Misdirection

Legend of the Five Rings card from Samurai Edition, Web of Lies

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Keywords

Gozoku, Political

Card Text

As a Focus Effect: You may shuffle one to three Personalities from your discard pile into your Dynasty deck.
Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his actions during a battle, choose your performing Courtier or Gozoku Personality: You choose the targets instead.

Focus Value

3

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Race for the Throne (Samurai), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• May redirect any one Ranged Attack in a series of consecutive Ranged Attacks. [JA, email, 7 December 2004] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 25
• Erratum: Reads, "Misdirection 0G 3FV Focus Effect: You may Shuffle up to 3 Personalities from your discard pile into your Dynasty deck. Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his actions’ effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead." [MRP, Samurai Edition, 25 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 147
• If a range of targets is allowed in the original action (e.g., "up to" a number of targets), the player using Misdirection may select any legal number specified by the original action (including zero, if legal). [CF, 10 September 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 147
• The timing point of Misdirection's action trigger is: during the other player's action's Required Targeting Step, in between the last required targeting in the constraints block (if any) and the first required targeting in the effects block (if any). Misdirection can be played even if there is no targeting in the constraints block or no targeting in the effects block. [CLARIFICATION, 8 May 2008] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 147
• The effect of Misdirection's action allows its player to choose targets for any targeting described in the other action's effects block, including required targeting, optional targeting, and targeting of delayed effects. [CLARIFICATION, 8 May 2008] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 147
• Targeting of the original action affected by Misdirection is still considered to come from the original targeter, not the player using Misdirection. [ZF, 24 September 2008] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 147

Rules Q&A

• Q: Also would it stop Accept with Honor since it is a reaction that also does not stop the duel/challenge? And thus Misdirection could not be played either as well as Turn of Fortune?
  A: It can stop Accept with Honor, but not Misdirection or Turn of Fortune, since they respond to the Action targeting, not the Challenge effect. Martin Lund, "Rules for 30 January 2005", 4 Feb 2005
• Q: can Misdirection be used to have them destroy Tarako herself?
  A: Assuming Tarako or the Region destroyed as a cost where at the Current Battle, yes. If Tarako is at home, the Region was at a different battle, and your Personality was the card in the Current Battle that made the Action relevant, Tarako wouldn't be a legal choice (since the other player couldn't have targeted her). Martin Lund, "Rules for 25 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: Furthermore, will Misdirection allow me to choose which region Tarako destroys?
  A: No. "You cannot redirect costs either." (Diamond Edition Rulebook, page 74) Martin Lund, "Rules for 25 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: Player B plays Misdirection. When has Misdirection to be played?
  A: [MARTY] Play Misdirection after any segment of playing an Action during battle in which another player selected one or more targets.
  Consecutive Ranged Attacks are funky in that each Ranged Attack after the first one needs to be announced and targeted only after the previous Ranged Attack in the sequence has been dealt with. This means that during the Targeting Step, Korin's player would only choose 1 target. You could play misdirection after that, or after he chooses targets for the next one.
  For each Ranged Attack, he must announce what strength he is using before selecting targets. Martin Lund, "Rules for 7 January 2005", 12 Jan 2005
• Q: Hey,
  I've been milling on this for the past few days.
  As you all know, WoL saw some cards that have effects when revieled as focus cards eg: Weigh the Cost & Misdirection etc.
  My question is, I focus away the above cards, I attach the spell 'The Kami Watch Over Me' to a random Shug & cast it, are these cards shuffled back into my deck or do they remain in my discard pile?
  A: They are shuffled back. Only actions resolve, and cards focused in a duel are not "in play". Martin Lund, "Rules for 7 December 2004", 10 Dec 2004
• Q: My opponent is in battle with a copy of Daigotsu Meguro Exp., I have one personality without a follower opposing him and he attempts to use his ability. Before he targets my guy, I play Misdirection. I am forced to target my only personality with the first targeting effect giving my personality -3 Force. However, the second effect of the action reads 'you may make a Ranged 3 Attack targeting a legal card in personalities unit'. Does the 'you may' on the card text mean that this is an optional targeting effect and one that I can choose to not find a target for, or does it mean something else all together?
  A: That is not what was said.
  Misdirection will not allow its player to choose not to trigger the optional effect of Daigotsu Meguro Experienced's action if there is a legal target for it. Dan Jacobson, "Misdirection vs. Daigotsu Meguro Experienced", 8 May 2009
• Q: Hi. This is the scenerio: Defend with Nomen and Sozen. My oponent play Dissension to bow to Sozen and destroy to Nomen. Can i play misdirection to bow to Nomen and "destroy" to Sozen?
  A: No.
  Misdirection only allows you to choose the targets. If there's a choice of different effects to be applied to any of those targets (as it is with Dissension), that still falls to the action's taker to decide. Brook Cunningham, "Dissension + Misdirection", 17 Apr 2009
• Q: With regards to: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=75121
  While assignment happens during the attack phase, surely the wording on Misdirection, "during a battle", requires a battle to be taking place or in resolution, whereas at the point of Eager to Fight, no battle has been engaged yet.
