not use a chain).
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Doppelwarrior" (Optional Trigger)
 * Chain Link 3" "Black Rose Dragon" (Optional Trigger) (Note Chain Links 2 and 3 can be swapped, per SEGOC)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Black Rose Dragon" (destroys all cards on the field)
 * Chain Link 2: "Doppelwarrior" (Special Summons the Tokens)
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Special Summons the Tokens)


 * "Plaguespreader Zombie" + "Doppelwarrior" + "Dandylion" --> "Black Rose Dragon", then the opponent uses "Solemn Judgment"/"Solemn Warning" to negate the Summon of "Black Rose Dragon"
 * "Plaguespreader Zombie", "Doppelwarrior" and "Dandylion" are sent to the Graveyard (if "Plaguespreader Zombie" was Special Summoned with its effect, it will be removed from play instead; this does not use a chain).
 * Chain Link 1: "Solemn Judgment"/"Solemn Warning"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Solemn Judgment"/"Solemn Warning" (Negates the Summon of "Black Rose Dragon")
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * ("Doppelwarrior" isn't considered to be sent to the Graveyard for any purpose, so its effect does not activate)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Special Summons the Tokens)


 * "Plaguespreader Zombie" + "Doppelwarrior" + "Dandylion" --> "Black Rose Dragon", and the opponent wants to use "Bottomless Trap Hole"
 * "Plaguespreader Zombie", "Doppelwarrior" and "Dandylion" are sent to the Graveyard (if "Plaguespreader Zombie" was Special Summoned with its effect, it will be removed from play instead; this does not use a chain).
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Doppelwarrior" (Optional Trigger)
 * Chain Link 3" "Black Rose Dragon" (Optional Trigger) (Note Chain Links 2 and 3 can be swapped, per SEGOC)
 * Chain Link 4" "Bottomless Trap Hole"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 4" "Bottomless Trap Hole" (Banishes "Black Rose Dragon")
 * Chain Link 3: "Black Rose Dragon" (destroys the rest of the cards on the field)
 * Chain Link 2: "Doppelwarrior" (Special Summons the Tokens)
 * Chain Link 1: "Dandylion" (Special Summons the Tokens)

Exodia

 * Currently, there are no cards that can 'stop' "Exodia". It is Condition and it does not start a chain, so cards like Debunk and Divine Wrath cannot be used on it. The best you can do is to prevent your opponent from being able to accumulate all the pieces in the first place.


 * The player with the 5 pieces will just win; the Duel ends there. (The opponent's Life Points do not change, and will lose even if they have 8000+ Life Points)

Future Visions

 * "Future Visions" vs. Ignition Effects (Priority) and Trigger Effects.


 * Trigger Effects (e.g. "Fortune Lady Wind") and Trigger-like Effects (e.g. "Black Whirlwind") will form a chain with Future Visions.
 * Mandatory Trigger Effects will be added to the chain before Optional Trigger Effects (See also: SEGOC)
 * Chain Link 1: "Future Visions" (Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Fortune Lady Wind" (Optional Trigger) / "Black Whirlwind" (Optional Trigger)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Fortune Lady Wind" (Destroys S/Ts, she counts herself since she's still on the Field) / "Black Whirlwind" (Adds card to hand)
 * Chain Link 1: "Future Visions" (Banishes "Wind"/"Blackwing" monster)


 * Ignition Effects (e.g. "Rescue Cat"/"Phantom of Chaos") cannot be 'Prioritised' when "Future Visions" is on the field. "Future Visions" is a Field Spell with 'Trigger-like' Properties. Triggers 'steal' priority and are always Chain Link 1. Ignition Effects are Spell Speed 1 so they cannot chain to it either. so "Rescue Cat"/"Phantom of Chaos" will be Banished and cannot use its effect yet.


 * "Future Visions" vs. "Monarchs" (In-depth)


 * As mentioned above, Trigger Effects would form a chain with "Future Visions", so you will get the effects of "Monarchs". However, the order will depend on which Monarch you are using.
 * I'll assume that the Opponent Controls "Future Visions" and you (the Turn Player) is Summoning the "Monarch" in these Chains.


 * For "Mobius"/"Kuraz", the chain will be:
 * Chain Link 1: "Future Visions" (Opponent Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Mobius"/"Kuraz" (Turn Player Optional Trigger, selects Target(s))
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Mobius"/"Kuraz" (Destroys Cards)
 * Chain Link 1: "Future Visions" (If "Mobius"/"Kuraz" did NOT destroy this card, then they will now be Banished. If "Mobius"/"Kuraz" did destroy this card, then the effect will resolve without effect since Field Spells are considered to be Continuous and must be face-up on the Field on resolution in order to resolve with an effect.)


 * For "Caius"/"Granmarg"/"Thestalos"/"Raiza"/"Zaborg", the chain will be:
 * Chain Link 1: "Caius"/"Granmarg"/"Thestalos"/"Raiza"/"Zaborg" (Turn Player Mandatory Trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Future Visions" (Opponent Mandatory Trigger)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Future Visions" (Banishes Monster)
 * Chain Link 1: "Caius"/"Granmarg"/"Thestalos"/"Raiza"/"Zaborg"


 * "Beast King Barbaros" 3 Tribute mode's effect will form a chain with "Future Visions" (read SEGOC for more info). Both will resolve, you choose the order if you control both "Future Visions" and "Barbaros".
 * If "Beast King Barbaros" is removed from the field, when it is returned it's ATK will be 3000, even if you don't use tributes.


 * If "Future Visions" Banishes a Normal Summoned monster and afterwards "Future Visions" is removed from the field, then the monster remains in the Banished Zone. If a second copy of "Future Visions" is activated before the next Standby Phase, then the second copy of "Future Visions" cannot return a monster that was Banished by the first copy of "Future Visions" because it did not Banish that monster.


 * Because you return the monsters 'during the Standby phase', you will return the "Fortune Lady", and then apply the levelling up effect, so it will gain a level.


 * Future Visions vs. Necroface
 * Both "Future Visions" and "Necroface's" first effect are Mandatory Trigger Effects.


 * If you control them both, then you can choose which order they activate in.
 * If you put "Necroface" first in the Chain and "Future Visions" second,
 * "Future Visions" will Banish "Necroface", then "Necroface's" effect will shuffle all Banished cards (including itself) back into the deck.


 * If you put "Future Visions" first in the Chain and "Necroface" second,
 * "Necroface's" effect will shuffle all Banished cards back into the deck, then "Future Visions" will Banish "Necroface".


