The Unofficial Guide to Priority Part II - The Draw Phase
If the Turn Player’s Draw Phase has been skipped by a card effect, proceed automatically to the Standby Phase without performing any of the following steps.
Step 1: Pre-Draw Step 1 - Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi
At the start of the Draw Phase (before the Turn Player draws any cards), the results of all effects which activate (or resolve) before the Turn Player draws a card(s) must be determined.
As of this writing, only two cards in the game meet this criteria (Maharaghi and Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi), however additional cards may be added to this list in a future product release.
Since neither of these card effects use the chain, as of this writing, no card (or effect) can be chained to the activation (or resolution) of pre-draw effects. Again, this may change as new cards with similar effects are released.
As per the ruling for Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi implies, the effect of this card is applied before any other effect can be activated (or resolved). This is an exception to the rule that the TP has priority to activate (or resolve) their effects before the Non-Turn Player (NTP).
Step 2: Pre-Draw Step 2 - Hino-Kagu Response Chain
As a general rule, whenever a change in the game state occurs, a “Triggered Response” Window is opened, with both player’s having an opportunity to activate a card or effect in response to the last event to occur.
However, due to a lack of information pertaining to the available pre-draw effects, I am uncertain whether such occurs in this instance, but without evidence to the contrary – I am acting under the assumption that if a pre-draw effect results in a change in the game state, a “Triggered Response “ Window opens in response to that event.
Since having a “Triggered Response” chain in response to a pre-draw effect is a grey area at best, and since it is unclear whether the effect of Maharaghi results in a change in the game state, it is my recommendation that we err on the side of caution, and assume that no such window opens in response to the effect of Maharaghi.
As it is obvious that the effect of Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi results in a change in the game state if even a single card is discarded by its effect, should even a single card be discarded by its effect, a “Triggered Response” Window opens, in which both players will have an opportunity to respond to the Turn Player discarding a card(s).
2a) Activate Mandatory Trigger Effects: If the Turn Player (TP) has any mandatory trigger effects which trigger in response to the TP discarding a card(s), these effects activate now in the desired order. Once all of the TPs mandatory trigger effects have been added to the chain (if any), do the same for all of the Non-Turn Player’s (NTP) mandatory trigger effects (if any).
2b) Activate Optional Trigger Effects: If the TP has any optional trigger effects which trigger in response to the TP discarding a card(s), they may activate any (or all) of these effects in the desired order. Once all of the TPs optional trigger effects have been added to the chain (if any), do the same for all of the NTPs optional trigger effects (if any).
2c) Building the Chain: If the last trigger effect on the “Draw Response” chain was an effect controlled by the NTP (or if no trigger effects were added to the “Draw Response” chain), priority is given to the TP.
If the last trigger effect on the “Draw Response” chain was an effect controlled by the TP, priority is given to the NTP.
Chains in the Draw Phase
During any chain which occurs in the Draw Phase, a player has priority to perform any one of the following actions, after which priority passes automatically to the next player:
o Pass priority to the next player.
o Activate the Quick Effect of a face-up Monster they control (if applicable)
o Activate the Quick Effect of a Monster in their hand, graveyard, or RFG Zone (if applicable)
o Activate a face-down Quickplay Spell
o Activate a Quickplay Spell from their hand (TP only)
o Activate a face-down Normal Trap, Continuous Trap, or Counter Trap
o Activate the Ignition-Like effect of a face-up Continuous Trap they control.
Should a double-pass occur at any time, no further effects may be added to this chain and the chain (if any) resolves.
2d) New Chain: While multiple “Triggered Response” chains are highly unlikely to occur sequentially at any point in the game, we must be mindful not to make the assumption that it is impossible for it to occur.
As such, with few exceptions, each and every time that a chain has finished resolving, a new “Triggered Response” window is opened with both player’s being entitled to respond to the last event to occur in the preceding chain, by activating a card effect.
The format for a “Triggered Response” chain remains the same in almost every point in the game, with a select few exceptions.
Only in the event that a chain does not occur during any specific “Triggered Response” window will the game progress to step 3.
Step 3: Pre-Draw Step 3 - Maharaghi
Once the results of Hino-Kagu-Tsuchi and the “Triggered Response” chain(s) triggered in response to its effect have been determined, the effect of the Turn Player’s Maharaghi(s) activate one at a time.
As indicated in step 2 above, it is unclear whether the effect of Maharaghi results in a change in the game state, and since its effect does not use the chain, upon resolution of all the TPs Maharaghi(s), the game progresses automatically to the Draw Step.
Step 4: Draw Step 1 – Card Draw
Now that the results of any pre-draw effects, and their associated “Trigger Response” chain(s) have been determined,
4a) Turn Player Draws: Unless a card effect forces the TP to draw multiple cards, the TP draws one card from the top of their deck. Should they be unable to draw the required number of cards, the TP loses the duel.
4b) Check for Continuous Effects / Win Conditions: While this step should be performed each and every time a card (or effect) resolves, or a change in the game state occurs – it bears special mention in respect to the Draw Phase, particularly in respect to Exodia.
Put simply, if the TP draws the final piece of Exodia in step 4a above, they win.
Not even the effect of “Prohibition” or “Deck Devistation Virus” can prevent the TP from declaring an Exodia Victory at this point in the game.
4c) Check for Lingering Effects: If the TP is currently under the effect of “Deck Devistation Virus”, “Crush Card Virus” and/or “Eradicator Epidemic Virus”, they must now reveal the card(s) drawn in step 4a above, and destroy that card(s) if it is of the appropriate type (Spell, Trap, or a Monster with 1500 or greater/less ATK).
Step 5: Draw Response Chain
Once the results of any lingering effect(s) have been determined, a “Trigger Response” window opens in response to the Turn Player drawing a card(s).
Repeat steps 2a – 2d until such times as a double pass occurs with neither player activating a single card (or effect) during a “Triggered Response” chain. When this finally occurs, proceed to Step 8.
Step 8: Open Priority
Priority returns to the Turn Player (TP) who must now:
o Activate a Card Effect OR
o Enter the Standby Phase.
Activate a Card Effect: The TP can activate any Spell Speed 2 (or higher) effect on the above list (see step 3c). If the TP activates a card effect, priority passes to the NTP who may chain their own Spell Speed 2 (or higher) effect as normal.
Once this chain resolves, a new “Triggered Response” Window opens. Repeat Step 3d
Enter the Standby Phase: If the TP attempts to enter the Standby Phase, priority passes to the NTP who must now:
o Activate a Spell Speed 2 (or higher) effect OR
o Consent to the Change of Phase.
Activate a Card Effect: The NTP can activate any Spell Speed 2 (or higher) effect on the above list (see step 3c). If the NTP activates a card effect, priority passes to the TP who may chain their own Spell Speed 2 (or higher) effect as normal.
Once this chain resolves, a new “Triggered Response” Window opens. Repeat Step 3d
Consent to the Change of Phase: If the NTP is unable or unwilling to activate a card effect, theymust choose this option. Once consent has been given, the game progresses immediately to the Standby Phase, and priority returns to the TP.
Continued in Part III: Priority in the Standby Phase
