Iaijutsu Art

Legend of the Five Rings card from Gold Edition, Scorpion Clan Coup 2

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Keywords

Iaijutsu

Card Text

Iaijutsu Limited: Your target performing unbowed Personality challenges another player's target Personality with an equal or higher Chi. Each Personality's controller must focus exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken "instead of focusing" may not be taken. The winner gains 4 Honor. Dishonor the loser.

Focus Value

1

Legality

Clan Wars (Imperial), Four Winds (Gold)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Iaijutsu Art 0G 1FV Limited: One of your Personalities issues an unrefusable challenge to a Personality with equal or higher Chi. Each Personality focuses exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken "instead of focusing" cannot be taken. The winner's controller gains 4 Honor. Dishonor the loser." [MRP, Gold Edition, 1 July 2001] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 20
• If your opponent must strike, the duel resolves immediately and you do not get to focus. If you never got a chance to focus, you weren't "able." [Card text, FAQ] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 20
• You may not use a Reaction that gives you another focus if you have already focused. [Card text] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 20
• Reactions that only add as though they were focused are legal (e.g., Bend Like a Reed). Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 20
• If you play this in a situation where your opponent has no option but striking, the duel resolves immediately and you do not get to focus yourself. If you never got a chance to focus, you weren't "able". [card text] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 32
• You may not use a Reaction that's played "instead of focussing" [DW, l5rinfo, 4/18/98], regardless of whether you have already focussed. You may not use a reaction that gives you an additional focus if you have already focussed. [card text] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 32
• Reactions which only add as though they were focussed, such as Bend Like a Reed, are legal. Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 32
• If you play this and your opponent has no choice but to strike, you do not get to focus yourself. If you never got a chance to focus, you weren't "able". [card text] Accumulated Rulings, April 22, 1998, p. 18
• Q: Iaijutsu Art says "Each Personality must focus exactly once if possible." Do we both focus at the same time? If my opponent can't focus at all, do I still get my one focus before he strikes? A: No and no. Iaijutsu Art's duel follows the normal dueling sequence. Your opponent, being the one challenged, gets the first option to focus or strike. If he can legally strike right away, the duel moves into resolution and you don't get a chance to focus yourself. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, May 21, 2003, p. 9
• Q: What about cards that give extra focuses or that add as focuses? How many of those can I play during an Iaijutsu Art? A: Cards and actions that give you an additional focus count against your limit of one. You can only play one of them -- and if you do, you must strike when it comes time to make your normal focus-or-strike decision. Cards which merely add "as a focus" or "as if played as a focus card" but are not actually focused, such as Bend Like a Reed, may be played freely. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, May 21, 2003, p. 10