 * If the "Future Visions" is controlled by the opponent, "Necroface" will automatically be Chain Link 1, then "Future Visions" is Chain Link 2. (SEGOC)


 * Either way, "Necroface's" second effect will now trigger after the whole chain (above) has finished resolving, both players will then Banish the top 5 cards of their Decks.
 * If "Necroface" wasn't shuffled back into the deck, he will be returned to the Field during the Standby Phase of your next turn. If he was shuffled back into the deck, then he can't return.

Geartown

 * "Geartown" vs. "Mystical Space Typhoon" (Only Destroys; Does not Negate the Activation)
 * Chain Link 1: "Geartown"
 * Chain Link 2: "Mystical Space Typhoon" (Targets "Geartown")
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Mystical Space Typhoon" (Destroys "Geartown")
 * Chain Link 1: "Geartown" (Still attempts to resolve since its Activation was Not Negated, but resolves without effect due to its continuous-like properties)
 * "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed cannot be used since the last thing is not "Geartown" being destroyed, it was Geartown resolving.


 * "Geartown" vs. "Solemn Judgment" (Negates the Activation and Destroys)
 * Chain Link 1: "Geartown"
 * Chain Link 2: "Solemn Judgment" (Pays half LP)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Solemn Judgment" (Negates the Activation and Destroys "Geartown")
 * Chain Link 1: "Geartown" (Activation was Negated so nothing happens here)
 * "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed can be used since the last thing that happened was "Geartown" being destroyed.


 * "Geartown" is already active in this example (you control both Field Spells). You activate a Field Spell Card (e.g. "Umi"):
 * Game Mechanics destroys "Geartown"
 * Chain Link 1: "Umi"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Umi"
 * "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed cannot be used since the last thing is not "Geartown" being destroyed, but was the other Field Spell resolving.


 * "Geartown" is already active in this example (you control both Field Spells). You Set a Field Spell Card (e.g. "Umi"):
 * Game Mechanics destroys Geartown
 * No Chain Link for Sets: "Umi" is Set
 * It was a set, nothing resolves:
 * "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed can be used since the last thing that happened was "Geartown" being destroyed.


 * "Geartown" is already active in this example (Initial "Geartown" is controlled by the opponent). You activate a Field Spell Card (e.g. "Umi"):
 * Chain Link 1: "Umi"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Umi"
 * Game Mechanics destroys "Geartown"
 * The opponent's "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed can be used since the last thing that happened was Geartown being destroyed.


 * "Geartown" is already active in this example.
 * Chain Link 1: "Ancient Fairy Dragon" (Effect to destroy Field Spell and gain 1000 LP)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Ancient Fairy Dragon" (Destroys Field Spell and gains 1000 LP, simultaneously)
 * Then chooses to activate the other effect of adding a field spell to hand, and adds a Field Spell to hand.
 * Geartown's optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed cannot be used since the last thing is not Geartown being destroyed, but was the adding of a field spell to your hand.


 * "Geartown" is already active in this example.
 * Chain Link 1: Ancient Fairy Dragon (Destroys Field Spell and gains 1000 LP, simultaneously)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: Ancient Fairy Dragon (Destroys Field and gain 1000 LP)
 * Then chooses not to activate the other effect of adding a Field Spell to hand.
 * "Geartown's" optional effect of summoning a monster when it's destroyed can be used since the last thing that happened was "Geartown" being destroyed.

Gorz the Emissary of Darkness/Tragoedia/Jurrac Herra‎/Battle Fader

 * These are Trigger Effects which activate in the hand and Special Summons a monster. It seems like Konami wants it so that only one of these is allowed per chain, so if you have multiple copies of "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness"/"Tragoedia"/"Battle Fader"/"Jurrac Herra‎"/"Wing Tortoise‎" in your hand, then you can only Special Summon one of them, you cannot Special Summon them all. The same applies to "Voltanis the Adjudicator"/"Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord"/"Cyber Dinosaur", and also "Watapon". The only exception seems to be "Infernity Archfiend" (BKSS).
 * e.g. If you have 1 copy of "Gorz" and 1 copy of "Tragoedia" in your hand when your opponent declares a direct attack when you have no cards on your side of the field, after Damage Calculation you can only activate the effect of 1 of the cards. If you activate "Gorz's" effect, you cannot activate "Tragoedia's" effect; and vice versa.
 * e.g. You can only Special Summon 1 copy of "Jurrac Herra" when a "Jurrac" monster is destroyed by battle. If you have multiple copies of "Jurrac Herra" in your hand and/or Graveyard, you cannot Special Summon them all.
 * e.g. If you have 2 copies of "Battle Fader" in your hand and your opponent declares an attack, you can only activate the effect of 1 of them. You cannot Special Summon them both that turn.


 * Note: This only applies to cards which are Trigger Effects AND Special Summon themselves; so it does not apply to Quick Effects in the hand (e.g. You can activate multiple "Honests" per chain); it does not apply to Trigger Effects which do not Special Summon (e.g. You can activate multiple "Blackwing - Etesian of Two Swords" per chain); and it does not apply to Trigger Effects in the Graveyard (e.g. You can activate multiple "Infernity Avengers"/"X-Saber Palomuros" per chain and Special Summon them all).


 * "Spirit Reaper"/"X-Saber Airbellum" vs. "Gorz"/"Tragoedia"
 * Both effects are Trigger Effects, and were triggered by the same thing (inflicting battle damage). In accordance to SEGOC, as a Mandatory Trigger Effect, "Spirit Reaper"/"X-Saber Airbellum" will be Chain Link 1, and as an Optional Trigger Effect, "Gorz"/"Tragoedia" will be Chain Link 2. During resolution "Gorz"/"Tragoedia" will be Special Summoned first, then you discard 1 card (if you do not have any other cards, then Chain Link 1 resolves without effect).


 * You cannot use "Bottomless Trap Hole" or "Royal Oppression" on "Gorz"/"Tragoedia" after inflicting battle damage because you cannot activate "Bottomless" or "Oppression" in the Damage Step.
 * You cannot use "Solemn Judgment" on "Gorz"/"Tragoedia"; but you can use "Solemn Warning" on "Gorz"/"Tragoedia", see the above section on Summon Negation vs. Negating Effects that Special Summon for more info.
 * You can also use other Counter Traps which negates effects, such as "Divine Wrath" or "Gladiator Beast War Chariot".