  A: Ah, right. That's correct. Thanks for the catch. When someone asks, "Can you do this?", sometimes its hard to figure out what the exact point of confusion is. Zen Faulkes, "Eager to Fight + Misdirection", 6 Apr 2009
• Q: 1) Can i play misdirection to Eager to fight?
  A: Yes. Note, however, that because cost is determined by number of mandatory targets, changing the target is considered interfering with the costs. This means that the person playing Eager to Fight has the option of choosing not to pay, and discarding Eager to Fight with not effect.
  This FAQ deals with Hired Killer rather than Eager to Fight, but the principles are the same: http://rules.l5r.com/FAQ#What_happens_i ... nt_cost.3F
  Additional: See correction below this post. Zen Faulkes, "Eager to Fight + Misdirection", 6 Apr 2009
• Q: Where does the window for Misdirection exist?
  Ranged Attack | ?---> in here? | Determination Target
  A: No.
  1. Announce Ranged Attack action 2. React to after announcement with Determination 3. Make any non-effects (read: Constraints) targeting; for example, the performing Follower in Yoritomo Sunagawa's action. 4. Now is the time for Misdirection, just before any effects targeting (i.e. the Ranged Attack's target). Brook Cunningham, "Determination Errata Vs Misdirection", 4 Apr 2009
• Q: So by the time that my opponent targets and he didn't play Determination, am I safe to assume that I can still react with it with Misdirection (since in playing Determination you can legally wait for your opponent for Reinforce the Gates)?
  A: Determination and Reinforce have the same timing. In the round of Reactions to "after announcement", one could be played first, then the other, or the other way around.
  If your opponent is beginning to indicate the target for the effects of his Ranged Attack, then yes, he has passed by the "after announcement" timing step in which you could play Reinforce or he could play Determination.
  If there's some argument over him skipping your chance to React or you skipping his, that's an issue for a judge (as per your link above). Brook Cunningham, "Determination Errata Vs Misdirection", 4 Apr 2009
• Q: (Can you use) Misdirection on Unfamiliar Ground?
  A: No. Unfamiliar Ground does not target. Clarification: Misdirection can be played, but it does nothing to the outcome.
  The ruling is referring to when Misdirection is played, not what it is played in response to or what it will allow you to change. Zen Faulkes, "Confusing Misdirection rules", 25 Mar 2009
• Q: (C)an I Misdirection, and have the personality he dishonors as a cost target HIMSELF with the effect?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Effects that can't occur (Game of Sincerity)", 25 Mar 2009
• Q: Misdirection affects an action taken during battle. Can this affect an Assigning Blame used at battle resolution when units are destroyed?
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Battles#Choose_Battlefield: "'During a battle' includes both the Combat and Resolution Segments, as well as the Final Steps before the battle ends." Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Assigning Blame", 24 Mar 2009
• Q: Concerning Misdirection and Two-Front War
  Thank you for your answer. Am I correct in paraphrasing your answer to:
  "All targets of a battle actions effect must satisfy the rule of location, unless the rule of location is waived in some way."
  So even thought I was able to target Saya as a cost of the action, when she was targeted for the effects, she would have to be able to satisfy the rule of location by the end of the actions resolution (therefore, she had to move to the battlefield)?
  Thank you.
  A: Correct, but remove the word "effect" from your sentence. The wording on Two-Front War waives the Rule of Location if the courtier bowing for the COST of the card is at home. It does not waive that for the effect. Dan Jacobson, "Misdirection and Two-Front War", 12 Feb 2009
• Q: So by the wording it means if my opponent uses unexpected arrival, and I use misdirection. If he chooses not to or cannot pay the new costs, the targetted personality is discarded from the province, as it was a cost for the personality to enter play.
  A: This is what the rulings above do indeed state. Zen Faulkes, "Unexpected Arrival and Misdirection", 12 Feb 2009
• Q: Following viewtopic.php?f=59&t=73823
  The personnality in the Unexpected Arrival / Misdirection is just a target of the effect, why should the card be discarded?
  A: There are two sets of costs involved with Unexpected Arrival: the costs of the action and the costs of the Personality. In general, Unexpected Arrival has no costs, so you move straight to the effects, which involve bringing the Personality into play.
  Bringing a Personality into play has at least one mandatory cost, the gold cost of the Personality. To announce Unexpected Arrival in Good Faith, you must have a Personality face-up in your provinces whose cost(s) you can pay. If the Personality you try to bring into play isn't the one you were planning on targeting when you announced the action, this is treated as interference with a mandatory cost. If a mandatory cost is interfered with, you don't need to pay it. If you don't pay the mandatory cost of a card you are bringing into play, the card is discarded.
