Rules updates and the rulings they retired

Emperor, Dracai of Aesir

When you activate Emperor, it is considered an attack and requires you to specify the attack target.

Now: Activating Emperor puts an attack-layer on the stack, which is not itself an attack (rules 1.4.1, 1.4.4, 6 June 2026). You still declare the attack-target when the layer is put on the stack; the attack it produces takes that target (rule 1.4.4a) when the layer resolves.

Barbed Castaway

If an effect allows you to activate the abilities of a bow an additional time, each ability on Barbed Castaway is able to be activated one additional time each. E.g. Snap Shot.

Now: Additional activations granted to two abilities of one card are a shared pool (rule 5.2.3d, 6 June 2026, whose example is Tri-shot on Barbed Castaway): one extra activation is one activation of either ability, and Tri-shot’s two may be split between them as you like.

A Drop in the Ocean, Inner Chi, Path Well Traveled, The Grain that Tips the Scale

If the attack-source of the active chain link is the targeted attack and that source is no longer on the combat chain by the time this card’s layer resolves, this card’s layer fails as there are no remaining targets for the targeted effect and this card does not transcend.

Now: The layer still resolves: only the targeted -1 power effect fails. If you have played another blue card this turn, this card still transcends into Inner Chi.

Inner Chi, Preserve Tradition

If the targeted card is no longer in your graveyard by the time this card’s layer resolves, this card’s layer fails as there are no remaining targets for the targeted effect and this card does not transcend.

Now: The layer still resolves: only the targeted effect fails. If you have played another blue card this turn, this card still transcends into Inner Chi (the rules update uses Preserve Tradition as its example).

Summer's Fall, Summer's Fall, Summer's Fall

If you choose to target an aura and the target becomes invalid (or ceases to exist), the trigger fails to resolve and you can’t banish.

Now: The trigger still resolves: you may still decompose (banish 2 Earth cards and 1 action card from your graveyard); only the targeted aura is not put on the bottom of the deck (the rules update uses Summer’s Fall as its example).

Prismatic Lens

Color refers to the color bar at the top of a card. If a card doesn’t have a pitch value, it does not have a color.

Now: Colour is determined by the colour strip alone and is independent of the pitch value (rule 2.1.2a, 13 October 2025): a card with no pitch value can still have a colour (Goldfin Harpoon is yellow); a card with no colour strip has no colour.

Up the Ante

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Up the Ante cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Shift the Tide of Battle

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Shift the Tide of Battle cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to give it go again.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Cut the Deck, Cut the Deck, Cut the Deck

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Cut the Deck cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Fatal Engagement, Fatal Engagement, Fatal Engagement

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Fatal Engagement cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Take the Upper Hand, Take the Upper Hand, Take the Upper Hand

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Take the Upper Hand cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Agile Engagement, Agile Engagement, Agile Engagement

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Agile Engagement cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Vigorous Engagement, Vigorous Engagement, Vigorous Engagement

Attack reactions can only be played or activated by an attacking hero during the reaction step. Vigorous Engagement cannot be played during the reaction step of an ally attack (e.g. Cintari Sellsword) to increase its {p}.

Now: Since 6 June 2025 the player who controls the attack may play or activate attack reactions (rule 7.4.2a), and since 13 February 2026 the controller of an attacking ally is the attacking hero. Attack reactions can be played during the reaction step of your own ally’s attack.

Nasreth, the Soul Harrower

If you attack with an ally, your hero isn’t considered an attacking hero, and you can not play/activate attack reactions during the reaction step of combat.

Now: When your ally attacks you are the attacking hero (13 February 2026) and you may play or activate attack reactions during the reaction step (rule 7.4.2a, 6 June 2025).

Storm of Sandikai

When a dragon (ally) attacks, your hero is not considered the attacking hero and you can not play attack reactions during the reaction step of combat.

Now: When a dragon attacks you are the attacking hero (13 February 2026) and you may play attack reactions during the reaction step (rule 7.4.2a, 6 June 2025).

Mask of Recurring Nightmares

If you are attacking with an ally, you can not activate this as you are not the attacking hero.

Now: You are the attacking hero when your ally attacks (13 February 2026) and may activate this during the reaction step (rule 7.4.2a, 6 June 2025).