Heart of the Underdog

 * "Heart of the Underdog's" effect activates during your Draw Phase, so it is still your Draw Phase, when you use its effect
 * If you have 3 copies of "Heart of the Underdog" when you draw a Normal Monster in the Draw Phase, they activate simultaneously and form a chain. You'll draw 1 card in each Chain Link. However you can only activate them again if the last of the 3 cards drawn is a Normal Monster. If one of the first 2 is a Normal Monster and the third one isn't, you will have missed the timing and cannot draw again.

Honest/Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow

 * "Honest"/"Kalut" is activated in the Damage Step, so you cannot chain "Waboku" to it because "Waboku" cannot be activated in the Damage Step. If anyone says that "Waboku" works against "Honest"/"Kalut", then they only mean if you use "Waboku" when they declare an attack with a weaker monster; that will either waste their attack and monster or make them waste their "Honest"/"Kalut" to save their monster.


 * If "Injection Fairy Lily" is attacking a player who uses "Honest" then "Injection Fairy Lily" can win. There is only one chain allowed in Substep 4: "During Damage Calculation".
 * If the player attacks and activates "Injection Fairy Lily's" effect in Substep 4:
 * Chain Link 1: "Injection Fairy Lily"
 * Chain Link 2: Opponent Chains "Honest"
 * "Honest" resolves first, gaining 400 ATK and then "Injection Fairy Lily" will gain 3000 ATK.
 * However, if the "Honest" user is attacking they will win if they use Priority to activate "Honest" first in Substep 4.


 * "Honest" vs. "Shrink"
 * This is ruled to be different between the two Card Games.
 * In TCG, "Honest's" boost will be re-applied to the ATK of your "LIGHT" monster after "Shrink" resolves.
 * In OCG, the ATK boost will be erased after "Shrink" resolves.


 * Honest vs. Gaia Plate the Earth Giant
 * Using "Lumina" as the example:
 * "Gaia Plate the Earth Giant's" effect continuously re-calculates the 'Current Attack' of the monster it is battling during Damage Calculation. It is not a Trigger Effect.
 * This means that each time a monsters ATK or DEF is changed Damage Calculation, "Gaia's" Continuous Monster Effect automatically adjusts it to half of its total current value.
 * When entering Damage Calculation, "Lumina" will immediately have 500 ATK (half of 1000 is 500).
 * Anytime a monsters ATK or DEF stat is changed, you take the value of that stat before Damage Calculation was entered and you add/subtract the change to the value of the stat during Damage Calculation (in this example, "Honest's" effect), and then you halve it.
 * If the effect of "Honest" is used, "Lumina" will gain 2800 ATK. "Gaia Plate's" effect will recalculate "Lumina's" current ATK.
 * Now we add "Lumina's" ATK before Damage Calculation was entered, which was 1000, to 2800, which is 3800.
 * Now we halve "Lumina's" attack, half of 3800 is 1900.
 * "Lumina" will have 1900 ATK and "Gaia Plate" will have 2800 ATK, so "Gaia Plate" destroys "Lumina" by battle.

Light and Darkness Dragon

 * "Light and Darkness Dragon" has lots of rulings already, so be sure to check Card Rulings:Light and Darkness Dragon as well.


 * "Light and Darkness Dragon" negates the Activation of effects. If the Activation of a Trigger Effect that occurs during a certain Phase that doesn't say 'Once per turn' and doesn't have any other requirements is negated, it will Trigger again during the same Phase. This will cause "Light and Darkness Dragon's" Mandatory Quick Effect to occur again, decreasing its ATK and DEF by another 500; this will repeat until "Light and Darkness Dragon" has 800 ATK / 400 DEF where "Light and Darkness Dragon" will activate but will resolve without effect because it cannot lose 500 DEF. At this point, "Light and Darkness Dragon" is pretty much rendered useless and you can destroy it with card effects or by battle really easily.
 * Cards which will cause this loop include:
 * "Lightsworn" monsters / "Judgment Dragon" (End Phase mill)
 * "Fortune Ladies" (Level Up effect)
 * "Majestic Mech" monsters / "Worm Prince" / "Infernal Dragon" / "Gaia Soul the Combustible Collective" (End Phase suicide effect)
 * "Solar Flare Dragon" (End Phase burn effect)
 * "Plague Wolf" / "Karate Man" (End Phase suicide effect will Trigger, even if LaDD negates its Ignition Effect)
 * "Spirit" Monsters / "The Wicked Worm Beast" / "Gishki Emilia" (Returning to hand at End Phase)
 * "Treeborn Frog" / "Naturia Pineapple" / "Samsara Lotus" / "The Immortal Bushi" / "Totem Dragon"
 * "X-Saber Pashuul" (Standby Phase effect)
 * "Gladiator Beast Secutor"
 * "Destiny Hero - Defender"
 * "Magical Android"
 * "Temporal Machine God Metaion" (Standby Phase return to deck effect)
 * Similarly, you can do this with some Ignition Effects, since they don't say 'Once per turn' are are not removed from where they are as a Cost, you can activate their effect again and again. These cards include:
 * "Honest" / "Gem-Elephant" (Returning to hand effect)
 * "Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress"
 * "The Agent of Creation - Venus" (Requires at least 1 "Mystical Shine Ball" in your hand or Deck)
 * "Playful Possum" / "The Wicked Eraser" (Suicide effect)
 * "Gallis the Star Beast" (Revealing is the only Cost, the rest is negated, then you can do it again since it doesn't stay revealed)
 * "Cyber Valley" (Second effect)
 * "Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor" (Requires another "Blackwing" in Graveyard and a corresponding "Blackwing" Synchro in your Extra Deck)
 * "Level Eater" (Requires you to control a Level 5 or higher monster)
 * "Quillbolt Hedgehog" (Requires a Tuner on the field)

Mist Valley Falcon

 * "Falcon of Mist Valley" has a Continuous Effect that gives it a Cost.
 * "Fortune Lady Light" is removed from the field by the Cost, not by the effect so her effect won't activate. "Skill Drain" removes the effect, which removes the Cost.


 * The Cost of returning 1 card is applied when "Falcon of Mist Valley" declares an attack.

Mystical Refpanel

 * "Activate only when a Spell Card that targets 1 player is activated. The effect of that Spell Card is applied to the other player instead."
 * The effect is terribly worded. There are no cards that can 'target' a player. The wording should instead be something like:
 * "Activate only when a Spell Card that affects 1 player is activated. The effect of that Spell Card is applied to the other player instead."
 * A list of pretty much every card that this card can be used against can be found at The Mystical Refpanel List.