  As well as the section I quoted earlier, see also Using Personalities. Alex Jones, "Unexpected Arrival and Misdirection", 10 Feb 2009
• Q: My opponent has two people in his provinces, a 4 gold cost personality, and a 12 gold person, and has the ability to pay 8 gold with his holdings. During a battle, he attempts to Unexpected Arrival the 4 gold personality into play, and I misdirect the action to his 12 gold cost personality. Is he forced to bow his gold in an attempt to bring the personality into play, or does the action fail with no cost?
  A: Mandatory costs: The mandatory costs of a card entering play are its Gold Cost (if any) and any other costs for entering play listed in its traits.
  Costs must be payable when an action is announced under the Good Faith Rule. If, due to interference from other effects, a mandatory cost cannot be paid at the point when it must be paid: * No remaining costs need be paid, but costs already paid are not refunded. * No effects of the action or trait resolve, and the ability or trait is considered to have been “used.” * If the cost was for a card to enter play, it is discarded.
  The mandatory cost of bringing the 12g Personality into play cannot be paid, even though the action was announced in good faith, so your opponent does not need to pay that cost and the Personality is discarded. Alex Jones, "Unexpected Arrival and Misdirection", 10 Feb 2009
• Q: Concerning this: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=73266
  Am I correct in assuming that, if my opponent announces an action and immediately declares "I target X," that he has passed the window where he can legally announce determination and, since he didn't really give you an opportunity to respond, you can tell your opponent that you want to play misdirection? It's not really a ruling question per se, but I feel this question belongs here.
  A: Mod Nudge: This has already been denoted as a Floor Rules issue here. You will have to speak to the head judge of your tournament regarding player conduct and misplays.
  Strictly speaking rules-wise, the "timing window" for Determination is after an action is announced, but before "before targets are chosen". Dan Jacobson, "Determination Errata Vs Misdirection", 14 Jan 2009
• Q: As shown Here. In a timeframe governed by seperate events there is no space between these events to be filled by two distinct reaction windows. The action performed goes:
  1.Announce Action 2.Declare Targets 3.Pay Costs 4.Determine Effects
  There is a definite time scale analogy but it is a quantumised time. "Between 1 and 2" is the same time as "after 1" and "before 2" becaus there is nothing to fill in more time spaces if they existed. There is a time where you eg. "announce an action" so you can react "after announcing the action but before I declare any targets" and then "I declare targets". Reactions don't have an inherent time space to fill, they give birth to the space they need in order to be played when they are announced.
  Determination and misdirection would be competing to build the same time space, before 2. is after 1. since there is nothing in between, so the active player should go first as usual.
  A list governing an action performanse that goes:
  1.Reactions before announcing an action (like pre errata determination) 2.Action announcment. 3.Reactions after action announcement. 4.Reactions before target chosing. etc.
  is what is intended to be in effect in the original post and is not easy to follow, makes no logical sense (since you need seperate time spaces for reactions and reactions to reactions for everything) and lastly only intertaining philosophically.
  (The bad day at work I think was evident) Cheers!
  A: Reactions with the timing "After an action is announced" are ALWAYS before Reactions with timing "Before an action targets".
  They are both distinct, if subtly different timings.
  "Quantumised time" does not enter into the equation.
  The person wanting to play Determination must play it after he announces the action, and it must come before he targets.
  Timing wise, Determination and Misdirection are at distinct points of time. Dan Jacobson, "Concerning Determination Errata Vs Misdirection", 14 Jan 2009
• Q: My opponent, the active player, is going to play a battle action. He has a Determination in hand, and I have a Misdirection in hand.
  Determination says: Dark Virtue Reaction: After you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action cannot have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
  Misdirection says: Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead. (Emphasis on triggers mine)
  Before the errata, Determination and Misdirection had a distinct timing separated by the announcement of the action. Now, the timing is different but in a very, very subtle way. Determination comes before, but nothing really happens between the triggers. So the point where the timing for Determination ends and the timing for Misdirection begins is only a thin line. While playing, you don't usually ask for reactions for every possible trigger.
  So my opponent announces his action (eg Rout), and before he chooses the targets, I announce I'm using Misdirection, but then he (cunningly) claims he hadn't had the chance to react to the announcement because I rushed to react before he chose targets, and plays his Determination now knowing that it trumps the Misdirection I planned to play.
  I could ask perhaps "any reactions?", but then the player would suspect my next move and play the Determination. My special interest in "closing" the timing window shows that my interest is playing a Misdirection safely. I haven't really advanced too much.
  How should/may players determine that the timing window for Determination is closed and the timing window for reacting with Misdirection opens?
  A: This is a more of a Floor Rules issue than one for this forum, I fear. Pleas confer with your TO. Brook Cunningham, "Determination Errata Vs Misdirection", 14 Jan 2009
• Q: I am confused regarding the new errata and this post.
  With the new change in timing for determination, the use of misdirection changes drastically.
  Situation: Player 1: Announces a warrior's challenge Before targets are chosen, Player 2: Announces Misdirection Player 1: Announces Determination Must Player 2 choose the exact same targets now?
  Relevant Card text: Determination (errata): Dark Virtue Reaction: After you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action cannot have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
  Misdirection Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  Opinion: Used to be that with the different timing Misdirection could be stored for a later use, but now determination has become the new attacker's reinforce the gates making it such that the defensive player wastes the card.
