Inexplicable Challenge
Legend of the Five Rings card from Emperor Edition, Glory of the Empire, Ivory Edition, Onyx Edition, Shattered Empire, Three Dynasties
Open in Oracle of the Void
- Card Type
- Strategy
- Gold Cost
- 0
- Keywords
- Political
- Card Text
- Political Battle: Target your Courtier at any location. Bow a target enemy card without attachments. A target player gains or loses 2 Honor.
- Focus Value
- 2
- Legality
- A Brother's Destiny (Ivory Edition), A Brother's Destiny (Twenty Festivals), Age of Conquest (Emperor), Destroyer War (Celestial), Race for the Throne (Samurai), Shattered Empire, Three Dynasties, War of the Seals (Onyx Edition)
- Deck
- Fate
Printings
Emperor Edition
- Rarity
- Rare
- Flavor Text
- "I do not question your bravery, nor your skill at arms. I question your lord's judgment for sending you here today."
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 313
- Publisher
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Glory of the Empire
- Rarity
- Rare
- Flavor Text
- "Here, bushi! If you must take a life, then take mine if it will quench your bloodlust!"
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 109
- Publisher
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Ivory Edition
- Rarity
- Rare
- Flavor Text
- "What's the matter, Matsu-san? Haven't the stomach to kill a man of the court? Well I am just as much a warrior as you, and I have no qualms with dying on the battlefield! Now fight me!"
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 320
- Publisher
- Alderac Entertainment Group
Onyx Edition
- Rarity
- Fixed
- Flavor Text
- "Now?" he shouted, exasperated. "Now is the time you choose to resolve a blood feud?" "I will see it done before I die!" the Phoenix shouted.
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 320
- Publisher
- Onyx Lives
- Publisherurl
- https://sites.google.com/view/the-onyx-lives-project/home
Shattered Empire
- Rarity
- Fixed
- Flavor Text
- "Now?" he shouted, exasperated. "Now is the time you choose to resolve a blood feud?" "I will see it done before I die!" the Phoenix shouted.
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 317
- Publisher
- Onyx Lives
- Publisherurl
- https://sites.google.com/view/the-onyx-lives-project/home
Three Dynasties
- Rarity
- Fixed
- Flavor Text
- "You decried my scribing methods! I will have satisfaction, villain!"
- Artist
- Anthony Grabski
- Card Number
- 415
- Publisher
- Onyx Lives
- Publisherurl
- https://sites.google.com/view/the-onyx-lives-project/home
Rules Q&A
- Q: Is it correct that a Samurai or Courtier can't Seppuku to reduce a loss from this card?
A: No, that is not correct, if you're referring to the default player ability.
http://rules.l5r.com/CE_The_Player#Player_abilities: "Reaction: Any number of times per turn, before you lose Honor from an action that targeted... by one of your Courtier... Personalities...."
It's an action. It targeted a Courtier. You can use the action. Zen Faulkes, "Inexplicable Challenge", 14 Jan 2010 - Q: My SearchFu has failed me, sensei.
Does Inexplicable Challenge require presence to use?
Battle: Target your Courtier at any location: Bow a target enemy card without attachments. Choose a player, who either gains or loses 2 Honor.
I have been given mixed answers to my question by local players. The constraint on this card says to target my Courtier at any location. I am still confused by some of the targeting rules in regards to presence, and I would like a little clarification on this.
Thanks in advance! G6
A: The only way for presence to be waived is if the card specifically states that "Even if you have no units at the current battlefield..." or similar wording.
In Inexplicable Challenge's case, the Courtier him/herself need not be at the battlefield, but you will need someone else there. Dan Jacobson, "Inexplicable Challenge & Presence", 16 Nov 2009 - Q: do Courtier keyworded followers count for targeting or counting requirements that look at courtiers? For example, Daidoji Yoshun's trait (bow a courtier or shugenja or else destroy Yoshun after he enters play), or Daidoji Shimizu's Engage (+XF where X is amount of Courtiers), or even Inexplicable Challenge (example follower with Courtier would be Skillful Recorder)
A: I couldn't follow all of what Nimuro replied, but the gist is what Kanzen said.
(Replying to a player: "But given that [Diplomatic Appentrice] have such a trait, can other followers that are for example courtier suffice for an action that require to bow Courtier?") Diplomatic Apprentice has no Courtier keyword and no direct interaction with cards that do. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 18 Dec 2023