Necrovalley

 * You must follow the newest errata. At the time of this, the card says "Cards in either player's Graveyard cannot be affected by card effects, except for their own effects." So:
 * "Colossal Fighter's" effect can activate, but it must select itself as the Target for its effect.
 * "Grandmaster of the Six Samurai's" effect can activate, but it must select itself as the Target for its effect.
 * "Rekindling" and "Monster Reborn" cannot be activated while "Necrovalley" is face-up on the field.

Polymerization (and other 'Fusion' cards)

 * If the effect of a "Fusion" card is negated, sending Fusion Material Monsters is not a Cost, so no 'would-be Fusion Material Monsters' are sent anywhere and no monsters are Summoned.

Pyro Clock of Destiny

 * "Pyro Clock of Destiny" does not affect the Phases or the Turn of the game at all.
 * It's worded badly, but how it works is you select one effect which is already active and is counting Turns, and you advance that effect's count by one.
 * "Pyro Clock of Destiny" does not affect anything outside of that one selected effect.


 * As of the time of writing this, "Pyro Clock of Destiny" can only affect:
 * "Crush Card Virus", "Deck Devastation Virus", "Eradicator Epidemic Virus"
 * "Nightmare's Steelcage", "Swords of Revealing Light"
 * "Big Evolution Pill", "Final Countdown", "Harpie Lady 3", "Lightforce Sword", "Steel Scorpion", "Swordsman from a Foreign Land", "The Wicked Avatar" and "Zone Eater".


 * "Fortune Lady" monsters do not have an effect which counts turns. Their effect only activates at a certain time, similar to "Lightsworn" monsters. "Pyro Clock of Destiny" will have no effect on any of them, and you cannot select them for the effect either.


 * "Wave-Motion Cannon"/"Future Fusion"/"Gold Sarcophagus" do not have an effect which counts turns. Their effect counts Standby Phases, not Turns.


 * "Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth"/"Petit Moth"/"Cocoon of Evolution" don't have an effect which counts Turns, so "Pyro Clock of Destiny" does not work with them. They are Summoning Conditions, not effects.

Self-Destruct Button

 * The Duel can end in the middle of a Chain, so if someone used "Self-Destruct Button", no one can save themselves by chaining a Life Point gaining effect to it.

Spell of Pain/Barrel Behind the Door

 * "Spell of Pain"/"Barrel Behind the Door" cannot be used against "Brain Research Lab"/"Limiter Removal" because the effect which inflicts damage does not start a Chain. They cannot be used against the initial activation of those cards either because they do not inflict damage at that time.


 * For "Spell of Pain"/"Barrel Behind the Door" vs. "Wave-Motion Cannon", see the section on "Wave-Motion Cannon", below.

Spirit Reaper

 * It's worded really badly... as with a few other cards which are similar.
 * "Bountiful Artemis" says "Draw 1 card from your Deck each time a Counter Trap Card is activated." - Um... no it's a Continuous Effect that is applied after the Counter Trap Card resolves.
 * "Magical Citadel of Endymion" says "Each time a Spell Card is activated, place 1 Spell Counter on this card." - Once again, it's wrong, the Spell Counter is placed on "Citadel" after the resolution of the Spell Card.
 * "Spirit Reaper" says "Destroy this card when it is targeted by the effect..." - I hope you can at least guess it by now, "Spirit Reaper" does not destroy itself when it is selected as the Target, it destroys itself only if it is still face-up on the field after the Targetting effect resolves.
 * e.g. If "Spirit Reaper" is targeted by "Book of Moon", then "Spirit Reaper" is face-down after the effect finishes resolving, so "Spirit Reaper" is not destroyed.
 * e.g. If "Spirit Reaper" is targeted by "Compulsory Evacuation Device", then "Spirit Reaper" is in your hand after the effect finishes resolving, so "Spirit Reaper" is not destroyed.

Stardust Dragon

 * You can use "Stardust Dragon's" effect on "Bottomless Trap Hole" because Bottomless says: " Destroy and remove from play the monster(s)." In this case, the whole effect will be negated and no monsters are Banished.


 * "Gladiator Beast Secutor"/"Gyzarus" --> "Bestiari"/"Murmillo" and "Darius" vs. "Stardust Dragon"
 * "Secutor"/"Gyzarus" summons both "Gladiator Beasts" simultaneously, and they will trigger simultaneously
 * "Secutor"/"Gyzarus" summons "Bestiari"/"Murmillo" and "Darius". One is a Mandatory Trigger, the other is Optional, so must go in this order per SEGOC.
 * Chain Link 1: "Bestiari"/"Murmillo" (mandatory trigger)
 * Chain Link 2: "Darius" (optional trigger)
 *  No-one is allowed to 'interrupt' Triggers that activate simultaneously (i.e. No-one can activate any new effects until the whole chain has resolved; Continuous effects will still by applied, they do not activate),
 * so "Stardust Dragon" can't negate "Bestiari"/"Murmillo".
 * Also note that a card that specifically negates must be chained directly to the thing it is negating.


 * Similarly, for "Zaborg" and "Stumbling" vs. "Stardust Dragon"
 * "Stardust" can't touch Chain Link 1 if Chain Link 2 is already triggered:
 * (assuming you control both effects, so you can choose the order of the trigger effects, this is the best order)
 * Chain Link 1: "Zaborg" (mandatory trigger, selects Target)
 * Chain Link 2: "Stumbling" (mandatory trigger)
 * "Stardust" can't touch Chain Link 1.
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Stumbling"
 * Chain Link 1: "Zaborg" (destroys Targetted monster)
 * If it was "Mobius" and not "Zaborg" then the optional trigger of "Mobius" will always go after "Stumbling" (SEGOC) so "Stardust" can negate that.


 * "Stardust Dragon" and its other forms are mistranslated the lore should be something like "negate the activation of a [Spell, Trap, or Effect Monster's effect ] that destroys a card(s)". So it can be used to negate both the Activation of a Card, and the Activation of the Effect of a card; but only if it would destroy something at the time. So it can be used to negate the Activation of the Effect of "Ancient Forest" after the Battle Phase, but it cannot be used to negate the Activation of the Card because it doesn't destroy at that time.


 * "Skill Drain" only negates an activated monster effect if the monster is face-up on the field when the effect tries to resolve. Since "Stardust Dragon" tributes itself as the Cost for his negation effect, it will therefore not be negated.


