Cards that say for example: "damage cant be assigned to target unit"or "target unit can not defend",....

Can i play them in the action window that follows the assign damage or the declare defenders step or do i have to play them in an action window befor this steps? I mean can i play them in response? When i understand it correct, i can only play a action in response to another action.

Thanks!!!!

You'd probably want to take an action which negates a unit's ability to defend right after attackers are declared, or when defenders are being declared, as that is the perfect time to do so. Really, as long as damage hasn't been assigned, you're ok. Similarly for immunizing a unit against being assigned damage.. do it before or as the unit is being assigned damage. Taking those actions is a response to the actions of declaring defenders or assigning damage, respectively. Were you thinking of using these abilities as a portable hole for absorbing damage? I don't think that would(or should) work.

IF you are playing a card effect in response to a card effect you can do so after the original effect has been played, putting it in the action chain before it resolves. You cannot however respond with a card effect to an action that does not create an action chain (in this case declaring attackers or defenders). Of course there is a window for player actions in between both declaration steps where you could play effects. If you want to prevent a unit from defending it would need to be played in an action window prior to the declare defenders step.

dormouse said:

So playing the effect would be the first part of a potential action chain. Help me understand in the event I ever find a tournament close enough to Greenville, SC to participate in. Is there a set time between subphases for actions, or does play simply go to the next step? Should I ask my opponent if he/she would like to play actions as a courtesy? I don't want to be an oaf! Back when I played Star Wars CCG and MTG we just played cards willy nilly and created some brutal stacks..(back when interrupts were the same as instants, only faster)

The rules and FAQ give a pretty clear picture of when actions and responses can be played. Almost all the phases have some framework actions that take place and then allow for player actions. The Battlefield phase is the most structured (not surprisingly), with five steps and a player action window after each.

When you take an action your opponent always gets a chance to take an action before you can do anything else. Not all actions are created equal. You may not play a non-tactic card from your hand in response to an action (response means adding it to the action chain/stack), though you may trigger an effect that is placed on the stack whose result would put a non-tactic card into play from your hand, deck, or discard pile.

Remember the Golden Rule of life, do unto others yadda yadda. If you take any sort of action, give your opponent a chance to take their own or play one in response, just like you'd like them to do. You don't want to run four in a row and have your opponent force you to back up because they say you never gave them a chance to respond or take their own action after the first one, especially with them now knowing what your plans and cards are. Play a card ask if they have an action. If they so no, play another.Wash Rinse repeat. Once they say no they are passing, there is no take-backs in a tournament and they can no longer say you didn't give them a chance to go.

Thanks for the answers!

So in general: which actions go to the action chain and which do not?

Go to the chain:

Cards and effects that say action:......

Playing a unit, support or quest in the capital phase.

Not going to the chain:

cards and effects that say forced:...

All steps of the battlefield phase (declaring attackers and defendes, assiging damage,...)

Taking resources in the kingdom phase

Drawing cards in the quest phase

Is this correct? Is something missing?

Thanks!!!!