Ciphered Scroll

Legend of the Five Rings card from Reign of Blood

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

*

Card Text

This card's action costs Gold equal to the cost of the attaching Spell minus the cost of the targeted Spell.
Battle: Target your Shugenja and one of his Spells: Attach a Spell from your hand to him, ignoring its Gold cost. Take the targeted Spell into your hand. You may take an additional Battle action to use an action on the new Spell.

Focus Value

3

Legality

Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: I realize that I can now play the second Ciphered Scroll to exchange The Fires from Within with the original Speed of the Plains, but if I do so, can I cast Speed of the Plains again, even though Najato has clearly cast it this turn already?
  A: No. It does not matter if that copy of Speed of the Plains moved to your hand and then back into play. It is still the same copy, and still under the effect of its "once per turn" clause.
  Now, if you had a different copy of Speed of the Plains in your hand, you'd be in business. Martin Lund, "Rules for 7 May 2004", 9 May 2004
• Q: There is no reason to my point of view not allowing you to cast a limited spell as your next action.
  A: Ciphered Scroll card text does not specially allow you to break any rules for what actions are legal in battle. Zen Faulkes, "Ciphered Scroll", 28 Mar 2005
• Q: My claim, is there is no rule that says that limited action is not legal in a battle.
  A: Diamond rules, pg. 74, emphasis added: "You can use Limited actions (those with the "Limited" indicator) only during your own Action Phase."
  Ciphered Scroll's text does not allow your action of casting the Spell to be illegal in any way. It must follow all normal targeting and playability rules. Ciphered Scroll does not let you take a Limited action during a battle.
  Jeff Alexander
  Lead Designer, L5R CCG
  Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. Zen Faulkes, "Ciphered Scroll", 28 Mar 2005
• Q: after exhanging spells in battle with Ciphered Scroll, could I then cast a limited action spell?
  A: No. There is nothing on the card text allowing the casting of a spell that would not be legal at the time. Zen Faulkes, "Ciphered Scroll", 27 Mar 2005
• Q: Using "Ciphered Scroll", can I target a bowed spell attached to one of my people and switch it with one in my hand.
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Ciphered Scroll", 21 Mar 2005