 * My "Stardust" vs. Opponent's "Stardust" vs. My Other "Stardust"
 * This is probably best explained if I used an example.
 * Chain Link 1: Opponent's "Lightning Vortex"
 * Chain Link 2: Your 1st "Stardust Dragon" (Tributes for Cost)
 * Chain Link 3: Opponent's "Stardust Dragon" (Tributes for Cost)
 * Chain Link 1 and 2 are trying to destroy cards on the field. Chain Link 3 is not; while it is going to negate the destruction effect, no cards on the field will be destroyed by chain link 3's resolution. So another "Stardust Dragon" can't be added as chain link 4.


 * The Special Summon by the effect of "Starlight Road" is not treated as a Synchro Summon. Thus, if the Special Summoned "Stardust Dragon" activates its effect and Tributes itself, then during the End Phase it cannot Special Summon itself. Likewise, the Special Summoned Stardust Dragon cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard by effects like "Call of the Haunted". This is because Synchro Monsters are treated as Semi-Nomi by default.


 * "Descending Lost Star" will negate effects that Activate and Resolve on the field. "Stardust Dragon's" effect Activates and Resolves on the field.
 * However, "Wicked Rebirth" works differently and will not negate "Stardust Dragon's" effect. This is only because "Wicked Rebirth" is a Continuous Card; when "Stardust Dragon" Tributes itself for Cost, it is not attached to "Wicked Rebirth's" Continuous Effect any more, so it will not be negated.

Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode

 * What can't "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" Negate?
 * "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" can negate as long as the effect of the card starts a Chain Link, so:
 * "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" can't negate Continuous Effects (e.g. "Jinzo").
 * "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode" can't negate Maintenance Costs (e.g. "Koa'ki Meiru" monsters), and can't negate Summoning Conditions ("Cyber Dragon"), because they are Conditions, not effects.
 * It can't negate "Super Polymerization".


 * How to kill "Stardust Dragon" and "Stardust Dragon/Assault Mode":
 * Just to name a few:
 * Counter Trap Cards such as "Divine Wrath" and "Gladiator Beast War Chariot".
 * Tribute it for a cost, in the case of "Volcanic Queen" and "Lava Golem".
 * Cards that cannot be chained to, like "Super Polymerization" (to get "Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste" against "Stardust Dragon" only, or somehow get "Five God Dragon" against either of them)
 * Banish it while it is in the Graveyard with cards like "D.D. Crow"; or get any of these cards out while "SD/AM" is off the field for some reason: "Mask of Restrict", "Dimensional Fissure", "Macro Cosmos", "Royal Oppression".
 * As for "Stardust Dragon", any of the above, and also cards that don't destroy; like "Compulsory Evacuation Device", "Dimensional Prison" and "Neo-Spacian Grand Mole".

Rekindling

 * "Rekindling" does not Target. See the above section on Targetting for more information.


 * If a monster(s) Special Summoned by "Rekindling" are flipped face-down or removed from the field (e.g. for a Synchro Summon), those monsters will not be Banished during the End Phase. The it is ruled that the monsters must remain face-up on the field the whole time in order for "Rekindling's" Lingering Effect to Banish them.

Royal Oppression

 * You have a "Black Whirlwind" and a "Royal Oppression", both face-up on the field. You Normal Summon "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" and activate its effect. Since you control both, you choose the order per SEGOC; Blizzard shall be Chain Link 1:
 * Chain Link 1: "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" (Optional Trigger due to Normal Summon, selects Target)
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Whirlwind" (Optional Trigger due to Normal Summon)
 * Chain Link 2 has already occurred, so "Royal Oppression" cannot touch Chain Link 1, so it cannot negate "Blizzard's" effect. You could not have made "Royal Oppression" as Chain Link 2 because you cannot interrupt Trigger Effects.
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Black Whirlwind" (Adds card to hand)
 * Chain Link 1: "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" (Special Summons Targetted monster)
 * (a similar example can be found in the section for "Stardust Dragon" vs. Multiple Triggers)


 * You have a "Card Destruction", "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" and "Broww, Huntsman of Dark World" in your hand, your opponent has a "Royal Oppression" on the field. You activate "Card Destruction":
 * Chain Link 1: "Card Destruction"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Card Destruction"
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Since you control both Goldd and Broww, and both are the same Mandatory Trigger Effects, you can choose the order of these two, but this is the best order for you to use)
 * Chain Link 2: "Broww, Huntsman of Dark World"
 * Chain Link 2 has already occurred, so "Royal Oppression" cannot touch Chain Link 1, so it cannot negate "Goldd's" effect. You could not have made "Royal Oppression" as Chain Link 2 because you cannot interrupt Trigger Effects.
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 2: "Broww, Huntsman of Dark World" (Draw a card)
 * Chain Link 1: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Special Summons itself)


 * You have a "Card Destruction", "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" and "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" in your hand, your opponent has a "Royal Oppression" on the field. You activate "Card Destruction":
 * Chain Link 1: "Card Destruction"
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Card Destruction"
 * New Chain:
 * Chain Link 1: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Since you control both Goldd and Sillva, and both are the same Mandatory Trigger Effects, you can choose the order of these two, but this is the example order I will use)
 * Chain Link 2: "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World"
 * Chain Link 2 has already occurred, so "Royal Oppression" cannot touch Chain Link 1, so it cannot negate "Goldd's" effect. You can only use "Royal Oppression" on "Sillva".
 * Chain Link 3: "Royal Oppression" (To negate the effect that Special Summons a monster, "Sillva")
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Royal Oppression"
 * Chain Link 2: "Sillva, Warlord of Dark World" (Effect negated)
 * Chain Link 1: "Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World" (Special Summons itself)


 * You have a "Stardust Dragon", and your opponent has a "Royal Oppression" face-up on the field. You Special Summon "The Tricky". The opponent wants to Negate the Summon:
 * Chain Link 1: "Royal Oppression" (To Negate the Special Summon)
 * Since the Summon is being Negated, "The Tricky" is not 'on the field' yet, so "Stardust Dragon's" effect cannot be used
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 1: "Royal Oppression" (Negates the Summon)


 * You have a "Stardust Dragon", and your opponent has a "Royal Oppression" face-up on the field. You Normal Summon "Zombie Master". You then activate "Zombie Master's" effect.
 * Chain Link 1: "Zombie Master" (Sends for Cost, selects Target)
 * Chain Link 2: "Royal Oppression" (To Negate the Effect that Special Summons)
 * Chain Link 3: "Stardust Dragon" (Can be activated since Zombie Master is 'on the field'; Tributes for Cost)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Stardust Dragon" (Negates "Royal Oppression")
 * Chain Link 2: "Royal Oppression" (Negated)
 * Chain Link 1: "Zombie Master" (Special Summons Targetted monster)


