September 2008
The Unofficial Guide to Royal Oppression
The differences between Royal Oppression
and
other “Summon
Negation” cards (Solemn Judgment, Horn of Heaven,
etc) add another
layer to an already confusing, and often
misunderstood aspect of Yugioh – Summon Negation.
For information regarding the "Summon Negation"
Window not covered in this guide, please read my
Unofficial Guide to the Summon Negation/Response
chains:
Like Solemn Judgment, Royal Oppression cannot negate
the Special Summon of a monster that occurs as a
result of another cards effect (Premature Burial,
Reasoning, Call of the Haunted, Dimension Fusion,
etc) once that effect has been allowed to
resolve.
In order to negate the Special Summon of a monster(s),
Royal Oppression must be activated during the
“Summon Negation Window”, or be chained directly to
the activation of a card (or effect) which Special
Summons a monster(s).
For example:
-
Player A activates "Reasoning"
-
Player B has a face-down "Royal Oppression" and
wishes to use it to negate the Special Summon of
their opponents monster.
-
In order to negate the Special Summon, Player B
must chain "Royal Oppression" to the activation
of their opponents card effect - in this case
"Reasoning".
-
If Player B allows the effect of "Reasoning" to
resolve, they will miss the timing in which they
can activate "Royal Oppression's" effect, for
this particular Special Summon.
Differences between "Royal Oppression" and
Other
"Summon Negation" cards.
As stated above, there are several differences which
make Royal Oppression different from other “Summon
Negation” cards. These differences are as follows:
As a Continuous Trap the effect of "Royal
Oppression":
-
Will disappear (not to be confused with being
negated) if "Royal Oppresion" is flipped
face-down, or removed from the field before its
effect is able to resolve.
-
Cannot be used during the Damage Step.
-
Cannot be activated multiple times during the
chain "Royal Oppression" is first activated
(aka: flipped face-up).
-
Has a Spell Speed 2 effect.
And Finally, due to the wording of its effect -
"Royal Oppression" can be used to negate the Special
Summon of a monster which occurs as a result of a
monster effect (eg. Marauding Captain, Destiny Hero
- Dasher/Fear Monger/Malicious etc).
Spell Speed and the Summon Negation Window
Royal Oppression stands alone as the only “Summon
Negation” card with a Spell Speed 2 effect. Under
normal circumstances, the only cards which can be
activated during the “Summon Negation” window are
Spell Speed 3 effects.
This is for two reasons.
-
The only cards which can begin a chain in the
“Summon Negation” window are those whose effect
specifically negates the Summon (or Special
Summon) of a monster(s).
-
Excluding “Royal Oppression”, all other cards
which can begin a chain in the “Summon Negation”
window are Spell Speed 3 effects (Solemn
Judgment, Forced Back, Black Horn of Heaven
etc), making it impossible for a player to chain
Spell Speed 2 (or lower) card effects to their
activation.
Such is not the case with Royal Oppression however.
While “Royal Oppression” stands alone as the only
Spell Speed 2 effect which can begin a chain in the
“Summon Negation” window, once the chain has been
initiated, it functions like any other chain as we
have no evidence to the contrary.
As a result, both players find themselves in the
unique situation of being able to activate other
Spell Speed 2 effects (including Traps) before the
monster in question is considered summoned
successfully (and its effect, if any is activated or
applied).
Since this chain occurs before the monster is
considered summoned, the monster cannot be targeted
by, or used in paying the cost of any card effect;
nor is it affected by the effect(s) of any card
which does not specifically negate its summon.
This only applies if the monster is in the limbo
between its controller’s hand (or Extra Deck) and
field, and only occurs in situations where a monster
is being summoned by an inherrent Special Summon
effect (including but not limited to Synchro Summons
and Contact Fusions).
In all cases however, since the monster is not yet
considered face-up on the field, its continuous
effect(s), if any – are not yet applied, allowing
for some interesting chains to occur.
Example 1: Royal Oppression vs. Jinzo (During the
Summon Negation Window)
-
Player A Special Summons "Gladiator Beast -
Gyzarus" by returning "Gladiator Beast -
Bestiary" and 1 other "Gladiator Beast" monster
to its owners deck(s).
-
This triggers the "Summon Negation" Window to
occur, in which both players have the option of
activating a "Summon Negation" effect.
-
Player B initiates the "Summon Negation" chain
by activating "Royal Oppression" and its effect.
-
Player A chains "Call of the Haunted" targeting
"Jinzo"
-
Neither Player responds, and the "Summon
Negation" chain resolves.
Since “Royal Oppression” was not face-up on the
field at the beginning of this chain, neither player
is able to chain its effect to negate “Call of the
Haunted”. As a result, the chain resolves backwards
as follows:
-
"Call of the Haunted" resolves, Special
Summoning "Jinzo".
