A step back – understanding Dimension Wall
Dimension wall is one of those cards that confuses both players and judges alike. The reason for this is simple, it doesn’t follow the mainstream mechanics for how a card normally works. I’ll try to make it easy to understand by first comparing it to a card you are probably already familiar with, Last Will. What does Last Will have in common with dimension wall? Both cards set up a state of game play where by, after the card itself has resolved, their effect can/will be used later in the turn.
Lets step back and take a look at the wording on dimension wall for a second:
“Normal Trap
You can only activate this card when your opponent declares an attack with a monster. Instead of you, your opponent takes the Battle Damage you would have taken as a result of this battle.”
The first line states very clearly that the card itself can only be activated when your opponent declares an attack with a monster, this is something that take place during the attack step. However, the second line clearly references battle damage, which is something that takes place during the damage step (after the attack step). What this means is that once Dimension Wall resolves in the attack step, it sets up a state of game play where by it will inflict damage to your opponent in the damage step.
What does this mean in practical terms?
1. If you activate dimension wall and never get to the damage step then no damage will be inflicted. For example, Johnny is playing Sally and Sally is at 3000 life points. Sally declares an attack on Johnny directly with her Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. Johnny doesn’t understand how Dimension Wall works and thinks he can win, so he activates Magic Cylinder and chains Dimension wall. What happens in this situation is simple once you understand how Dimension Wall works; Dimension Wall resolves and will inflict damage once the attack enters the damage step, Magic Cylinder then resolves and inflicts 2400 damage to Sally and negates the attack - preventing it from ever entering the damage step. Again, because the attack never entered the damage step, no damage will be inflicted.
2. You can chain to the activation of Dimension Wall in the attack step but you may not chain to the state of game play that inflicts damage set up by Dimension wall during the damage step. An example of this would be Barrel Behind the Door or Trap of Board Eraser.
What else do I need to know about Dimension Wall?
Well for one thing, unlike Magic Cylinder, Dimension wall doesn’t target. This means that if Dimension Wall is used on an attack declared by a Spirit Reaper or Reaper on the Nightmare, Spirit Reaper/Reaper on the Nightmare will not die.
If Sally attacks Johnny with a Don Zaloog and Johnny activates Dimension Wall. Neither player gets the effect of Don Zaloog because Don Zaloog must inflict damage to “your opponent’s life points” in order to activate. The same ruling can be applied to Airknight Parshath, White Magical Hat, Mefist the Infernal General, etc.
You may not activate Dimension Wall if no damage would be inflicted. So if a Waboku has already been activated and has resolved you may not play Dimension Wall. You may, however, chain Dimension Wall to Waboku if the timing is right… but no damage will be dealt during damage calculation so Dimension Wall will not inflict any damage.
I hope this has helped you gain a better understanding of how Dimension Wall, and the game as a whole, works. Untill next time, I’m level three judge Alex Lasky. HAPPY DUELING!
Dimension wall is one of those cards that confuses both players and judges alike. The reason for this is simple, it doesn’t follow the mainstream mechanics for how a card normally works. I’ll try to make it easy to understand by first comparing it to a card you are probably already familiar with, Last Will. What does Last Will have in common with dimension wall? Both cards set up a state of game play where by, after the card itself has resolved, their effect can/will be used later in the turn.
Lets step back and take a look at the wording on dimension wall for a second:
“Normal Trap
You can only activate this card when your opponent declares an attack with a monster. Instead of you, your opponent takes the Battle Damage you would have taken as a result of this battle.”
The first line states very clearly that the card itself can only be activated when your opponent declares an attack with a monster, this is something that take place during the attack step. However, the second line clearly references battle damage, which is something that takes place during the damage step (after the attack step). What this means is that once Dimension Wall resolves in the attack step, it sets up a state of game play where by it will inflict damage to your opponent in the damage step.
What does this mean in practical terms?
1. If you activate dimension wall and never get to the damage step then no damage will be inflicted. For example, Johnny is playing Sally and Sally is at 3000 life points. Sally declares an attack on Johnny directly with her Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. Johnny doesn’t understand how Dimension Wall works and thinks he can win, so he activates Magic Cylinder and chains Dimension wall. What happens in this situation is simple once you understand how Dimension Wall works; Dimension Wall resolves and will inflict damage once the attack enters the damage step, Magic Cylinder then resolves and inflicts 2400 damage to Sally and negates the attack - preventing it from ever entering the damage step. Again, because the attack never entered the damage step, no damage will be inflicted.
2. You can chain to the activation of Dimension Wall in the attack step but you may not chain to the state of game play that inflicts damage set up by Dimension wall during the damage step. An example of this would be Barrel Behind the Door or Trap of Board Eraser.
What else do I need to know about Dimension Wall?
Well for one thing, unlike Magic Cylinder, Dimension wall doesn’t target. This means that if Dimension Wall is used on an attack declared by a Spirit Reaper or Reaper on the Nightmare, Spirit Reaper/Reaper on the Nightmare will not die.
If Sally attacks Johnny with a Don Zaloog and Johnny activates Dimension Wall. Neither player gets the effect of Don Zaloog because Don Zaloog must inflict damage to “your opponent’s life points” in order to activate. The same ruling can be applied to Airknight Parshath, White Magical Hat, Mefist the Infernal General, etc.
You may not activate Dimension Wall if no damage would be inflicted. So if a Waboku has already been activated and has resolved you may not play Dimension Wall. You may, however, chain Dimension Wall to Waboku if the timing is right… but no damage will be dealt during damage calculation so Dimension Wall will not inflict any damage.
I hope this has helped you gain a better understanding of how Dimension Wall, and the game as a whole, works. Untill next time, I’m level three judge Alex Lasky. HAPPY DUELING!
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