 * The effects of "Royal Oppression" and "Solemn Warning" may seem to be the same; but they are not.
 * Apart from the well known one where "Royal Oppression" cannot be used during the Damage Step, whereas "Solemn Warning" can; there is another.
 * "Solemn Warning": "Negate the Summon of a monster OR the activation of a Spell Card, Trap Card , or Effect Monster's effect that includes an effect that Special Summons a monster(s), and destroy that card."
 * "Royal Oppression": "Negate the Special Summon of a monster(s), and/or an effect that Special Summons a monster(s), and destroy those cards."
 * As mentioned above, Activating a Card ≠ Activating an Effect of a card.
 * "Royal Oppression's" effect/"Solemn Warning" cannot be chained to "Call of the Mummy"/"Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen"/"Fusion Gate" when it is activated (flipped face-up, or placed onto the field). This is because, there is no effect that Special Summons at that time.
 * When the Ignition-like effect of "Call of the Mummy"/"Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen"/"Fusion Gate" is activated, this is the activation of an effect; not the activation of a card. So "Solemn Warning" cannot be used, but "Royal Oppression's" effect can.
 * Neither of them can 'Negate the Summon' because the Special Summon occurs during resolution of the effect.

Wave-Motion Cannon

 * "Wave-Motion Cannon" can be activated (placed onto the field, or flipped face-up) while "Macro Cosmos" is on the field. But it cannot activate its effect and Send it to the Graveyard to inflict damage because Sending is a Cost.


 * You can use "Spell of Pain" against the activation of "Wave-Motion Cannon's" effect because it is ruled to start a Chain. But you cannot use "Barrel Behind the Door"/"Trap of Board Eraser" against the activation of "Wave-Motion Cannon's" effect because Counter Traps can only be used against the activation of a Spell/Trap Card, not the activation of the effect.
 * They cannot be used against the activation of "Wave-Motion Cannon" (card) because it does not inflict damage at that time.

Specific Archetypes

 * In Progress

Alien

 * The A-Counters don't target, but the Effect's of the cards do, if you need to select which monster to put the counter on.
 * Targeting:


 * ""A" Cell Breeding Device"
 * "Alien Ammonite" (Targets Graveyard, so "Tytannial" can't negate it)
 * "Alien Grey" (the first effect)
 * "Alien Hypno" (all parts of the last effect)
 * "Alien Infiltrator" (the first effect)
 * "Alien Telepath" (the first effect)
 * "Corruption Cell "A""
 * "Cosmic Horror Gangi'el"
 * "Cosmic Fortress Gol'gar" (The effects that destroys 1 card or return cards to the hand target. The effect that distributes A-Counters do not target.)
 * ""A" Cell Scatter Burst" (as it target's the alien)
 * Non-Targeting:


 * "Alien Kid"
 * "Alien Overlord"
 * "Alien Warrior"
 * "Alien Skull"
 * "Alien Dog"
 * "Planet Pollutant Virus"

Gladiator Beast

 * "Gladiator Beasts" must remain face-up the whole time in order to 'tag out' at the end of the Battle Phase. So if it was destroyed by battle, or if it was flipped face-down or removed from the field after it battled, it will NOT activate.


 * When it says that "Gladiator Beasts" can 'tag out' if it battles, it means that it must have gone through Damage Calculation and survived. If a "Gladiator Beast" declares an attack, but "Book of Moon" is used during that attack declaration, it has not gone through Damage Calculation and will NOT activate during the end of the Battle Phase.


 * For when you can 'tag out' while "Gozen Match"/"Rivalry of Warlords" is on the field, see this.

Problem-Solving Card Text

 * This section is just a summary, for the full article, see Konami's articles.
 * Note that these changes will only apply to new cards printed after the article was written, and for old cards which have been reprinted.
 * e.g. If you own a "Lightning Vortex" and that card has not had a reprint, then you do not apply the 'Problem-Solving Card Text' rules. Discarding 1 card is a Cost, even though it does not have a semicolon. (If the old card did have a reprint after the article was written, then you ignore what your old card says and follow the newest errata)

Remove

 * 'Banished' (which used to be 'removed from play') means that the card goes off the board into that special place not depicted on the Game Mat.
 * 'Leaves the field' (which used to be 'is removed from the field') means that something was on the field, then went to the Graveyard, or to the hand, or was banished. (Note that effects that activate when a card leaves the field do NOT activate if it goes from the field to the Deck, since it gets lost in the shuffle.)
 * The only place you'll see 'remove' from now on is when removing counters. Like "Remove 1 Spell Counter."


 *  'Remove from play' is now 'Banish' 
 * Old:  Remove from play 1 face-up monster.
 * New:  Banish 1 face-up monster.


 *  'Removed from play cards' will now be called 'Banished cards' 
 * Old: Both players Special Summon as many of their removed from play monsters as possible.
 * New: Both players Special Summon as many of their banished monsters as possible.


 *  'Is removed from the field' is now 'Leaves the field' 
 * Old: When this card is removed from the field, Special Summon 1 "Reborn Tengu" from your Deck.
 * New: When this card leaves the field, Special Summon 1 "Reborn Tengu" from your Deck.


 * e.g. "Plaguespreader Zombie"
 * Old: If you do, remove this card from play when it is removed from the field .
 * New: If you do, banish this card when it leaves the field .

Pierce

 *  'During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.' is now 'Piercing Battle Damage' 
 * Old: During battle between this attacking card and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of this card, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.
 * New: If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing Battle Damage to your opponent.


 * e.g. "Dragon's Rage"
 * Old:  During battle between an attacking Dragon-Type monster you control and a Defense Position monster whose DEF is lower than the ATK of the attacking monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent .
 * New:  Dragon-Type monsters you control inflict piercing Battle Damage when they attack a Defense Position monster .

Attack Target

 *  'Selected as an attack target' is now 'targeted for an attack' 
 * e.g. "Marauding Captain"
 * Old: Your opponent cannot select another face-up Warrior-Type monster as an attack target .
 * New: Your opponent cannot target face-up Warrior-Type monsters for attacks, except this one.

Conditions, Activations, and Effects

 * Timing – What part of the card is done during activation of the card, and what is done during the resolution of the card's effect.
 * Targeting – Does this card target something. If it has more than 1 target, what happens if one target goes away.
 * Conditions – What if something changes between activation and resolution?

Monster Text

 *  Colours here are only for clarity purposes; the printed cards will not be in colour, they will only use the punctuation. 


 * Conditions are now always followed by a colon.
 * Activation text is separated from the card effects by a semicolon.
 * The basic structure is CONDITIONS : ACTIVATION ; RESOLUTION.