Up the Ante

When you choose the modes of Up the Ante, you choose the order that the modes resolve in. I.e. you can choose for the attack to wager from the modes 1-3 before the value of Y is calculated for mode 4.

Now: Modes resolve in the order the card lists them (rule 1.7.5b, 6 June 2025); you do not choose their order.

Invoke Suraya, Suraya, Archangel of Knowledge

If Suraya, Archangel of Knowledge is destroyed while it is attacking, but before the chain link resolves, the combat chain closes.

Now: The combat chain closes only if the attack ceases to exist before damage is calculated in the Damage Step (rule 7.7.2c; and not while another attack waits in the queue). Destroyed after damage, the chain link resolves normally and the chain stays open.

Second Tenet of Chi: Wind

If Second Tenet of Chi: Wind gets go again before the link step, the attack’s controller will gain 1 action point from the go again. If you get Go Again during the link step, the attack’s controller will not gain 1 action point from the go again.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Inner Chi, Path Well Traveled

If the attack gets go again before the link step, the attack’s controller will gain 1 action point from the go again. If you play and resolve this card during the link step, the attack’s controller will not gain 1 action point from the go again.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Cosmo, Scroll of Ancestral Tapestry

If you give an aura attack go again after it has resolved and you’ve passed the link step for that chain link, you will not retroactively gain an action point from giving go again.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Luminaris, Angel's Glow

If you give an attack action card or angel attack go again after it has resolved and you’ve passed the link step for that chain link, you will not retroactively gain an action point from go again because it is too late.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Eclectic Magnetism

You may only use this effect once, and only during this attack’s chain link. Once you play another attack (in the link step) or close the combat chain, you can no longer use this effect to play a non-attack action card as an instant.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Gone in a Flash

If you play an instant after damage is dealt (resolution or link step), this card returns to your hand, but the combat chain does not close.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025); after damage is dealt there are the Damage Step (players have priority) and the Resolution Step. Returning this to hand then still does not close the combat chain.

Gone in a Flash

If you return this to hand in the resolution step, last known information is used to determine if it had go again and if you would gain an action point during the link step. You cannot give it go again after it has already left the combat chain.

Now: The action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins (31 January 2025), using last known information if the card is gone (rule 7.6.2a). Go again cannot be given to it after that.

Tarpit Trap

Go again is a resolution ability not a trigger ability. An attack with go again defended with Tarpit Trap will still grant an action point in the link step of combat.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins, right after the Damage Step; read "link step" as "the start of the Resolution Step". Go again gained after that gives nothing.

Blaze Headlong

As long as you play a red card before the link step of combat, Blaze Headlong will have go again and grant you an action point.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): the action point from go again is given as the Resolution Step begins. Play the red card by the end of the Damage Step (players have priority there after damage is dealt).

Hypothermia

If Hypothermia is played after an attack gains go again, but before the link step of combat, the attack (retroactively) does not gain go again and does not give an action point during the link step.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025): played before the Resolution Step begins (the Damage Step at the latest), Hypothermia removes the gained go again and no action point is given as the Resolution Step begins.

MHz Script

If you play a Mechanologist attack action card and then put MHz Script into the arena before the Link step of combat, the card will get go again and will generate an action point for you. The combat steps go: Layer step (when you play), Attack step (when you attack), Defend step (when they defend), Reaction step (either can play reactions), Damage step (calculate and apply damage), Resolution step (resolve triggered effects), Link step (gain action point from go again, play another attack).

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025). The steps are Layer, Attack, Defend, Reaction, Damage (players have priority), Resolution (the action point from go again first, then priority and the next attack), Close. Put MHz Script into the arena by the end of the Damage Step.

Soup Up, Soup Up, Soup Up

If an item you control is destroyed before the link step of combat, the card will get go again and will generate an action point for you. The combat steps go: Layer step (when you play), Attack step (when you attack), Defend step (when they defend), Reaction step (either can play reactions), Damage step (calculate and apply damage), Resolution step (resolve triggered effects), Link step (gain action point from go again, play another attack).

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025). The steps are Layer, Attack, Defend, Reaction, Damage (players have priority), Resolution (the action point from go again first, then priority and the next attack), Close. The item must be destroyed by the end of the Damage Step.

