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The 7-timing Damage Step (presented below) is as it existed in 2010 [1, 2]. View the contemporary 5-timing Damage Step HERE.

Start Step

  • The turn player declares that he/she is entering the Battle Phase.
  • The turn player has the priority to play or activate a Spell Speed 2 effect or card (ex: "Threatening Roar") at the start of Battle Phase.
Note: Entering Battle Phase does not mean you must declare attacks. If you do not, go straight to End of Battle Phase.

Battle Step

Substep 1.  Attack Declaration
  • The turn player selects a monster with which to attack the opponent / their monster.
  • ONLY ONE CHAIN may be built in response to an attack declaration.​
  • A REPLAY occurs if the number of your opponent's monsters changes.​
    • ​​If a new attack target is selected: "Mirror Force" can't be played (the attack was already declared, a new target must be selected). Effects that respond when a monster is targeted for an attack can be activated (ex: "Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth").
    • A direct attack may be selected if the number of monsters on the opponent's field has been reduced to zero.
    • ​If the attack is cancelled: that monster CANNOT declare an attack later that turn, nor can its Battle Position be changed by a player action (it is treated as having "declared an attack", except for the purposes of "Combination Attack").
  • The turn player retains priority to activate the first card / effect in direct response to the attack declaration.
Cards such as "Mirror Force", "Battle Fader", "Turbo Synchron", "XX-Saber Fulhelmknight", and "Light End Dragon" meet their activation timing here.
Substep 2.  Before the Damage Step
  • Multiple chains built with Spell Speed 2 or higher cards (that do not activate in response to an attack declaration).

Damage Step

The Damage Step in Edison Format plays differently than contemporary Yugioh.
  • It is composed of seven distinct timings which sequester events.
  • Multiple chains may be formed during Substeps 1-3.
  • One 'manual' chain is built during each of Substeps 4-7.
  • Spell Speed 2 Spells / Traps which negate the activation of Cards / Effects CANNOT be activated during the Damage Step (ex: "My Body as a Shield").

Substep 1.  Start of the Damage Step
Substep 2. Reveal the Set Monster
A face-down monster being attacked is flipped face-up.
  • Flip Effects and 'when this card is flipped face-up' Trigger Effects DO NOT activate at this time
    • Such effects will activate in Substep 6 - Resolve Effects, even if the monster is no longer on the field.
  • Continuous Effects of the flipped monsters apply immediately.
    • Continuous Effects that prevent the flipped monster from being attacked (ex: "Command Knight") DO NOT stop the attack.
    • Continuous(-like) Effects that would destroy / remove the monster from the field DO NOT APPLY at this time
Substep 3.  Before Damage Calculation
Any number of Chains can be built with:
Substep 4.  Damage Calculation
FIRST: Effects that apply 'during damage calculation (only)' are applied immediately before the chain is formed.
ONLY ONE MANUAL CHAIN may be built involving:
AFTER THE MANUAL CHAIN: Continuous(-like) Effects that apply 'during damage calculation only' re-calculate ATK/DEF.
THEN: Battle Damage is calculated and inflicted.
FINALLY: Monsters are marked as "destroyed by battle" and remain face-up on the field.
  • Such monsters CANNOT be returned to the hand or Deck by card effects.
  • Such monsters CANNOT be used as cost for the activation of other cards/effects.
  • Such monsters' Continuous Effects CEASE to apply (ex: "Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo").
  • Such monsters are recognized by Continuous(-like) Effects (ex: "Dark Ruler Ha Des", "Revived King Ha Des").
Substep 5.  After Damage Calculation
FIRST: Continuous(-like) Effects that cause the monster to self-destruct / be sent to the Graveyard apply immediately (without the chain).
BEFORE ANY OTHER EFFECTS, if "Flashbang" (and ONLY "Flashbang") is activated:
  • Effects that activate when Battle Damage (ex: "Don Zaloog") is inflicted will miss the timing for activation.
  • Effects that activate/apply at the end of the Battle Phase miss their activation timing.
A MANUAL CHAIN may be built involving:
ANOTHER MANUAL CHAIN IS BUILT IF: Trigger Effects met their trigger condition while resolving the first manual chain.
Substep 6.  Resolve Effects
A MANUAL CHAIN may be built involving:
ANOTHER MANUAL CHAIN IS BUILT IF: Trigger Effects met their trigger condition while resolving the first manual chain.
Substep 7.  End of the Damage Step
FIRST: Monsters destroyed by battle are sent to the Graveyard / elsewhere due to some Condition or Lingering Effect.AFTERWARDS, A MANUAL CHAIN may be built involving:
  • Counter Trap Cards (ex: "Solemn Judgment", "Divine Wrath").
  • Trigger(-like) Effects that met their trigger condition:
    • 'when this card destroys a monster by battle', even if that monster is no longer face-up on the field (ex: "XX-Saber Fulhelmknight", "Blue Thunder T-45").
    • 'when this card destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard', but ONLY IF that monster is face-up on the field and the monster destroyed was specifically sent to the Graveyard (ex: "Goyo Guardian").
    • 'when this card is destroyed by battle [and sent to the Graveyard]' (ex: the battle tutors, "Colossal Fighter").
    • 'at the end of the Damage Step', even if that monster is not face-up on the field (ex: "Legendary Jujitsu Master").
  • Cards/Effects whose activation requirement were met (ex: "Michizure").
  • Quick/Trigger Monster Effects that negate activation of cards/effects (ex: "Herald of Orange Light", "Light and Darkness Dragon").
ANOTHER MANUAL CHAIN IS BUILT IF: Trigger Effects met their trigger condition while resolving the first manual chain.
FINALLY:
  • Lingering Effects that apply 'until the end of the Damage Step' / 'during the Damage Step (only)' expire.
  • The Damage Step ends when both players decline to activate any additional cards/ effects and the Battle Step is then re-entered.
  • To proceed to the End of the Battle Phase: the turn player declares their intent to end the Battle Phase.

   End Step

  • Continuous(-like) Effects that effect 'at the end of the Battle Phase'  apply immediately. This DOES NOT start a chain. (ex: "Goblin Attack Force").
  • The turn player has the priority to activate the first fast effect (Spell Speed 2 or higher effect).
  • Trigger(-like) Effects that activate 'at the end of the Battle Phase' activate. (ex: "Ancient Forest", "Skull Conductor", and "Gladiator Beast" monsters that battled and have remained face-up on the field).
    • These are Spell Speed 1 effects. The turn player always has priority to activate and resolve their "Gladiator Beast" effects before the non-turn player is able to activte any of their "Gladiator Beast" effects.