  Obviously I hope this isn't the case, but I fear that there isn't any other real interpretation unless there is a clarification of rules timing to allow for reactions to be intimately tied to their triggers (i.e.: After Player 1 Announces the warrior's challenge and before the targets are chosen, If Player 2 asks player 1 "Are you going to determine the warrior's challenge?" and he/she responds with a "no" then Player 2 is free to play misdirection without it being canceled. Of course this will never happen, as a good player will lie and then destroy the misdirection with his determination because attacking players choose the order in which reactions occur.)
  Of course then again I am not a genius and I may have misunderstood card timing.
  [Mod edit: Thread title. -ZF]
  A: Determination (triggered by announcement) has always been played before Misdirection (triggered by targeting). The use of the two cards relative to each other has not changed. Zen Faulkes, "Determination and Misdirection", 27 Nov 2008
• Q: "Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his actions’ effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead."
  http://rules.l5r.com/Card_features#Abilities "Constraints block: An ability may contain a second colon, at some point after the designator’s colon, which separates the constraints block from the effects block. If it does not have this second colon, there is only an effects block. The constraints block contains one or more of the following elements.
  A. Reaction trigger. Like triggered traits, Reactions have a trigger that describes a point in time when they can be taken. Example: “After the start of a turn:” “Before a Personality is destroyed:” “When producing Gold:” "
  http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_M#Misdirection "Misdirection can be played even if there is no targeting in the constraints block or no targeting in the effects block"
  Isn't the reaction trigger "Before another player would choose targets for one of his actions' effects during a battle"? If there are no targets to choose, wouldn't that mean Misdirection has no trigger to react to?
  A: The trigger for Misdirection is open to interpretation when viewed with all the potential card intereactions, which is why there's an entry in the Rules wiki. So the ruling is in the archive stays as is.
  I am not going to go into detailed explanations, but will say that there are many, many Rules Junta posts discussing Misdirection behind the scenes. They are kept there for the same reason the nuclear reactions are kept behind thick concrete walls and deadly microbes are kept in hermetically sealed buildings.
  Maybe some of the other rules team members will venture more detailed explanations. Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Stay Your Blade", 17 Nov 2008
• Q: Can my opponent react with a Misdirection after I played a No Hiding Place on one of my Ranged Attack, or does Misdirection have to be played before I have the opportunity to play my No Hidding Place ?
  Thanks for your answer and all the hardwork.
  [Mod edit, thread title spelling (to ease others' searches). -- MB2001]
  A: EDIT: No longer "Under Discussion".
  Yes, your opponent must react with Misdirection before you react with No Hiding Place; Misdirection's trigger techinically comes first.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_M#Misdirection: "The timing point of Misdirection's action trigger is: during the other player's action's Required Targeting Step, in between the last required targeting in the constraints block (if any) and the first required targeting in the effects block (if any)."
  Because Misdirection's timing is "in between" constraints block and effects block targeting, it always triggers before things which trigger in response to a specific targeting within the effects, as No Hiding Place does.
  So, after No Hiding Place, the timing has already passed for Misdirection, and it's too late. Brook Cunningham, "Misdirection and No Hiding Place", 17 Nov 2008
• Q: http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_M#Misdirection: "Misdirection can be played even if there is no targeting in the constraints block or no targeting in the effects block. "
  is misdirection Successful Resolved then?
  A: EDIT: Reversal.
  Yes, in such a case, it IS Successful.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_M#Misdirection: "...You choose the targets instead."
  By definition, this is an Ongoing Effect (see here). So, even if there are no targets to choose, then...
  http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_S#Successful (Emphasis mine):
  "A successful action or other occurrence is one whose effects produced one or more actual changes in the game state...
  Ongoing changes to the general conditions of the game do change the game state even if there is currently nothing they affect." Brook Cunningham, "misdirection", 17 Nov 2008
• Q: I was curious about whether you're able to play Misdirection targetting an action which does not have any targetting in it's effects.
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_M#Misdirection: "Misdirection can be played even if there is no targeting in the constraints block or no targeting in the effects block. " Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Stay Your Blade", 16 Nov 2008
• Q: Has a resolution been reached regarding the issue of which player does the targeting when Misdirection is played as a reaction?
  A: The actual targeting is still considered to come from the original targeter. Bayushi Kaukatsu trait could be triggered by his controller using Misdirection an an opponent's action. Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Share the Blame", 24 Sep 2008
• Q: Does this ruling:
  Misdirection doesn't change which player is considered to be doing the targeting; it only changes who chooses the targets. Choosing the targets and the targeting itself are separate facets of targeting. (emphasis added)
  override this ruling?
  [...] since Misdirection let you do the targeting, the other player did not target your Courtier
  If now Misdirection doesn't change which player is considered to be doing the targeting, then using a Misdirection to choose a courtier as a target would allow me to react with Share the Blame, right?
  A: Consider this issue under discussion, but in the meanwhile, abide by the earlier ruling by Marty Lund.