Rules Q&A

• Q: I would like to thank you for your reply, mostly for the very interesting examples you showed, some of which I didn't know about (B.Claws and I.Art, Citadel ot Hiruma and Hida Tech.)
  Can you or anyone tell me the "basis" explanation behind these two current rulings?
  Also, concerning specifically Iaijutsu Art, I'd like to know if it is legal to use with:
  A: Iaijutsu Art prohibits Reactions that take the place of a normal focus. [card text] That's it. It does not prohibit Reactions to entering a duel or that add as if focused but are played in some way other than in place of focusing. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 2-3 March 2004", 4 Mar 2004
• Q: 2. I'm going against someone in an Iaijutsu Art. Can I react with the oracle of fire, plus get my single focus for the art? (Effectively focusing 2 cards)
  A: Nope. Because the Oracle's Reaction counts as a Focus, it counts as the one Focus that you're allowed for the Iaijutsu Art. Vaughn Derderian, "Post for June 16, 2003", 16 Jun 2003
• Q: 2) Can you play Bend Like a Reed during an Iaijutsu Art after both personalities have already focused once? It says it counts as a focus, but does not say that it is played as a focus, so we weren't sure.
  A: You can play it. It is not a focus. Jeff Alexander, "post for 9 May 2003", 10 May 2003
• Q: A Dishonored Personality plays Iaijutsu Art against one of my personalities, he wins the duel, can I Stole the gain with Wind's Truth before he becomes rehonored?
  No.
  ;;;;;
  Ok this one I might see from time to time. Why is this not possible (so i can explain it if i have to rule on it at somepoint)
  A: Because one cannot gain Honor from a situation involving one's own dishonored Personalities. There is no gain to redirect. Jeff Alexander, "post for 9 May 2003", 10 May 2003
• Q: A Dishonored Personality plays Iaijutsu Art against one of my personalities, he wins the duel, can I Stole the gain with Wind's Truth before he becomes rehonored?
  A: No. Jeff Alexander, "post for 8 May 2003", 9 May 2003
• Q: The Shadow's Claw Reaction: Play before your Personality focuses in a duel. Look at your top five fate cards. Focus with one, take one into your hand, and shuffle the rest into the deck.
  Rulings Archive: Replaces your normal focus rather than adding to it or allowing two focus cards. [JA, email, 10 February 2003]
  Iaijutsu Art Limited: One of your Personalities issues an unrefusable challenge to a Personality with equal or higher Chi. Each Personality focuses exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken "instead of focusing" cannot be taken. The winner's controller gains 4 Honor. Dishonor the loser.
  Question:
  Does the ruling above effectively errata the text of The Shadow's Claw to read "Reaction: Instead of focusing in a duel, look at your top five fate cards. Focus with one, take one into your hand, and shuffle the rest into the deck." ?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 19 March 2003", 20 Mar 2003
• Q: Almost never. Wear Him Down cannot be played during Iaijutsu Art if you have already focused, as it would be your second focus, which you can't make. The only way it can give you one more focus than normal is if you played Iaijutsu Art and your opponent was forced to strike due to having no legal focuses.
  Jeff, that also aplies to any otehr card that is played "as a focus"
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 14 January 2003", 15 Jan 2003
• Q: Specifically...
  If Tamori Chieko loses an Iaijutsu Art after focusing >1, can she Wind's Truth the opponent's honor gain?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 December 2002", 11 Dec 2002
• Q: First and foremost, Wear Him Down + Iaijutsu Art. I play the Art, my opponent focuses, I focus, he strikes. Can I play Wear Him Down?
  A: No. You have already focused once this duel. Jeff Alexander, "post for 3 December 2002", 4 Dec 2002
• Q: Can either of the following two actions be played with Iaijutsu Art?
  Strike of Flowing Water Text:When you focus this card, double the Focus value of the next card you focus in this duel. Reaction: When one of your Personalities would focus, instead discard all cards focused by both Personalities'controllers for the duel and negate the discarded cards' effects.
  Another Time Text:When you reveal this card as a Focus card for a duel, cancel the duel and discard all Focus cards without effect.
  Iaijutsu Art Text:Limited: One of your Personalities issues an unrefusable challenge to a Personality with equal or higher Chi. Each Personality focuses exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken "instead of focusing" cannot be taken. The winner's controller gains 4 Honor. Dishonor the loser.
  A: The key point is whether you're actually focusing or taking a Reaction instead of focusing. The first is legal, even if extra effects are produced. The second is not.