 * e.g. "Sangan"
 *  When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: Add 1 monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck to your hand. 


 * e.g.
 *  When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can target 2 Level 2 monsters in your Graveyard; Special Summon them, but their effects are negated. 


 * Chain Start:
 * Chain Link 1:  (Do activation text):
 * Chain Link 2:  (Do activation text):
 * Chain Link 3:  (Do activation text):
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3:  ;(Do resolution text)
 * Chain Link 2:  ;(Do resolution text)
 * Chain Link 1:  ;(Do resolution text)


 * Chain End.


 * e.g.
 * Player #1 Summons "Trident Warrior" and chooses to activate its effect. This starts a chain:
 * When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 3 monster from your hand.
 * Player #2 chains "Raigeki Break", targeting Player #1's monster:
 * Discard 1 card to target 1 card on the field; destroy it.
 * But the card Player #2 targeted was a Gemini monster, so Player #1 responds with "Gemini Spark":
 * Tribute 1 face-up Level 4 Gemini monster you control to target 1 card on the field; destroy it and draw 1 card.


 * Chain Start:
 * Chain Link 1: "Trident Warrior"
 * Chain Link 2: "Raigeki Break" " Discard 1 card to target 1 card on the field; " (at this point, Player #2 discards 1 card, and targets Player #1's monster)
 * Chain Link 3: "Gemini Spark" " Tribute 1 face-up Level 4 Gemini monster you control to target 1 card on the field; " (at this point, Player #1 Tributes his monster and targets one of Player #2’s cards)
 * resolve:
 * Chain Link 3: "Gemini Spark" " ;destroy it and draw 1 card. " (Player #1 does these things)
 * Chain Link 2: "Raigeki Break" " ;destroy it. " (The monster isn’t on the field anymore so nothing happens)
 * Chain Link 1: "Trident Warrior" " ;Special Summon 1 Level 3 monster from your hand. " (Player #1 does this)


 * Chain End.


 * NOTE: If there is a colon or semicolon in the text, that always means an effect that starts a chain. If there is no colon or semicolon, the effect does NOT start a chain and cannot be chained to.
 * "Sangan" starts a chain. You will know this because it uses a colon:
 * When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: Add 1 monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck to your hand.
 * "Cyber Dragon" does NOT start a chain. You will know this because it does not use a colon:
 * If your opponent controls a monster and you control no monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand).

Spell and Trap Text

 * Activating a Spell/Trap Card will always start a chain, regardless of colon/semicolons.
 * e.g. "Creature Swap"
 *  Each player chooses 1 monster they control and switches control of those monsters with each other. Those monsters cannot change their battle positions for the rest of this turn. 


 * While others which have costs and/or activation conditions will have colon/semicolons.
 * e.g. "Seven Tools of the Bandit"
 *  When a Trap Card is activated: Pay 1000 Life Points; negate the activation and destroy it. 

The Clues on Your Cards

 * Costs are always paid at activation. If the card tells you to pay, discard, Tribute, or destroy in the activation text (before the semicolon), it's a cost.
 * Any activation conditions (written before the colon) only have to be met when you activate the card. If something changes before the card resolves, and the conditions aren't met anymore, it doesn't matter. (Any conditions that STILL have to be true when the effect resolves will be listed separately.)
 * A colon or semicolon on a monster, or on a Continuous Spell/Trap, means a chain starts. (Remember that activating a Spell or Trap Card starts a chain, too.)
 * For any card that targets, if the effect text (after the semicolon) still refers to a 'target', you have to double-check that any targeting requirements are still met.
 * Otherwise, if the card refers to the target using any other word (like 'it') in the effect text, the targeting requirements only had to be met when the target was originally targeted.
 * For any card that targets, if the effect text refers to 'both' (or a similar term) in the effect text, you have to be able to apply the effect to ALL of the targets. If even one of the targets is no longer eligible, then the whole effect disappears.


 * e.g. "Zombie Master"
 * Once per turn : You can send 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard, then target 1 Level 4 or lower Zombie-Type monster in either player’s Graveyard ; Special Summon that target . This card must remain face-up on the field to activate and to resolve this effect .
 * Clues:
 * 'Once per turn' is an activation condition.
 * You send a card to the Graveyard first, 'then' pick a target after that.
 * 'Sending 1 Monster Card from your hand to the Graveyard' is a Cost.
 * You Special Summon 'that target', so if it isn't a Level 4 or lower Zombie-Type monster in the Graveyard anymore, it is not Summoned. (e.g. if "Zombie World" was destroyed by "Mystical Space Typhoon", the monster is not Special Summoned)
 * The last sentence points out that Zombie Master has to still be face-up on the field when the effect resolves, or else the effect disappears.


 * e.g. "Magical Dimension"
 * If you control a face-up Spellcaster-Type monster : Target 1 monster ; Tribute it, then Special Summon 1 Spellcaster-Type monster from your hand, then you can destroy 1 monster on the field.
 * Clues:
 * The Spellcaster requirement is before the colon. So you only need a Spellcaster-Type monster when you activate this card, not when it resolves.
 * The semicolon tells us the only thing you do at activation is to target a monster.
 * You Tribute the monster at resolution, 'then' do the other effects. If the monster wasn't around for you to Tribute at resolution, then you don't get any effects.
 * You Tribute, then Summon, then destroy (if you want), in order. The last thing that happens is that you destroy. If you don’t destroy, then the last thing that happens is that you Summon.


 * e.g. "Blade Knight"
 * While you have 1 or fewer cards in your hand, this card gains 400 ATK. If this is the only monster you control, negate the effects of Flip Effect Monsters it destroys by battle.
 * Clues:
 * No colon, no semicolon = no chain.
 * Both of these effects are Continuous, so Blade Knight never starts a Chain. Which means, among other things, that you cannot use something like "Divine Wrath" on him.


 * e.g. "Kinetic Soldier"
 * During damage calculation, if this card battles a Warrior-Type monster : This card gains 2000 ATK and DEF during damage calculation only.
 * Clues:
 * There is a colon, so it is a Trigger Effect and it starts a chain, thus "Divine Wrath" can be used.


 * e.g. "Trap Hole"
 * When your opponent Normal Summons or Flip Summons 1 monster with 1000 or more ATK: Target that monster; destroy that target .
 * Clues:
 * This card targets the monster it is going to destroy.
 * This card destroys 'that target'. So if the target's ATK is no longer 1000 or more (e.g. "Shrink"/"Book of Moon" was used), the effect disappears.