  Alex (Akodo Gilador) was backing up an assertion in my response that I've since reconsidered (see the section marked "Fixed"). I apologize for the discrepancy, and we'll have it all ironed out as soon as possible. Brook Cunningham, "Misdirection and Share the Blame", 14 Sep 2008
• Q: Just wanted to question the ruling here: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=70573
  As I understand it, Shosuro Seibei triggers when another player would target a Courtier. Doesn't this mean that if I play Misdirection(in response to an opponent's action and before they choose targets) and choose to target a Courtier, Seibei will not trigger as I am the player doing the targetting, not my opponent? If not, can you please explain why?
  A: No.
  Misdirection doesn't change which player is considered to be doing the targeting; it only changes who chooses the targets. Choosing the targets and the targeting itself are separate facets of targeting. Alex Jones, "Shosuro Seibei and Targeting", 8 Sep 2008
• Q: 1) Another player attempts to target one of my courtiers, Seibei trait triggers. Am I able to use Misdirection to redirect the action to one of my courtiers?
  A: No. It's too late for Misdirection at this point; as per its text, you must play it before your opponent chooses his target.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Timing: "Timing "when" a trigger occurs comes later than "before" but prior to "after" the trigger."
  However, even if you do play Misdirection at the appropriate time and try to choose one of your Courtiers as a target, Seibei's trait would still trigger and cause him to be targeted instead, because the action's original player is still considered to be the player "targeting" that Courtier (Citation). (RE-UN-FIXED) Brook Cunningham, "Shosuro Seibei and Targeting", 7 Sep 2008
• Q: 2) A player attempts to target one of my courtiers with an action, reacting with a Determination. Would the action still redirect to Seibei. Now I am familiar with the ruling that Misdirection cannot redirect an action played with a determination, but Seibei is worded differently, specifically: "would target a Courtier at Seibei's location". This leads me to believe that the courtier was never targeted in the first place, thus no redirection needs to take place, and despite the Determination the action will still target Seibei instead of the courtier. Is this correct?
  A: Sorry, no. (Same citation link as above): "A phrase such as "before X would happen" is equivalent to "before X happens." The conditional mood indicated by "would" is irrelevant to the function of the "before" timing point." (This also applies to "when".) Brook Cunningham, "Shosuro Seibei and Targeting", 7 Sep 2008
• Q: Regarding this thread: http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=69248
  I'm not asking if I can choose where the targeted unit will move. I'm asking if I can choose a target that's only legal for bringing into the battle, not taking it out of. I will rephrase my question, perhaps it will make more sense:
  I have presence in a battle, it doesn't matter who exactly. My opponent has a unit there, let's call it unit A. He also controls another unit at his home, unit B. He tries to play Ring of Water, so that unit A will leave the battle and go to his home. I play Misdirection and make him target instead the unit B. Since the unit B is at his home, his only choice that would satisfy the Rule of Location would be for unit B to move into the battle. Is this correct and legal or not?
  A: Yes, you may use Misdirection to change the targeting for the Ring of Water... but the timing here is very tricky.
  The exact scenario you desrcibe should never technically occur, but I know it often does in actual play. I imagine your opponent doing something like pulling the Ring of Water from his hand, tapping it onto his unit in battle, and saying, "I'm going to Ring this guy home..." Technically, however, you react with Misdirection (as per its text) BEFORE your opponent picks Ring of Water's target. At this point, he has announced the action, but you should have no way of knowing for certain that he would target the unit in the battle, if he also has legal targets at home (as you say he does).
  All that said, if your opponent doesn't make the play mistake of running his announcement and targeting all together, and you feel sure that he's announcing Ring of Water in order to cut and run, you may Misdirect and cause him to target one of his units at home. He is then forced by the rules to choose the effect that moves it in, rather than choosing to move it home (which would fail), because "A Battle Action can target or be taken by a card in a unit at another location if its costs or effects say they can move the unit to the current battlefield. Choices within the action must then be taken, if possible, such that they do move the unit there" (Citation).
  Hopefully for you, this will ruin his day. But, there remains the possibility that he might have wanted to bring that other unit in all along, and you chose the target he was going to anyway. Good luck. Brook Cunningham, "Misdirection and Ring of Water", 7 Jul 2008
• Q: My opponent has only one personality in a battle against two of mine. He tries to discard the Ring of Water from his hand to move his unit home. Can I react with Misdirection to make him target a different unit he has at his home, so that it will move in the battle?
  A: Only the unit is targeted; where it goes is not targeted, and therefore not subject to Misdirection.
  [Edited to remove erroneous link. Sorry for the misreading.] Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Ring of Water", 7 Jul 2008
• Q: With regards to this ruling viewtopic.php?f=59&t=68641 and its precursor
  Is it not still a requirement of any redirection of targets that the new target be legal for the original player to have declared as a target when the action was initially announced?
  If so this general ruling seems to be overbroad and in error in most circumstances. Assume a player with naval peronalities sufficient to declare a naval invasion at a battlefield declares it.
