I'll Take You With Me! - Michizure
Written by magician_noir
No, this article is not about "Rules Rage" or any other psychological disorder afflicting Yu-Gi-Oh! judges that might be implied by the title of this article. It's about the Trap Card Michizure which has the Japanese translation "take you with me" (courtesy of Edo).With the UDE Ban List taking effect October 1, 2004, duelists are seeking alternative ways to remove monsters from the field with the loss of Raigeki and Dark Hole from their decks in those tournaments that apply the Ban List. This article addresses the issues and rulings of one of the cards some duelists are considering and that may now see more tournament play -- Michizure.
Michizure Text
You can activate this card when your monster is sent from the field to the Graveyard. Destroy 1 monster on the field.
History
Michizure is pronounced something akin to "Mich -a- Zoor- Ay." While a Japanese speaker might laugh at my attempt to pronounce it, it's better than pronouncing it as something like "seizure." Then again, the card has probably caused many seizures within the ruling teams of both Konami and UDE. It was certainly one of (if not the single most) troublesome card to interpret and rule upon early in the game's history.
Michizure was released in Japan in late 2000 and by UDE in the Pharaoh's Servant (PSV) Booster Set in the spring of 2003. Many duelists were disappointed by the early rulings of the card since it was much more limited in use than players originally thought based on the seemingly straightforward text. As game principles have evolved, we now have a much better understanding of why the card works like it does.
About the Timing for Michizure
Michizure is a Normal Trap and, therefore, cannot be activated in the Damage Step. That means that it cannot be used when a monster is destroyed in Battle or through an effect that resolves in the Damage Step, such as Reflect Bounder. Further, you can only activate Michizure if the last event to occur is your monster being sent to the Graveyard since it is an optional effect (note the "can" in the card text). Applying these two principles when faced with a Michizure ruling question will get you to the correct outcome.In hindsight, it really is that simple.
Top 10 Answers to the Most Common Questions About Michizure
Michizure is certainly not a "broken" card as is made clear by the rulings. However, it may see more play since it is an effective card to destroy an opponent's monster when the opponent destroys your monster using commonly used cards such as Smashing Ground, Fissure, Exiled Force, Tribe Infecting Virus, and (if the timing is right) Torrential Tribute or Ring of Destruction. Judge's and players should be aware of the limits of the card, specifically when it cannot be used.
Written by magician_noir
No, this article is not about "Rules Rage" or any other psychological disorder afflicting Yu-Gi-Oh! judges that might be implied by the title of this article. It's about the Trap Card Michizure which has the Japanese translation "take you with me" (courtesy of Edo).With the UDE Ban List taking effect October 1, 2004, duelists are seeking alternative ways to remove monsters from the field with the loss of Raigeki and Dark Hole from their decks in those tournaments that apply the Ban List. This article addresses the issues and rulings of one of the cards some duelists are considering and that may now see more tournament play -- Michizure.
Michizure Text
You can activate this card when your monster is sent from the field to the Graveyard. Destroy 1 monster on the field.
History
Michizure is pronounced something akin to "Mich -a- Zoor- Ay." While a Japanese speaker might laugh at my attempt to pronounce it, it's better than pronouncing it as something like "seizure." Then again, the card has probably caused many seizures within the ruling teams of both Konami and UDE. It was certainly one of (if not the single most) troublesome card to interpret and rule upon early in the game's history.
Michizure was released in Japan in late 2000 and by UDE in the Pharaoh's Servant (PSV) Booster Set in the spring of 2003. Many duelists were disappointed by the early rulings of the card since it was much more limited in use than players originally thought based on the seemingly straightforward text. As game principles have evolved, we now have a much better understanding of why the card works like it does.
About the Timing for Michizure
Michizure is a Normal Trap and, therefore, cannot be activated in the Damage Step. That means that it cannot be used when a monster is destroyed in Battle or through an effect that resolves in the Damage Step, such as Reflect Bounder. Further, you can only activate Michizure if the last event to occur is your monster being sent to the Graveyard since it is an optional effect (note the "can" in the card text). Applying these two principles when faced with a Michizure ruling question will get you to the correct outcome.In hindsight, it really is that simple.
Top 10 Answers to the Most Common Questions About Michizure
- Michizure cannot be activated when a monster is sent to the Graveyard for a Tribute Summon since the last thing to happen included the monster summon.
- Michizure cannot be activated in response to a monster being destroyed and sent to the Graveyard due to Battle since you are still in the Damage Step when the monster is sent to the Graveyard.
Michizure may be activated during any phase of your turn or your opponent's turn (if it had been set in your prior turn or before). - However, it can only be activated if the very last event is a chainable one that sent the controller's monster to the Graveyard.
- It cannot be used in response to a tribute for effects such as Cannon Soldier, Hysteric Fairy, Tribe Infecting Virus, and the like since the last thing to happen is the effect of such cards, not the sending of the monster to the Graveyard.
- Michizure can be activated if the controller's monster was sent to the Graveyard by the effect of Tribe Infecting Virus, Exiled Force, Man-Eater Bug and the like.
- The effect of Michizure can be used in response to the controller's monster being destroyed by Mirror Force, Dark Mirror Force, Sakuretsu Armor, and the like, since the monster is sent to the Graveyard in the Battle Step of the Battle Phase.
- The effect of Michizure cannot be used if the monster is used as tribute for a Ritual Summon, as Fusion Summon material, or for the effect of Metamorphosis since the last thing to happen is the summon, not the monster being sent to the Graveyard.
- The effect of Michizure targets a monster since the controller of Michizure selects the monster to be destroyed.
- Michizure cannot be used if the card sent to the Graveyard is a Spell Card at the time it is destroyed. Therefore, you cannot use Michizure's effect if equipped "monsters" due to the effect of Relinquished, Thousand-Eyes Restrict or Dark Necrofear are destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
- Michizure can be used to destroy your own monster, if for some reason you wanted to do that
- You cannot activate Michizure in response to your monster being destroyed by the effect of Cyber Jar due to a Flip Summon since the last thing to happen is the Special Summon of monsters to the field, not your monster being sent to the Graveyard. Obviously, if Cyber Jar is flipped due to Battle, you are in the Damage Step and cannot activate Michizure in any event.
- If your opponent begins a chain and you or your opponent activate a card such as Ring of Destruction, you cannot activate Michizure if Ring of Destruction is not the very last effect to resolve.
Michizure is certainly not a "broken" card as is made clear by the rulings. However, it may see more play since it is an effective card to destroy an opponent's monster when the opponent destroys your monster using commonly used cards such as Smashing Ground, Fissure, Exiled Force, Tribe Infecting Virus, and (if the timing is right) Torrential Tribute or Ring of Destruction. Judge's and players should be aware of the limits of the card, specifically when it cannot be used.