  Strike of Flowing Water may not be played for its Reaction. Both Strike of Flowing Water and Another Time may be focused, and both produce their appropriate extra effects -- though there will almost certainly be no second focus value for SoFW to double. Jeff Alexander, "post for 12 November 2002", 13 Nov 2002
• Q: In Iaijutsu Art duels is it allowed to use a Bend Like a Reed after the other person strikes?
  A: Yes. Bend Like a Reed is neither focused nor played instead of focusing. Jeff Alexander, "post for 22 August 2002", 23 Aug 2002
• Q: 1.) Following Agasha Hamanari's ability: Reaction: When a player plays an Action card from his or her hand that targets you, your cards, or your tokens, bow Hamanari to cancel the action . . . If my opponent challenges Hamanari to a duel (IE Iaijutsu Art), may I bow him to cancel the action, then use One Life, One Action on the card, or is considered to not have resolved?
  A: No. A canceled action does not count as either taken or played. Jeff Alexander, "post for 29 May 2002", 30 May 2002
• Q: But Iai. Art lets everyone focus once and only once before it resolves, so I don't think Hochiu can strike before his opponent focuses from Iai. Art
  A: Iaijutsu Art does not always give both players a chance to focus. If the first player somehow arranges to strike legally, the duel moves into resolution and the other player gets no more chances to focus, just like with any duel. Jeff Alexander, "post for 22 May 2002", 23 May 2002
• Q: Does Isawa Hochiu exp1 get to Focus, and then Focus for Iai Art?
  A: A Personality cannot focus more than once during an Iaijutsu Art. If Hochiu uses his Reaction to focus upon entering the duel, he can't focus normally. Jeff Alexander, "post for 21 May 2002", 22 May 2002
• Q: 1. If my Isawa Hochiu exp. is challenged to an Iaijutsu Art, and I use his ability to focus upon entering a duel, I must then strike, right? The other player will not be given an opportunity to focus. Is this correct?
  A: Both are correct. Jeff Alexander, "post for 6 May 2002", 7 May 2002
• Q: Oracle of Fire says: Retainer Unique Elemental Reaction: Before a duel begins, if your Personality can focus, bow the Oracle of Fire and pay 1 Gold to play your Fate deck's top card as an extra Focus card.
  Iaijutsu Art says: Limited: One of your Personalities issues an unrefusable challenge to a Personality with equal or higher Chi. Each Personality focuses exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken "instead of focusing" cannot be taken. The winner's controller gains 4 Honor. Dishonor the loser.
  How do they interact? Does the controler of Oracle of Firer gets his extra focus card or not?
  A: If he uses the Oracle of Fire, he then cannot focus during the duel because he has already focused once. Jeff Alexander, "post for 1 May 2002", 2 May 2002
• Q: If one of my personalities issues a duel via Iaijutsu Art with lower Chi than the person challenged (as per card text), can I play He's Mine as a reaction and move a higher Chi personality into the duel instead?
  A: Yes. He's Mine! is not a redirection. Iaijutsu Art has already been played and is half-way through resolving. You may bring someone into the duel that you could not have targeted in the first place. Jeff Alexander, "post for 12 March 2002", 13 Mar 2002
• Q: 2) What happens if my Personal Champion replaces my personnality challenged by Iaijutsu Art, and loses the duel : can i have a dishonored follower ?
  A: Yes...which, for Followers, means absolutely nothing special. Jeff Alexander, "post for 11 March 2002", 12 Mar 2002
• Q: May you use Iaijutsu Art and Iaijutsu Lesson to target your own Personalities? Iaijutsu Challenge has a ruling which prohibits this, but Art and Lesson do not (that I have found).
  A: Two of your own Personalities cannot challenge each other or enter duels against one another. Jeff Alexander, "post for 21 February 2002", 22 Feb 2002
• Q: And related Oracle of Fire questions. In an Iaijutsu Art duel I am assuming that if someone uses the Oracle it counts as that personalities one focus for the duel - can that player then use Kakita Technique to then strike?
  Yes. Ow. ps. Ithought both players had to focus in an Iaijutsu Art, or am I wrong?
  A: They must focus if possible, but the timing is that of a normal duel. If one player can legally strike before the other gets the chance to focus, the duel goes into resolution and the chance never comes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 16 January 2002", 17 Jan 2002
• Q: Art says the duel is unrefuseable and you may focus only once. So when it is played on my personality and I focus one card, am I required then to announce strike after the player of the Art focuses?
  A: "Each Personality focuses exactly once, if possible, and Reactions taken 'instead of focusing' cannot be taken." [Iaijutsu Art, Gold Edition]