  First we have the Declaration of Naval Invasion through the rulebook reaction
  Naval Ability Reaction: If you are the Attacker and your current army has more Naval cards than the opposing army, once per battle after engaging: You have the first opportunity to take a Battle action, which must be performed by a target Naval Personality or one of his Naval Followers.
  In cases where multiple cards perform a Battle action, only one need be Naval.
  Note that the Naval Reaction (declaring the invasion) is not an action by a target card, but by a player. He may then take an otherwise legal battle action out of sequence with the effect of an additional targetting restriction on that action once it is declared. Misdirection cannot change the player who gets the opportunity to take the naval action since the second player is not an otherwise legal target.
  Misdirection reads: Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  You announce the Naval Battle Action you intend to take BEFORE announcing its required targets, which have the additional restriction (in addition to whatever else) of being naval.
  A. Announce the action At this step, the player says which ability he or she is using, indicating its source and, if that source has multiple abilities appropriate for that point in time, which ability is being used.
  {{ Note that this ruling causes the naval invasion action to have occurred but fail, preventing the deadly ground or hosiing effect. But this should rarely be a problem for the reasons set out below -- If one or more of an action's effects will be negated or otherwise fail to occur (for example, bowing an already bowed Personality, or moving him to a location he is already in), the action is still legal to take. Effects are not required to happen in the same way that costs and targeting are. [ADDED Oct 17 2007] }}
  Good Faith Rule: When an action is announced, the player must be able to target all required targets, meet all conditions of the action, and pay all mandatory costs, to the best of his or her knowledge.
  Still no trigger for Misdirection UNTIL after the action is announced and its "source target" is identified.
  Misdirection does not by its own terms allow you to choose an otherwise illegal target for an effect (ie having a ranged attacker shoot himself or a neighboring card in the face is not permitted unless the ranged attack as written could have allowed this choice).
  B. Required targeting At this step, an action’s required targets must be targeted. Optional targeting described in the constraints block is not required, but takes place at this step if it is chosen. All targets are designated in the order described, including simultaneously if a number of targets are indicated by a number (such as, “target two Holdings.”) Targeting in the constraints block happens before targeting described in the effects block.
  So, misdirection is required to redirect the Announced Action to an otherwise legal (naval) target source to take the action or may be used as normal to redirect the follow up effect of the naval action.
  In the case of printed battle abilities present on a naval card in the battle this would allow redirection of the target of the Battle Actions effects, but not its source, unless there are other multiple copies of the card with identical battle actions in play (and, bowing one versus another could make a difference in some circumstances).
  In the case of other actions played from the hand (and attachments) the Misdirecting player can redirect the target of the action to an otherwise legal performing target (ie present at the battle field), or in the case of an announced movement action, equally capable of being moved in, or equally possessing a required key word such as samurai, tactician or magistrate, or personal honor for attaching a follower. If there are no other legal "source targets" for the announced action then it cannot legally be misdirected from the original "source" target.
  So an announced naval refugees can be redirected to anyone at the battle (required by refugees) without followers (required by refugees) with the naval keyword (required by naval).
  An announced attachment of Heavy Infantry by Eat Hub Port can only be redirected to a person at the battle (required by the attachment action on EHP & the Rulebook) with the requisite personal honor (rulebook requirement) in the naval invading players army (nothing on heavy infantry or EHP to allow attachment to opposing player) with the naval keyword (required by naval invasion rulebook effect)
  An announced naval peasent vengeance must target for its source a follower (PV text) at the battlefield (rulebook) with the naval keyword (Naval from rulebook). Misdirection would allow selection of a different naval follower to perform the action, if one is available in the attacking army. Otherwise choose a different legal peron for it to kill.
  A: I think you're missing which action Misdirection is being played in response to: it's *not* the Naval Battle action.
  Naval Ability: "Reaction: If you are the Attacker and your current army has more Naval cards than the opposing army, once per battle after engaging: You have the first opportunity to take a Battle action, which must be performed by a target Naval Personality or one of his Naval Followers."
  This Reaction targets "a Naval Personality", and it's *this* action to which Misdirection is reacting. Misdirection allows the defender to choose any Naval Personality in play. The attacker must then either announce an action performed by that Personality or pass. If he does not control the Personality or (barring actions that ignore the Rule of Location) the Personality is not at the battlefield, he must pass. Alex Jones, "Naval and Misdirection", 6 Jun 2008
• Q: Regarding this post:
  Considering that the ruling regarding Determination vs Misdirection followup was done to stop misdirection from tampering with a "Determination" -ed action, how is the same not being applied to Mirumoto Kei's action?
  I'd even say that her phrase would explicitly stop Misdirection since she says while the action is "being targeted" since it is explicitly referring to the active tense. If you're picking an apple, that would include looking at the apple, reaching for the apple, plucking the apple, and bringing it to whatever container you intend to place it in. Not just the moment you pluck it. Otherwise such a phrasing has no meaning in this game since all reactions (or at least any that I can think of) happen either before or after an event.
