Energy Transference

Legend of the Five Rings card from Gold Edition, Pre-Imperial Edition, Imperial Edition, Emerald Edition, Obsidian Edition, Shadowlands, Anvil of Despair, Crimson and Jade, Scorpion Clan Coup Starter

Card Type

Spell

Gold Cost

4

Card Text

Battle/Open: Any number of times per turn, bow this Shugenja and target a Personality: Switch his Force and Chi. Destroy this Spell if the Personality is not yours.

Focus Value

2

Legality

Clan Wars (Imperial), Four Winds (Gold)

Deck

Fate

Notes

The pre-Imperial Edition version was named Inversion of Energies.

Printings

Rulings

• Clarified: effect lasts until the end of the current turn. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 8

Rules Q&A

• Q: Personality X (say Aikune) has the clan sword and is running around at 12F/13C. The opposing player uses Energy Transference on Aikune (and it actually gets through), swithcing his stats. The same player then plays the Kiho Kukan-do, to steal an the newly generated force bonus to Aikune. How big is the actual force bonus? 1F or 13F?
  A: 1F. His Force is changing from 12 to 13, and the bonus is the difference. Jeff Alexander, "post for 23 October 2002", 24 Oct 2002
• Q: If you will remember the now ancient Pre-IE promos given out at Gencon '95, There where several cards that had their names changed before the release of IE. For instance: The card "Energy Transference" was called "Inversion of Energies". Since these cards technically have different names, even though they are otherwise the same, wouldn't it be legal to play (an open game of course) 3 of each card?
  A: No. The new titles are considered MRPs of the old titles. Jeff Alexander, "post for 3 September 2002", 4 Sep 2002
• Q: Energy Transference Open: Bow this Shugenja to switch a Personality's Force and Chi. If the Personality is not yours, destroy this Spell.
  Fortress of the Dragonfly Each of your Human and Naga Personalities gains +1C while the Fortress of the Dragonfly is in play.
  Okay you have a 2 force 4 chi(including fortress bonus, one in play) personality. You switch the force and chi. The force becomes 4. But what about the chi? Would the chi be at 2? Or 3 because of the fortresses?
  A: It becomes 2 because you're setting it to what his Force was. [rulebook p. 32] Jeff Alexander, "post for 29 April 2002", 30 Apr 2002
• Q: Quick question here. Let's say I play Uncertainty on another player's personality, reducing him to 0 force. Then I cast Energy Transference on said personailty. Which switches his force and chi. Does the personality die, or will Uncertainty protect him?
  A: Uncertainty gives him a Chi minimum of 1, which applies after his Chi gets set to 0 [DA rulebook p. 31] and so saves him. Jeff Alexander, "post for 26 April 2002", 27 Apr 2002
• Q: 1) Energy Transference: Open: Bow this Shugenja to switch a Personality's Force and Chi. If the Personality is not yours, destroy this Spell.
  Last clause is a cost or an effect ? i.e. If Imperial edicts cancel it (when I target another player personality) the spell is destroyed?
  A: By past ruling, it's a cost. Jeff Alexander, "post for 21 February 2002", 22 Feb 2002
• Q: If I have a 2/4 personality (Yasuki Hachi for instance), and 2 Fortress of The Dragonfly in play, Yasuki is 2/6, ok... but what happens if I use Energy Transference on him ? Does he become 6/2, or 4/4 ?
  A: He was a 2/6, so he'll become a 6/2. [AOF rulebook pp. 32, 42] Jeff Alexander, "post for 6 February 2002", 7 Feb 2002
• Q: If I used the card Uncertainty on say, Kakita Toshimoko X, then cast Energy Transference on him, what would result? Would the E.T. PKill be stopped by the Uncertainty, or would that be transfered to the Force?
  A: Uncertainty would stop the death. Uncertainty sets the Personality's minimum Chi to 1. Energy Transference is, by definition, a Chi reduction if the Personality has less Force than Chi when it's cast, so it would stop at 1 instead of going to 0. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 October 2001", 16 Oct 2001
• Q: I was wondering on the timing between Fortress of the Dragonfly and Energy Transference.
  Let's say I wack my opponents 0F/4C shuenja with Energy Transference. He currently has two Fortress of the Dragonfly in play.
  Which of the following happens:
  A: <snip> Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 25th", 25 Jul 2001
• Q: 2. How does In Search interact with stat switching effects like Energy Transference and Within Your Soul?
  A: If the Personality's Force is higher than it was before, ISotF will zero out the bonus and return the Force to what it was. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 15-16 April 2001", 19 Apr 2001