-
Since "Jinzo" was Special Summoned successfully,
its continuous effect is now applied, and begins
negating the effects of all face-up traps, while
preventing new traps from being activated.
-
"Royal Oppression" now attempts to resolve, but
its effect is negated by "Jinzo"
-
As the effect of "Royal Oppression" was negated,
Player A Special Summons "Gladiator Beast -
Gyzarus".
-
Since the "Summon Negation" Chain has resolved
completely, the "Summon Negation" Window closes,
and the "Summon Response" window begins.
-
Player A initiates the "Summon Response" chain
by activating the effect of "Gladiator Beast -
Gyzarus".
-
Priority passes to Player B, who can now
activate their own Spell Speed 2 or higher
effect, or pass priority back to Player A.
Example 2: Jinzo and Jinzo-Lord vs.
Skill Drain (During the Summon Negation Window)
-
Player A Special Summons "Jinzo -
Lord" by sending 1 "Jinzo" they control to the
graveyard.
-
This triggers the "Summon Negation" Window to
open.
-
Player B initiates the "Summon Negation" chain
by activating the effect of Player A's face-up
"Royal Oppression".
-
Player A chains "Mystical Space Typhoon"
targeting "Royal Oppresion"
-
Player B chains "Skill Drain"
In this example, the fact that “Jinzo” is no longer
face-up on the field, and the effect of “Jinzo –
Lord” has yet to be applied, both players are able
to activate traps during the “Summon Negation”
window.
As always, the chain resolves backwards as follows:
-
Skill Drain resolves, and immediately begins
negating the effect(s) of all face-up monsters
on the field.
-
Mystical Space Typhoon resolves, and destroys
Royal Oppression
-
Royal Oppression attempts to resolve, but its
effect disappears as Royal Oppression is no
longer face-up on the field (see below).
-
Since the effect of Royal Oppression
disappeared, Jinzo - Lord is Special Summoned
succesfully, however its effect is negated by
Skill Drain.
-
The "Summon Negation" window closes, and the
"Summon Response" window now opens as normal.
The downside of being a Continuous Trap.
Like all other Continuous Traps, if “Royal
Oppression” is destroyed (eg. Mystical Space
Typhoon, Dust Tornado, Twister, etc) or removed from
the field (Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, etc) before its
effect resolves, its effect will disappear, and the
Special Summon will not be negated (as shown in the
above example).
This should not be confused with its effect being
negated however, as these are two separate
conditions, and their interaction with other card
effects (eg. Voltanis the Adjudicator) differs as a
result.
In addition, like all other Continuous Traps with
ignition-like effects – you can only activate its
effect once during the chain in which the trap is
activated (flipped face-up). In order to activate
the effect of “Royal Oppression” multiple times on
the same chain, “Royal Oppression” must already be
face-up on the field prior to the chain being
initiated by any card or effect (including “Royal
Oppression” itself).
In addition, as a Continuous Trap that does not
increase/decrease the ATK and/or DEF of a monster(s),
Royal Oppression cannot be activated during the
Damage Step.
As a result, Royal Oppression can never negate the
Special Summon of a monster which occurs during the
Damage Step, even as a result of a monster effect (eg.
Giant Rat, Hydrogeddon, Spear Cretin, etc).
Royal Oppression vs. Optional Special Summon Effects
Royal Oppression can
be chained to the activation of a card effect with
an
optional
Special Summon Effect, but only if the decision
whether to Summon the monster is made during
activation of the card (or its effect).
For Example:
-
Player A activates "Macro Cosmos".
-
Player B has a face-down "Royal Oppression" and
wishes to activate it, to negate the activation
(and effect) of their opponent's "Macro Cosmos".
-
If Player A uses the optional effect of "Macro
Cosmos" in order to Special Summon "The
Primordial Sun - Helios" from their deck, Player
B can chain "Royal Oppression" to negate (and
destroy) "Macro Cosmos".
-
If Player A does not use the optional effect
however, Player B will not be able to chain
"Royal Oppression" as no Special Summon has been
declared.
With that being said, "Royal Oppression" cannot be
activated if the decision whether a Special Summon
will occur is not made until some time during
resolution of a cards effect.
For Example:
-
Player A activates "Big Wave, Small Wave"
-
Player B activates "Royal Oppression" to negate
(and destroy) "Big Wave, Small Wave".
This is an Illegal Activation, as Player A has yet
to decide whether they will Special Summon a
Monster, and will not make the decision until after
"Big Wave, Small Wave" destroys all WATER monsters
they control.
Since the effect of "Royal Oppression" cannot be
activated once a chain has been allowed to resolve,
you cannot chain "Royal Oppression" to the
activation of an opponents "Big Wave, Small Wave" or
similar card effect.
Kalani Jasmine Vernon
Certified UDE judge
Respected member of the official Yugioh Forums (http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/community/forums)
Please send all comments and criticisms to
kalanijasmine@hotmail.com