  A: The wording and timing of Mirumoto Kei (Experienced) and Determination are different. Determination is played in advance of an action; Kei's effect is "while," and so cannot touch anything "before." Zen Faulkes, "Mirumoto Kei XP and Misdirection", 8 May 2008
• Q: When you react to an action with Misdirection, do you only get to choose the targets that are about to be chosen, or do you also get to make later targeting choices as well?
  A: Tentatively, just the current instance of targeting (usually during the targeting step). "Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects" really seems to indicate a specific case of targeting, not blanket ability to change any targeting in the action at all. Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection, different effects, different targeting", 7 May 2008
• Q: Say I have more than 1 opposed lion personality at a battlefield: And I use The Lion's Strength to move one of them to the current battlefield. Can my opponent legally play misdirection to move a different lion personality I control other than the one I used to perform Lion's Strength? Will this different target still fulfill the rule of location?
  A: Your opponent's choice of targets for your The Lion's Strength must obey the same rules of Presence and Location that you would have to obey: if the performing target isn't at the current battlefield, he must be the one targeted to move. Alex Jones, "The Lion's Strength vs Misdirection", 2 May 2008
• Q: Mirumoto Kei (Experienced): If my opponent uses Kei's ability to issue a duel, prior to choosing his target for the duel, can I use misdirection for its reaction and choose whom Kei will challenge?
  A: Yes, because of Misdirection's "before" timing. Zen Faulkes, "Mirumoto Kei XP and Misdirection", 29 Apr 2008
• Q: 1. If you Determination/Ambush a Personality, and the personality is destroyed as a result, is he removed from play? 2. Can you Will or Death After Life a Personality into an Ambush if you are the attacker? 3. Can Detmermination/Misdirection be used to redirect Determination/Ambush?
  Ambush: Limited: Target one of your unbowed Personalities: Create a battlefield (not at any province). Assign your Personality to attack there. Assign another player’s target Personality to defend there, even if bowed. No other units may move there. Fight a battle there. After it ends, lose 5 Honor.
  Determination: Dark Virtue Reaction: Before you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action can not have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
  Will: Dark Virtue Battle: If there are any enemy units at the current battlefield, target a dead Samurai Personality you own: Bring him into play there, paying 2 less Gold and ignoring Honor Requirements.
  Death After Life: Reaction: After one of your Personalities is destroyed during battle: Lose 5 Honor. Target a dead Personality in your discard pile, or in any discard pile if you are a Spider Clan player. Permanently give him Shadowlands and Undead. Bring him into play in your current army, ignoring restrictions (paying all costs).
  Misdirection: Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  A: 1. If you Determination/Ambush a Personality, and the personality is destroyed as a result, is he removed from play? No. Cards destroyed by battle Resolution are destroyed by a rulebook effect, not by Ambush.
  2. Can you Will or Death After Life a Personality into an Ambush if you are the attacker? Yes. Ambush stops movement; it doesn't stop cards being brought into play at the battlefield.
  3. Can Determination/Misdirection be used to redirect Determination/Ambush? Misdirection can only be played "during a battle", ie during the Combat & Resolution segments. You cannot change the targeting of Ambush with Misdirection, with or without Determination. Alex Jones, "Ambush, Determination, Will and Death After Life", 11 Apr 2008
• Q: It seems to me Misdirection is an action (a reaction in this case) for which you choose the targets. You may be applying the effects of my action, but your action is doing the targeting as well.
  A: Disagree. It does not change which action is doing the targeting, just who is doing it. Zen Faulkes, "misdirecting misdirection", 26 Mar 2008
• Q: Misdirection: Bacuase "targeting one of your courtier" is in the cost block, does that mean that the performing Courtier/Gozoku personality must be present at the battle?
  A: No. You're using a Reaction. http://rules.l5r.com/Battles#Combat_Segment: "Reactions are not subject to rules of Presence and Location." Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Unshakable", 16 Mar 2008
• Q: My opponent plays Unshakable and I respond with Misdirection. How far does my effect of choosing his targets reach?
  A: Unshakable only. Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection and Unshakable", 16 Mar 2008
• Q: Misdirection
  Political Gozoku Reaction : Before another player would choose targets for one of his action's effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  Shuten Doji's Fury
  Battle : Dishonor one of your target Personalities: Lose 3 Honor. Bow one or more target cards opposing him without attachments, up to his base Personal Honor.
  Opponent play Shuten Doji's Fury and dishonor personality with 3 base personal honor. Can I play Misdirection and choose to target only one my card with Fury instead of targeting three cards as my opponet would choose?
  A: Yes, as noted here Martin Lund, "Misdirection and Shuten Doji's Fury", 7 Mar 2008
• Q: If I use the Standing Fast and the other player uses Misdirection, can he choose no targets because Standing Fast states "up to 2 targets"?
  A: Yes, per Misdirection's wording: "Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead."
