Ladies First

When this game began, the number of effect monsters available were far and few. Legend of Blue-Eyes White Dragon, the first pack released in the TCG, only had 5 Effect Monsters total out of 126 card set. As the game evolved over the years this number skyrocketed. Yet the negation of monster effects is a something that most decks tend to overlook. Currently the only card capable of negating the vast majority of monster effects is Divine Wrath, and the occasional Light and Darkness Dragon.

Rather than lose card advantage, however, most players prefer alternative means of dealing with monsters. Responding to summons seems to be the preferred method with many players using decking cards like Bottomless Trap Hole, Torrential Tribute, Royal Oppression, and Solemn Judgment. Some even side in Light/Dark-Imprisoning Mirror or Skill Drain to take care of opponent's monster effects. But this meant that monster effects that activated off the filed would remain largely unchecked.

Flash forward to Duelist Revolution, where we're introduced to Chivalry a new card that's essentially the lovechild of Trap Jammer and Divine Wrath.

Sure it may not protect you outside the Battle Phase, but any source of costless negation is worth a look at. Gorz, Honest, Kalut, Shura, Firedog, Fullhelmknight, Necro Gardna, Morphing Jar, Goyo Guardian, Collosal Fighter, Battle Fader...this card stops them all. You can even negate Stardust Dragon's effect provided it gets activated in the Battle Phase, such as in response to a Mirror Force.

Running 3 may be pushing it, but Chivalry is a card I'd definitely run 1, maybe 2, of. And doesn't Freed look plain awesome in that pose? Truly epic!

Between Divine Wrath and Chivalry it really boils down to versatility vs cost. Your decision to run one over the other doesn't need to be clear cut. For example, Blackwing decks pull off a ton of Battle Phase shenanigans so Chivalry would be the ideal card to side-in against them. Likewise, there are decks that can capitalize off the discard from Divine Wrath effects such as Quickdraw varients.

Remember players, the game ends with you.

On another note, Mother Grizzly was the first "female" monster which an effect that activates in the Battle Phase I could think of, lol.

The Damage Step for Dummies 2

 

I feel kind of bad for quoting someone else all the time, but since my friend's been on a roll lately I thought I'd continue he left off: 

"For the sake of having everything in a condensed view...

1 - Start of the Damage Step, where cards like Mystic Swordsman LV2, Sasuke Samurai #4, Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, & AOJ Catastor activate their effects.

2 - Flipping the Face-Down monster Face-Up. This is where monsters with "Flip" or "flipped face up" effects are first understood to have such effects, but are not activated at this time, and when the continous effects of monsters such as Jinzo will begin to apply.

3 - Before Damage Calculation, where cards like Shrink, Rush Recklessly, Forbidden Chalice, and Mirror Wall have their last chance to activate(be flipped face-up). This is also the time where cards like Reflect Bounder (effect damage), Drillroid, Ehren Lightsworn Monk, Dreamsprite, Ancient Lamp and Blast Sphere's equipping effect will activate.

4 - During Damage Calculation, where cards/effects like Kuriboh, Injection Fairy Lilly and Prideful Roar are instructed to activate because they specify so. Honest and Blackwing Kalut can be used here, as well as during the previous windows.

5 - Battle Damage is Inflicted/After Damage Calculation, where effects like Don Zaloog, Airknight Parshath, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, Gorz and Red Dragon Archfiend's defense position destruction will activate.

6 - Activating the Flip Effect of the Flipped Monster and a few Guest Stars, where monsters are "considered to be destroyed" by battle, when continous effects of monsters are generally unapplied, and where cards like D.D. Warrior Lady, D.D. Assailant, and Wall Of Illusion activate their effects.

7 - End of the Damage Step - Monster(s) Destroyed by Battle are Sent to the Graveyard, where effects such as Goyo Guardian, Giant Rat, Apprentice Magician, Newdoria and cards that specify "at the end of the damage step" like Ryu Kokki and Legendary Jujitsu Master will activate. I'd also like to add that while most normal trap cards cannot be activated during the damage steps, there are a few rare exceptions. These include Michizure, Chthonian Blast and Broken Blocker. Soul Rope however, is NOT among these exceptions."

Whenever I'm confronted with an unfamiliar ruling, I ask myself, "What would Val do?"

Remember players, the game ends with you.

The Damage Step for Dummies

 

I'm not trying to come across an elitist or anything, but having to explain the why things like Torrential Tribute and Starlight Road can't be activated during the Damage Step to players can be a tiring process, especially to those that don't have a fundamental grasp of the rulings. Since a friend of mine was able to sum things up quite nicely for another layer the other day, I'd like to post his words here today. Hopefully, my efforts will not be in

vain.

When it comes to the Damage Step restrictions, one might ask why something like Torrential Tribute or Bottomless Trap Hole should be given special allowance in the first place? If the only answer to this is to dumb down the game, then its really not gonna fly, as we have enough of those already. Instead, just consult the following chart when asking yourself if an effect can be activated during the Damage Step or not.

1. Counter-Trap cards.
2. Spell speed 2 stat modifiers (which are only valid candidates up to and including the "Before Damage Calculation" window)
3. Monster effects that activate with the intent of negating the activation of a card or effect.
4. Cards and effects with special allowance written in their text or rulings.
5. Appropriate trigger effects, which often fall under the above category or don't need to specify otherwise.

And there you have. I could not explain things any simpler if I tried.

Remember players, the game ends with you.