Here\u00a0we\u2019ll learn even more about PSCT and what it has to say about targeting.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n Be sure to check out the first article in the series,\u00a0introducing PSCT: www.ygorganization.com\/learnrulingspart1\/<\/a><\/p>\n Targeting Basics An effect targets if, and only if, the card text uses the word \u2018target\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Pretty simple, though remember again that this only applies to cards with PSCT. Simple examples are Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and\u00a0Mirror Force: When an opponent’s monster declares an attack: Destroy all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls. Targets and Resolution If an effect also uses the word \u2018target\u2019 after the semi-colon, then the targeting conditions must all be correct when the effect resolves, or it resolves without effect.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s a little\u00a0wordy, but bear with me – it’s clear with some\u00a0examples. Let\u2019s start with this effect of Atlantean Marksman: The effect uses the word \u2018target\u2019 after the semi-colon. Marksman targets 1 Set card, so this rule of PSCT is telling us that Marksman checks its target is still Set at resolution before it will destroy it.\u00a0So if the targeted card is Chained, then Marksman will not destroy it.<\/p>\n Compare this with the first effect of Galaxy Cyclone: Because it doesn\u2019t use the word \u2018target\u2019 after the semi-colon, it doesn\u2019t care whether the target is still face-down at resolution. Galaxy Cyclone will destroy it either way.<\/p>\n Another example is Trap Hole: Since it says \u2018target\u2019 after the semi-colon, it will only destroy the targeted monster if it still has 1000 or more ATK at resolution. If the opponent Chains something like Shrink (or Book of Moon) so that the monster has less than 1000 ATK (or is face-down, so its ATK cannot be determined) then Trap Hole will not destroy it.<\/p>\n If an effect doesn\u2019t use the word \u2018target\u2019 after the semi-colon, read the card carefully to find out what still needs to be correct when it resolves.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, let\u2019s look at Bottomless Trap Hole: Even though it doesn\u2019t target, the text tells us that the monsters still need to have 1500 or more ATK at resolution. If something is Chained, reducing their ATK to below 1500, then Bottomless Trap Hole will not destroy or banish that monster.<\/p>\n There\u2019s an entire article dedicated to this little rule and its application to Effect Veiler and the like, if you’re interested: www.ygorganization.com\/chooseyourtarget\/<\/a><\/p>\n Note that effects do not track cards when they change locations (field, Graveyard, etc). For simplicity, I\u2019ll use Monster Reborn to illustrate this: If D.D. Crow is Chained to the card that Reborn is targeting, Reborn will not Special Summon it, because the monster is no longer in the same location, even though it doesn\u2019t say \u2018Special Summon that target\u2019.<\/p>\n Multiple Targets If it doesn\u2019t use \u2018those targets\u2019 after the semi-colon, it doesn\u2019t need the targeting conditions to be correct at resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n This is the \u2018not picky\u2019 case. For example, Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh: It doesn\u2019t use the word \u2018targets\u2019 after the semi-colon so, just like in the single-target case, it doesn\u2019t care whether any of the targets are not Set when the effect resolves. It also doesn’t care if it can’t destroy one of the targets – it will still try to destroy the other target. Not picky at all.<\/p>\n If it uses \u2018those targets\u2019 after the semi-colon, it checks the targeting conditions for each target individually at resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n This is the case where the effect looks at each card individually. For example, Tiger Dragon: If one\u00a0target is flipped face-up, Tiger Dragon will not destroy it, but it will still check the other target and destroy that one if it’s still face-down.<\/p>\n If it uses \u2018both\u2019 or \u2018all\u2019 (as appropriate), then it checks the targeting conditions collectively, and if they are not fully correct, it does nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n Pot of Avarice is banned now, so I\u2019ll use Jar of Avarice as an example instead: Since it specifically refers to ‘all 5′, if D.D. Crow is Chained to banish one of the 5, Jar of Avarice will do nothing. All’ (or ‘both’) means ‘all or nothing’.<\/p>\n Quiz time!<\/strong><\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> Which of these effects target?<\/p>\n -This effect of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon: -Deep Dark Trap Hole: -Creature Swap: (2)<\/strong> True or False: If the effect of Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss targets a Set Call of the Haunted, and CotH is Chained to the effect of Calcab, CotH is still returned to the hand when Calcab’s effect resolves. (3)<\/strong> True or False: If Book of Moon is Chained to flip the target of\u00a0(the second effect of)\u00a0Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer face-down, the target is still returned to the Deck. (4)<\/strong> Player A activates the effect of Infernity General, and Player B Chains by discarding D.D. Crow for its effect, to banish one of the targets. What happens? -Both targets are still Special Summoned (5)<\/strong> Greenkappa’s effect targets 2 Set Trap Cards. One of them is Chained. What happens? -Both targets are still destroyed Answers: (1) None of them! (2) False (3) True (4) Only the non-banished target is still Special Summoned (5) Only the non-Chained target is destroyed Once again, if you want to read more about PSCT, you can check out Konami’s official articles on it:\u00a0https:\/\/yugiohblog.konami.com\/articles\/?tag=problem-solving-card-text
\n<\/strong>Through PSCT, it\u2019s clear to see when an effect targets or not.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDiscard 1 card, then target<\/span> 1 card your opponent controls; place that target on the top of the Deck.