  The only things you can do in a duel are "focus" and "strike" [rulebook]. If you have already focused, you may not do so again [Iaijutsu Art's text]. That leaves only one option: striking. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 January 2002", 16 Jan 2002
• Q: And related Oracle of Fire questions. In an Iaijutsu Art duel I am assuming that if someone uses the Oracle it counts as that personalities one focus for the duel - can that player then use Kakita Technique to then strike?
  A: Yes. Ow. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 January 2002", 16 Jan 2002
• Q: Okay. This is probably a stupid question to ask, but if you use Iaijutsu Art with Mirumoto Uso, is he allowed to focus two cards when he focuses? Just wondering.
  A: Yes. It's one focus, two cards. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 January 2002", 16 Jan 2002
• Q: Finally, with the new wording on He's Mine!, can you challenge someone to an Iaijutsu Art, then He's Mine1 in a much higher chi Samurai?
  Yes.
  I hate to 'tag-team' you like this, Jeff, but why is this allowed and the Shosuro Gardens cannot perform a similar move?
  A: Because Shosuro Gardens is a retargeting effect and He's Mine! isn't. Jeff Alexander, "post for 9 October 2001", 9 Oct 2001
• Q: And, if this is allowed, can a souped-up Kwanchai (say, with the Sword) enter an Iaijutsu Art that he could not legally have started?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 9 October 2001", 9 Oct 2001
• Q: Finally, with the new wording on He's Mine!, can you challenge someone to an Iaijutsu Art, then He's Mine1 in a much higher chi Samurai?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 8 October 2001", 8 Oct 2001
• Q: Here's a Question, My Kwanchai duels someone with 2 chi(or higher) with = Iaijutsu Art, can Shosruo Gardens letm e retarget who my dueler is, = reguardless of Chi? Say to a personality with a Sword? =20
  When changing targets, the new targets have to be legal ones as well. This is a general rule on retargeting.
  The counter-argument, just FYI, Jeff, is that the targeting restriction is not on your personality for the Art, but the other player's personality; i.e., someone with higher chi than your duelist. Does this create an implied restriction on your duelist that they must have lower chi then their opponent?
  A: Well, yes. If target A must have lower Chi than target B, then target B must have higher Chi than target A. Jeff Alexander, "replies to 11 September", 12 Sep 2001
• Q: Here's a Question, My Kwanchai duels someone with 2 chi(or higher) with = Iaijutsu Art, can Shosruo Gardens letm e retarget who my dueler is, = reguardless of Chi? Say to a personality with a Sword? =20
  A: When changing targets, the new targets have to be legal ones as well. This is a general rule on retargeting. Jeff Alexander, "replies to 6 September", 11 Sep 2001
• Q: Test of Might says to 'Bow the loser'. Iaijutsu Art says that the loser is dishonored. The previous version of Iaijutsu Art says that the loser is dishonored, but not destroyed.
  The Gold Edition rules state: "In a standard duel, the winner destroys the loser, and is unaffected."
  My question: Is the loser of either an Iaijutsu Art or Test of Might destroyed? The omission of the text on the new printing of Iaijutsu Art has caused the question to be raised within our play group, and I'd like to have a definitive answer before our Seeds of War GST.
  A: Anytime there is an alternate penalty for losing listed on the card, it automatically supersedes the standard penalty. Neither Iaijutsu Art or Test of Might kill the loser. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for August 17th", 17 Aug 2001
• Q: With the MRP to Iaijutsu Art, can you still use Kakita Noritoshi ability to double a focus value?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 5 July 2001", 6 Jul 2001
• Q: Heya, this is fantastic! Does this ruling also apply to Iaijutsu Art?
  A: Moot point. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 5 February 2000", 8 Feb 2001
• Q: Limited: One of your Personalities challenges another Personality with an equal or higher Chi to a duel that cannot be refused. Each Personality must focus exactly once if possible. The loser of this duel is dishonored, but not destroyed. The winner of the duel gains 4 honor.
  Reaction: Play this card as a focus when a Personality strikes against one of your Personalities in a duel. That Personality must focus instead, if possible. You may draw a card. You lose your next opportunity to focus or strike in this duel.
  A: You may not play cards "as a focus" if you've already focused during an Iaijutsu Art as that violates the "must focus exactly once if possible," clause of the card effect. Martin Lund, "Old enlightment: Iaijutsu Art + Wear Him Down", 29 Feb 2008