Ok so after reading the below card my head hurt. Do I use it after the second time my opponent uses the same ability, or the 3rd as that one would have 2 prior to it.

You would play it after the second time they've used the ability. For example:

Opponent uses 1st copy of N-Type Human. Opponent uses 2nd copy of N-Type Human. You react with Undercover Agent right after that.

Thats the way it used to be but i believe that you have to use the ability for a 3rd time now for it to be useful

never was 2nd. only can be played on the 3rd activation, otherwise they haven't already played it twice.

and YES the wording could have been clearer.

The first time someone plays an ability, they've played it 0 times before. The second time someone plays an ability, they've played it once before. The third time someone plays an ability, they've played it twice before. Which means they have to use an ability 3 times for you to use UA on them.

Well, the thing is, after the 2nd time they play an ability, they HAVE now "already played it at least twice", since you're responding AFTER the ability is already considered played for the second time.

locally we've been playing it as respond after 2nd use, it makes sense and is in line with other cards from the same character support.

and thats what i originally thought it was ruled to be at least thatst what it was when the question was asked back on the old forums

Sorry Gou, but Tag's right.

After you have a played an ability, you have played that ability.

So after you play an ability for the first time in a turn, you've played it once.

After the second time you play the ability, you've played it twice.

I expect this card was intended to work after the third activation in a turn and is just poorly worded.

If it said "When someone is playing an ability, if they have already played it twice" then it would be "third time".

Hmmm, this situation came up in one of our tournaments. When we checked this thread the problem was we have two different rules arbiters ( Tag and GH) offering a different solution. Is there any way we can get a stamp per chance? If it's something that needs to be run by Steve should we assume for now it works in its more "mild" form (third activation)?

After your opponent plays an ability, IF they have already played that ability at least twice.

al⋅read⋅y
–adverb
1. by this or that time; previously; prior to or at some specified or implied time: When we came in, we found they had already arrived.

The powers that be have huddled, and issue the following proclimation

If they're using defender for the second time, you're getting to commit stuff.

**Stamp** for Tag.