Aegis, Archangel of Protection, Avalon, Archangel of Rebirth, Bellona, Archangel of War, Figment of Erudition, Figment of Judgment, Figment of Protection, Figment of Ravages, Figment of Rebirth, Figment of Tenacity, Figment of Triumph, Figment of War, Metis, Archangel of Tenacity, Sekem, Archangel of Ravages, Suraya, Archangel of Erudition, Themis, Archangel of Judgment, Victoria, Archangel of Triumph

If this has go again, and is destroyed during the resolution step of its attack, Last Known Information is used, and the controller still gains an action point during the link step of combat.

Now: If it had go again, the action point was given as the Resolution Step began (31 January 2025), by last known information if it is gone (rule 7.6.2a).

Aegis, Archangel of Protection, Avalon, Archangel of Rebirth, Bellona, Archangel of War, Figment of Erudition, Figment of Judgment, Figment of Protection, Figment of Ravages, Figment of Rebirth, Figment of Tenacity, Figment of Triumph, Figment of War, Metis, Archangel of Tenacity, Sekem, Archangel of Ravages, Suraya, Archangel of Erudition, Themis, Archangel of Judgment, Victoria, Archangel of Triumph

If this does not have go again and is destroyed during the resolution step, Last Known Information cannot be changed and the controller cannot give the attack go again during the link step of combat.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025); the action point from go again is decided as the Resolution Step begins, so go again cannot be given to it afterwards.

Emperor, Dracai of Aesir

Activating Emperor opens the combat chain and begins the Layer Step of combat. Activating Emperor does not close the combat chain in the link step.

Now: The Link Step no longer exists (31 January 2025). Activating Emperor opens the combat chain; since 6 June 2026 it can also be activated during the Resolution Step of an existing chain link, its attack joining the queue as the next chain link (rules 7.0.1a, 7.6.3a).

Mask of Many Faces

Tokens are not cards, and can not be named unless there is a card with the same name.

Now: Tokens are cards (token-cards) since 6 October 2023, so a token’s name (Runechant, Spectral Shield …) can be named (rule 8.5.21b).

Head Leads the Tail

Tokens are not cards, and can not be named unless there is a card with the same name. Tokens (which can not be named) are distinct from token-rarity cards. E.g. You may name attack action cards like Phoenix Flame.

Now: Tokens are cards (token-cards) since 6 October 2023, so a token’s name can be named (rule 8.5.21b). Token-rarity cards were always nameable.

Korshem, Crossroad of Elements

If you have a continuous effect that increases {p} or {d} and then play/defend with a card that the effect applies to, this does not prevent Korshem from being destroyed at the end of the turn. This is because the card comes under your control with the effect applied, and therefore the {p} or {d} has not increased while it was under your control. If the continuous effect becomes active AFTER the card comes under your control, then the {p} or {d} may increase from the effect which would prevent Korshem from being destroyed at the end of the turn.

Now: Playing (or defending with) a card that an existing +{p} or +{d} continuous effect applies to counts as that card gaining {p} or {d} (rule 6.2.5: the effect applies as an event). Rule 2.0.3b’s own example: Korshem is not destroyed.

Steadfast, Steadfast, Steadfast

The source can be any object currently in the game, typically cards or tokens, and is chosen at the time Steadfast resolves.

Now: The source must be a public (face-up) card or macro in the arena or on the stack when Steadfast resolves (rule 1.8.6b, whose example is Oasis Respite). A card in hand, arsenal or deck cannot be chosen.

V of the Vanguard

Playing or using non-attack actions closes the combat chain. (They require an empty combat chain to be played)

Now: A non-attack action can only be played while the combat chain is closed: close the chain first (a non-attack action played as an instant is the exception). The parenthesis was already the rule; the first sentence describes the old order.

Ball Lightning, Ball Lightning, Ball Lightning

Playing a non-attack action closes the combat chain, therefore Ball Lightning’s replacement effect does not apply to non-attack action cards. This does apply non-attack actions that are played as though it was an instant when the combat chain is still open.

Now: The combat chain must already be closed to play a non-attack action normally, so Ball Lightning’s effect never applies to one; it still applies to a non-attack action played as an instant while the chain is open.