Armor of the Ryu

Legend of the Five Rings card from Glory of the Empire

Card Type

Item

Force

+3

Chi

+0

Gold Cost

4

Keywords

Armor, Unique

Card Text

This Personality has Cavalry.
Absent Remote Battle: If any enemy units are at the current battlefield, move this Personality home or to the current battlefield.

Focus Value

4

Legality

Destroyer War (Celestial), Race for the Throne (Samurai)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: I found this http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=68737&p=888820&hilit=pokku#p888996 talking about Pokku and his ability to attach items, ignoring restrictions.
  The question arises from having Pokku -Exp with Armor of the Ryu attached. My opponent attacks with Oni Bozu with attached Armor of the Ryu, I defend with said Pokku -Exp. My first action is to use Pokku -Exp's ability to take and attach his Armor of the Ryu.
  From the CR: Unique A card with the Unique keyword will not enter play for, or otherwise become controlled by, a player who controls a Unique card with the same title.
  Conditions All conditions that limit whether a card can enter play, including effects from other cards and from the rules, are restrictions. Examples: “Can not attach to a Samurai,” honor requirements, the Loyal and Unique keywords, or “Can only enter play if you have lost a Province this game.”
  Pokku (Experienced) * Reads, "Pokku 4F/3C -HR 6G 1PH Shadowlands • Nonhuman • Goblin • Scout • Experienced • Unique After Pokku enters play: Lose 3 Honor. Battle: Transfer a target enemy attachment to Pokku, ignoring restrictions on attaching. Fear Battle: Even if Pokku is bowed: Move him home." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009]
  My question is: Is the check for "Unique" a restriction on attaching an item, or a restriction on bringing an item into play on my side?
  And if the latter, Does Pokku -Exp's ability "bring it into play" on my side, thus checking to see if I have the same item in play already? - if it does check for "Unique" again and Pokku -Exp can't attach it, can I target it with his ability? - Is it even a legal target for the ability? - Does it change control and then get discarded?
  Thanks in advance
  A: Unique is a restriction on bringing an item into play on your side. This is not relevant, though, because Pokku exp isn't bringing the item into play, he's transfering it. However, Unique also includes "or otherwise become controlled by", which includes taking control of other players' cards. This isn't a restriction on attaching the card, it's a restriction on controlling the card, and Pokku exp doesn't ignore this restriction.
  The item is a legal target for Pokku's ability, however, as the Good Faith Rule does not require that transfer effects must be able to succeed. If you target the item, nothing happens and the action fails. Alex Jones, "Pokku Exp and Unique items", 9 Jul 2009