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What is 'Priority'?

"Priority" refers to a player's "right to use a card or effect" that starts a chain. Cards themselves DO NOT have "Priority". Additionally, "Priority" exists whether or not the turn player declares their intent to use "Priority". The current flow chart for what Konami calls "fast effect timing" and "open and closed gamestates" can be found HERE, its contents apply in Edison Format with the addition of "Ignition Effect Priority". With this in mind, we'll start by breaking down "Priority" in general, and then elaborate on "Ignition Effect Priority".

The Turn Player has "Priority" WHEN:

  • A successful Summon does not start a chain. The turn player may activate a fast effect or an Ignition Effect as Chain Link 1.
    • Example 1: Player A discards "Destiny Hero - Malicious" to Special Summon "Dark Grepher" from the hand. The Summon is successful and Player A retains priority to activate the first Spell Speed 2 (or higher) card / effect starting a chain before Player B can activate the effect of "D.D. Crow" or "Torrential Tribute". Additionally, Player A also holds "Ignition Effect Priority".
    • Example 2: Player A Ritual Summons "Demise, King of Armageddon". Since the Summon did not cause any Trigger(-like) Effects to activate, Player A retains priority to activate the first Spell Speed 2 (or higher) card / effect starting a chain before Player B can activate the effect of "Torrential Tribute". Additionally, Player A holds "Ignition Effect Priority".
    • Example 3: Player A Normal Summons "Armageddon Knight" which triggers its effect. Player A does not have priority to activate an Ignition Effect or a fast effect, and may only decide whether or not they wish to activate "Armageddon Knight's" optional Trigger Effect before passing priority to Player B; who may respond with "Torrential Tribute".
  • A chain has finished resolving. The turn player may activate a fast effect as Chain Link 1.
    • Example 1: A chain resolved wherein Player A's "Armageddon Knight's" effect was the last thing to happen, sending "Destiny Hero - Malicious" from the Deck to the Graveyard. No Trigger(-like) Effects activated in response to the chain's resolution. Player A retains priority to activate a Spell Speed 2 (or higher) card / effect, but CANNOT activate the Ignition Effect of "Destiny Hero - Malicious" yet. If Player A does not activate a card/effect, priority passes to Player B who may activate "D.D. Crow's" effect.
  • They enter a new phase of the turn. The turn player may make the first action / activate the first fast effect starting a Chain.
    • Example 1: Player A ends the Standby Phase and enters their Main Phase 1. In this "open gamestate", Player A retains priority to perform the first action before Player B can activate a fast effect. Therefore, Player A may activate "Destiny Hero - Malicious's" Ignition Effect, Summon / Set a monster, or activate a Normal Spell card before Player B can activate the effect of "D.D. Crow".
    • Example 2: Player A enters the Battle Phase and retains "Priority" to activate the first fast effect in each Substep of the Phase.

What exactly is "Ignition Effect Priority" then?

Ignition Effects are Spell Speed 1 and therefore they CANNOT be chained. "Ignition Effect Priority" refers specifically to the turn player's "Priority" to activate an Ignition Effect as Chain Link 1 in response to a Summon that does not start a chain. The turn player does NOT have "Ignition Effect Priority" when the Summon starts a chain.
  • Example 1: Player A Special Summons "Dark Armed Dragon" while Player B's "Black Garden" is active. During the Summon response timing, "Black Garden's" mandatory Trigger Effect activates and starts a chain, stripping Player A of turn player priority (and Ignition Effect Priority). After "Black Garden's" effect becomes Chain Link 1, priority is passed to Player A.
  • Example 2: Player A Normal Summons "Armageddon Knight" triggering its effect. During the Summon response timing, Player A can either activate "Armageddon Knight's" optional Trigger Effect or pass priority to Player B; who may respond with "Torrential Tribute". Player A does NOT have priority to activate any other card/effect as Chain Link 1 (including Ignition Effects).

Is it ever assumed I have passed "Priority"?

Moving between Phases, returning to open gamestates, and even building a chain requires players give up their priority to activate the next card / effect. Priority can be assumed to be passed when a player proceeds from the Draw Phase immediately to the Main Phase to perform a Normal Summon without asking their opponent every step of the way "would you like to activate a fast effect before I move to the next Phase?" These shortcuts allow games to progress in a timely manner. However, when it is reasonable to suspect your opponent may be able to activate a card or effect at any given moment (suppose they have 3 Set Spell / Trap Cards), it is good player etiquette to slow down and declare your actions  and uses of priority. A player will almost always pass priority in their draw phase without formally declaring their intent to do so, making it an assumed shortcut that, unless stated otherwise, they will always be passing priority in their draw phase. If this is the case, and you draw to 4 cards in hand, and your opponent flips Trap Dustshoot, you cannot say, “But before you activated Trap Dustshoot, I wanted to activate a card (thus keeping me below 4 cards in hand)” because you have established a pattern of behavior and are essentially asking to replay the last few events with additional knowledge of your opponent's Set cards. Practice good etiquette, be wary of your actions when you suspect a "Trap Dustshoot". YOU are responsible for conveying your intent to use priority before "Trap Dustshoot" is activated.

Does "Priority" affect Trigger Effects?

In case you're concerned that "Priority" will interfere with your Trigger Effects, re-read Konami's flowchart. You may notice that any action which causes a Trigger Effect to activate (both mandatory and optional) starts a new chain at the next available opportunity. This means that you will NOT retain "Ignition Effect Priority" (since the chain has already been started, and Ignition Effects cannot be chained). However, if the Trigger/Trigger-like Effect activated was your opponent's, you will have priority to activate the first card/effect in response to their effect.

This is not to say that Trigger(-like) Effects stop priority. The rules of the game are not changed while "King Tiger Wanghu" or "Black Garden" are in face-up on the field. However, if you Summon "Exiled Force" while "King Tiger Wanghu" is face-up, there is no way to postpone the activation of "King Tiger Wanghu's" effect which starts a chain.