Night Assailant's targeting effect

[Big Oldprankster]

Numerous places on the forums, FAQ, and rulings pages I have seen where is says Night Assailant's effect of returning a flip effect monster is a targeting effect. Am I correct to assume this does not mean at activation but at resolution? Let me give an example:

Player A activates Card Destruction. Player B discards his hand which had a Night Assailant in it. Does he now name his target but does not retrieve it until after resolution of Card Destruction or does he resolve Card Destruction then name and choose a flip effect monster(not the same Night Assailant, could be a different one in graveyard)?

 

[John Danker]

Reading the ruling on Night Assailant regarding Last Turn should help clear this question up.....

When "Night Assailant" is sent to the Graveyard by the effect of "Last Turn", FIRST resolve "Last Turn"'s effect of sending all cards on the field and in the hands to the Graveyard, SECOND activate and resolve the effect of "Night Assailant", and THIRD Special Summon a monster by the effect of "Last Turn".

 

[Big Oldprankster]

So they are saying Night Assailant's effect can interupt what is going on? So it will name and retrieve at the same time?

Heres another example:
Player A activates Delinquent Duo and he/she chooses Night Assailant from Player B's hand. Would you then return a flip effect monster from the graveyard before Player B discarded another card for Delinquent Duo?

 

[John Danker]

That was probably a bad example <laffin at myself> Lets go with the first ruling from Night Assailant instead shall we?

"Night Assailant" doesn't have to be sent to the Graveyard by an effect, or by an effect controlled by your opponent; it just has to be sent to the Graveyard. "Night Assailant"'s effect activates when sent to the Graveyard as a cost for "Magic Jammer" or "Tribe-Infecting Virus"; "Night Assailant"'s effect activates after the current chain resolves.

So in your example with Card Destruction, resolve Card Destruction's effect, Night Assailant's effect now activates.

 

[Big Oldprankster]

I guess where I am getting hung up here is when do you name(target) the flip effect monster you wish to return? Let's go with the Card Destruction example. When Night Assailant is discarded do I then name(target) a monster in the graveyard or do I not have to name(target) and return until resolution? Maybe I am reading to much into this. Maybe you don't target at all which would explain how you could return 2 Night Assailants to your hand by discarding them both with Graceful Charity.

 

[densetsu_x]

The effect of "Night Assailant" starts a new chain after the current one resolves. So in your "Card Destruction" example, finish resolving CD first (discar/draw). THEN "Night Assailant" activates starting a new chain (this is when you target). If 2 "Night Assailant" cards were discarded, you have a SEGOC and both go on the chain (where you could decide to have 1 target the other).

"Graceful Charity" is the same thing. Their effect would not activate until you finish resolving GC first. Then their effect (being manditory) starts a new chain.

 

[John Danker]

It does target, you have to name the card that will be returned. Anytime you have to name the card it targets.

You target when Night Assailant activates. See the bolded text in the ruling below....


"Night Assailant" doesn't have to be sent to the Graveyard by an effect, or by an effect controlled by your opponent; it just has to be sent to the Graveyard. "Night Assailant"'s effect activates when sent to the Graveyard as a cost for "Magic Jammer" or "Tribe-Infecting Virus"; "Night Assailant"'s effect activates after the current chain resolves.

As for your other question, once Graceful Charity resolves both Night Assailants effects activate. You target Night Assialant #2 for Night Assialant #1's effect, and visa versa.

 

[Big Oldprankster]

Thanks to all of the explanations. To summarize:

Night Assailant does not name its target when discarded but when it resolves in another chain. You must complete resolution of whatever card you are doing before choosing and returning the flip effect monster.

What prompted this question last night happened when another judge and myself was playing after our shop's tag team duel league. He played Delinquent Duo and picked Night Assailant from my hand. I then chose to discard Hiro's Shadow Scout. I then returned Hiro's Shadow Scout with Night Assailant's effect. My opponent was under the impression I had to target a monster when Night Assailant hit the graveyard but not return it until after I discarded for the second part of Delinquent Duo(thus I could not choose Hiro's Shadow Scout since it was still in my hand). I thought I could go ahead and discard Hiro's Shadow Scout and then call it and return it. From what everybody is saying I was correct to return Hiro's Shadow Scout.