\n<\/i>This clearly targets.<\/p>\n
\n<\/i>This does not.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Things get more interesting when we look after the semi-colon.<\/p>\n
\nWhen this card is sent to the Graveyard to activate a WATER monster’s effect: Target<\/span> 1 Set card your opponent controls; destroy that target<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTarget<\/span> 1 Set Spell\/Trap Card on the field; destroy it<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nWhen your opponent Normal or Flip Summons 1 monster with 1000 or more ATK: Target<\/span> that monster; destroy that target<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nWhen your opponent Summons a monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK: Destroy that monster(s) with 1500 or more ATK<\/span>, and if you do, banish it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTarget 1 monster in either player’s Graveyard; Special Summon it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>When an effect targets multiple cards, there are several amounts to which it can \u2018care\u2019 about the targeting conditions being correct at resolution.<\/p>\n
\nOnce per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card to target 2 Set cards on the field; destroy them<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nWhen this card is Tribute Summoned by Tributing a Dragon-Type monster: You can target up to 2 face-down Spell\/Trap Cards your opponent controls; destroy those targets<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTarget 5 cards in your Graveyard, except “Jar of Avarice”; shuffle all 5<\/span> into the Deck, then draw 1 card. You can only activate 1 “Jar of Avarice” per turn.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nOnce per turn: You can Special Summon 1 Dragon-Type monster from your hand or Graveyard, except “Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon”.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWhen a Level 5 or higher Effect Monster(s) is Special Summoned: Banish that Level 5 or higher Effect Monster(s).<\/em><\/p>\n
\nEach player chooses 1 monster they control and switches control of those monsters with each other. Those monsters cannot change their battle positions for the rest of this turn.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIf this card is sent to the Graveyard: You can target 1 Set Spell\/Trap Card on the field; return that target to the hand.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nYou can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card, then target 1 other face-up card on the field; shuffle it into the Deck.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIf you have no cards in your hand: You can banish this card from your Graveyard to target 2 Level 3 or lower “Infernity” monsters in your Graveyard; Special Summon them from the Graveyard, but their effects are negated.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n-Only the non-banished target is still Special Summoned
\n-Neither are Special Summoned<\/p>\n
\nFLIP: Target 2 Set Spell\/Trap Cards on the field; destroy those targets.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n-Only the non-Chained\u00a0target\u00a0is destroyed
\n-Neither are destroyed<\/p>\nSpoiler<\/summary>\n
\nNone of the cards use the word ‘target’. We should check, though, that Creature Swap does have PSCT, because it’s not immediately obvious, but it does, so we’re clear.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nCalcab targets a\u00a0Set card, and returns ‘that target’ to the hand, so the card needs to still be Set at resolution for Calcab to return it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nCastel returns ‘it’ to the Deck, so it doesn’t care whether its target is still face-up when its effect resolves.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe banished target definitely cannot be Special Summoned, because it’s moved from its original location. But Infernity General Special Summons ‘them’ so it’s not picky, and will Special Summon the other.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nGreenkappa targets Set cards, and destroys ‘those targets’, so it checks each target separately to make sure they’re still Set at resolution.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/details><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>And you can also check out my complete article\u00a0here (coming soon):\u00a0www.ygorganization.com\/Summary of PSCT<\/a><\/p>\n