I have a question regarding things such as the Ion Cannon Batteries.

Ion Cannon Batteries

"Blue Crit: Choose and discard 1 command token from the defender. If the defender does not have any command tokens, the defending hull zone loses 1 shield instead."

Assume that a ship has zero shields on all of its hull zones. What happens to the damage? Is it taken as hull damage? Is it magically negated?

Is it relevant that this specifically calls out losing shields? My gut says that if they have zero shields then it will do no extra damage.

It is magically negated.

It is not damage. Nowhere is the word "Damage" stated, ergo, it cannot be damage. If it were damage, then it would translate to the Hull. It also cannot effect other hull zones as it is stated the defending one.

In Short, If there is no Command Tokens, and no Shields on the Defending Hull Zone...... Don't activate the Ion Canno Batteries Critical Effect...

Its voluntary, after all, for a Reason :)D

in that case you should use it as a standard crit and deal a faceup damage instead. if you don't have X17's it's still good for stripping shields off a ship than can redirect not to mention it messes with wulff and tarkin ship builds . Once the tokens and shields are stripped it's kinda useless

That's fair enough and what I figured it would be, just wanted to double check