 * Compare that to "Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon"
 * Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 1 face-up card your opponent controls; destroy it .
 * Clues:
 * This card destroys 'it'. So even if the target was flipped face-down, or shifted to your side of the field, it is still destroyed. (If it is not on the field at all when the effect resolves, it is not destroyed and this card resolves without effect, of course.)


 * e.g. "Fusion Gate"
 * While this card is on the field : Either player can Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster without using "Polymerization", but the Fusion Material Monsters are banished instead of being sent to the Graveyard.
 * Clues:
 * There is a colon there, so we know this effect starts a chain. Continuous Spells/Traps with Ignition-like effects will have a colon or semicolon to let you know this.
 * The Ignition-like effect can be used by either player. Unlike "Ojama Country", where only the controller of the card can use the Ignition-like effect.


 * e.g. "Black Garden"
 * When a monster(s) is Normal or Special Summoned, except by the effect of "Black Garden" : Halve its ATK, and you Special Summon 1 "Rose Token" (Plant-Type/DARK/Level 2/ATK 800/DEF 800) to its controller's opponent's side of the field, in Attack Position. You can target 1 monster in your Graveyard with ATK equal to the total ATK of all face-up Plant Type monsters on the field ; destroy this card and all face-up Plant-Type monsters, then Special Summon that target .
 * Clues:
 * First effect has a colon, so we know it starts a chain.
 * The ATK halving and the "Rose Token" Summon happen at the same time.
 * The second effect targets.
 * Second effect has a semicolon, so we know it also starts a chain.
 * 'Destroy this card' is after the semicolon, so you destroy "Black Garden" when the last effect resolves, not when it is activated.
 * The last effect refers to 'that target' after the semicolon, so the conditions before the semicolon have to still be true at resolution. (Specifically, it must be in your Graveyard and still have exactly the same ATK as all face-up Plants on the field.)


 * e.g. "Bountiful Artemis"
 * Each time a Counter Trap Card resolves, immediately draw 1 card (during the Chain).
 * Clues:
 * No colon, no semicolon = no chain.

Summoning Text Changes

 * Nomi monsters:
 * Old: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by...
 * New: Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. Must be Special Summoned by its own effect, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways.


 * Nomi Fusion Monsters:
 * Old: This monster cannot be Special Summoned except by Fusion Summon.
 * New: Must be Fusion Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways.


 * Semi-Nomi monsters:
 * Old: This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned...
 * New: Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. Must be Special Summoned by its own effect first before it can be Special Summoned by other ways.

Hierarchy of Answers on this Wikia

 * 1) Anything said by Konami (including their Rulebook and Rulings and anything BKSS) (except for typos, but we have Sic tags on them to identify them on our Rulings Pages.)
 * 2) Sourced Rulings on our Rulings Pages (Although they are constantly being watched, you may want to check the history to be sure it was not vandalised.) (We only allow exact quotes of Official Rulings in the Rulings pages.)
 * 3) Answers given by Official Judges that can prove that they are High Level Official Judges
 * 4) Unsourced Rulings on our Rulings Pages that were not added by a random user (see the page history of that page) (It's probably an old UDE ruling, but feel free to ask for it to be verified on its 'Card Rulings talk' page)
 * 5) Answers which contain direct proof (such as a link to an Official Ruling)
 * 6) Answers given by knowledgeable members who have a record of rarely getting it wrong (To be absolutely sure, you should wait a while to see if anyone objects to the answer given)
 * 7) Answers extrapolated video games (Newest game only)
 * 8) Answers by RC-1 Certified people
 * 9) Answers by regular members
 * 10) Unsourced Rulings on our Rulings Pages that were added by a random user (see the page history of that page) (please say something on the 'Card Rulings talk' page so we know that we need verify if it can be kept)
 * 11) Answers which make no sense and cannot be sourced/proven when asked to do so
 * 12) Answers by people (new members) who claim they are judges but {refuses to}/{cannot} prove it when asked to
 * 13) Answers by trolls who vandalise the Rulings pages
 * 14) Rulings extrapolated from the TV show (anime)

When you can trust this Wikia's Rulings Pages

 * I am officially annoyed at all the idiots spreading rumours on other forums about how you should not trust the rulings pages here.
 * Why am I calling them idiots? Well, the only reason they give is that the rulings pages here are editable by almost everyone.
 * However, the idea is that you refer to a rulings here, and then check the source given as well. If it links to an official site and the ruling is there as well, then you can trust it (duh!).
 * If it leads to the TCG Konami Europe Judge Forum (where only registered judges are allowed to read it), or the Konami OCG FAQ (if you can't read Japanese), then you check the page history (one of the tabs at the top). If the most recent is a trustworthy editor (ATEMVEGETA, Deus Ex Machina), then chances are, you can trust it. If it's not, then ask on the talk page (another one of the tabs at the top) to get it verified.
 * Keep in mind that any unsourced rulings will be deleted and any unofficial rulings will also be deleted (even if they are correct). Only exact quotes of official rulings are to be kept here.

The Mathematics of Yu-Gi-Oh!

 * Similar to the formulae that Bastion Misawa runs through when improving his decks, except it works; in terms of consistency improvement.
 * These numbers apply to normal gameplay, where proper shuffling techniques are used to thoroughly randomise the deck, and without cheating/stacking.


 * {x} = Number of copies of the card in your deck
 * {y} = Number of cards drawn (opening hand = 6)
 * {z} = Number of cards in your deck
 * (1-(COMBIN(({z}-{x});{y}))/(COMBIN({z}; {y})))*100
 * 15.00% - The chance of opening with 1 exact card.
 * 28.08% - The chance of opening with at least 1 of 2 exact cards.
 * 39.43% - The chance of opening with at least 1 copy of a card you run 3 of.
 * 49.25% - The chance of opening with at least 1 of 4 target cards.
 * 57.71% - The chance of opening with at least 1 of 5 target cards.
 * 64.96% - The chance of opening with at least 1 of 6 target cards.


 * I never figured out the formula for these ones; if you know it, please post it on the talk page. But the numbers here are from here.
 * 5.4% - The chance of opening with at least 2 copies of the same card you run 3 of.
 * 14% - The chance of opening with a 2-card combo of 2 different cards you run in 3s.
 * 15% - The chance of opening with at least 2 of 5 target cards.
 * 1.9% - The chance of opening with 2 exact cards.


 * 0.00000151973836% = 1/658008 = 1/{40!/(35!*5!)} - The chance of opening with "Exodia" in a 40 card deck.