Hey all, quick question regarding the timing one can use The Scourge. If I initiate a challenge and my opponent defends, can he then kneel this location to strip my icons during the challenge? There's been some debate in my group as to whether or not this coincides with the timing of the player actions. I was under the impression that it must be done before the challenge is initated.
Thanks!
Prof_werewolf said:
Hey all, quick question regarding the timing one can use The Scourge. If I initiate a challenge and my opponent defends, can he then kneel this location to strip my icons during the challenge? There's been some debate in my group as to whether or not this coincides with the timing of the player actions. I was under the impression that it must be done before the challenge is initated.
Thanks!
Once a character is participating in a challenge, they cannot be removed from the challenge unless a card effect specifically removes them from the challenge. Stripping any icons does not remove that character from the challenge because you only need icons of that challenge type to declare them as an attacker or defender.
A common misconception is that a character needs those icons of that challenge type to attack or defend the challenge. This is not true. They only need the icon to be declared as an attacker or defender of that challenge type. Once they are in the challenge, they are there to stay except for "remove from challenge" effects.
Ah, okay now that makes sense. Even with the FAQs and extra erratta, it's not hard to get confused from time to time on some of the card functions. Thanks!
A note on timing:
Since The Scourge is an "any phase" action, you could use it on a character that is already participating in a challenge after attackers are declared or after defenders are declared (but before the challenge resolves). As Bomb outlines above, doing so doesn't mean anything as far as the character's participating in the challenge (it would stay an attacker or defender and still count its STR), but the timing allows you to do it.
It might be useful if you have effects that require character to have/not have particular icons. For example, you could mess with someone by getting them to attack with a big tricon, then using The Scourge to remove its icons, then play The Only Game That Matters so that the character (still participating in the challenge) does not count its STR because it no longer has the intrigue icon. It's knelt going in to Dominance and didn't mean squat in the challenge.