  The opponent makes all your targeting choices and he can choose 0 targets. See Chris Fuchs's previous ruling on this. Doruk Özaydın, "Misdirection, Multiple Targets, Reinforce, Paneki XP4", 28 Feb 2008
• Q: How does Misdirection interact with Ordered Retreat? If I have 4 units in the battle and I play Ordered Retreat, then the other player plays Misdirection, does the opponent get to choose to send 1-4 of my units home and what 1-4 units straighten?
  A: The opponent would choose how many personalities to move home, but you would choose which units to straighten as the straightening is not a targeting so Misdirection does not affect it.
  Ordered Retreat's wording: "Battle: Move home one or more target Personalities in your army. You may straighten a number of your units up to the number of Personalities you moved home." Doruk Özaydın, "Misdirection, Multiple Targets, Reinforce, Paneki XP4", 28 Feb 2008
• Q: You Die With Me: Heroic Reaction: After another player resolves a Battle action which destroyed one of your Hero Personalities: Destroy a target Follower, or Personality without Followers, in the current enemy army. Chuda Hankyu: Battle: Destroy this card and dishonor this Personality: Lose 3 Honor. Destroy a target Follower, or Personality without Followers, with a Force less than 5 at any location.
  I attack and opponent defends on another province(opposed or unopposed) or he desides not to defend at all. I use Chuda Hankyu action and destroy one of his Heros (home or another battlefield). 1. Can he use reaction od You Die With Me to destroy me personality at a battlefield where I'm attacking and resolving battle actions (he got no personality there)? 2. If he would be opposed in the another battlefield - can he use reaction on You Die With Me to destroy one of my personalities there? The battlefield hasn't been resolved yet. 3. If he would be able to play Misdirection can he chose to destroy on of my own personalities at any location?
  A: Neither the Rule of Presence nor the Rule of Location apply to Reactions, only Battle Actions - as noted in their text.
  "Destroy a target Follower, or Personality without Followers, in the current enemy army." is very explicit. You can only target cards in the "current enemy army," - the enemy army at the Current Battlefield.
  Finally, yes, he could play Misdirection to force you to kill one of your own cards at any location with Chuda Hankyu. You are actually allowed to kill your own cards with the Hankyu - it is not a Ranged Attack thus isn't restricted anywhere in the rules to only working on "enemy" cards. Martin Lund, "Chuda Hankyu & You Die With Me", 26 Feb 2008
• Q: I have a situation that came up in a game today. Misdirection reads Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  Consider the following: Contested Ground has been played, which reads: Terrain Battle: Each player has the ability, “Battle: Any number of times per turn, bow one or more of your target cards, in one unit, which have equal or greater total Force than the enemy target: Destroy a target enemy Follower, or Personality without Followers.” I have a 5 force personality at the battlefield with a 3 force followered attached. I am opposing a 3 force personality and a 4 force personality, both of which are courtiers.
  I announce the ability given to me from contested ground. I declare that my 3f follower in my unit is being targetted. I declare that I wish to target the 3 force personality. My opponent wishes to play Misdirection to direct the action away from the 3 force personality.
  Can he legally play Misdirection in any way to stop his 3 force personality from dying?
  A: Misdirection only let's you choose the targets of the effect - not the targets of the cost. You targeted your 3F Follower as a cost and he can't change that. Misdirection's player can only choose a target of 3F or less for the effect - the same restriction placed upon your selection once you chose the 3F Follower for the cost. Further, the rules say that targets are chosen in the order they appear on the card, so he can't play Misdirection until you've done the targeting in the Constraints Block.
  Citation Martin Lund, "Contested Ground vs Misdirection", 26 Feb 2008
• Q: Battle: For each different clan alignment on Personalities in the current enemy army, target one card without attached Follwers in that army. Bow all targets.
  Are all targets of Dissent announced at the same time? And do they need to be different targets? Situation:
  Player A has 2 different Clan Alignemnts in his army. Player B plays Dissent. Player A plays Misdirection.
  Can Player A decide to target the same card twice?
  A: They are all chosen at once. You can not target any card more than once with this targeting. Martin Lund, "Dissent and Misdirection", 16 Jan 2008
• Q: I still don't understand whether Misdirection can make a legally attempted Unwavering Assault suddenly target a unit that was in an attacking army during the Resolution Segment of another battle during this Attack Phase, because Dr. Faulkes' new rules don't seem to affect targeting after an action is legally attempted.
  A: Misdirection can't cause something to be targeted something that couldn't be targeted in the first place. Zen Faulkes, "RE2:Moto Chagatai xp4 and Unwavering Assault", 23 Dec 2007
• Q: Can Crane's Strength be Misdirected to someone that it will not kill?
  A: You must pick something that could be legally picked by The Crane's Strength in the first place. You could not, e.g., target a Personality with a follower. Zen Faulkes, "Crane's Strength and Misdirection", 24 Nov 2007
• Q: I attack with a courtier and a Non Courtier. While resolving that battle my opponent plays block supply lines. I play Misdirection so that I get to choose the target. I chose my courtier. Can I now play Share the Blame?
  I would say "no" since my opponent didn't target my courtier, I targetted him with my opponent's action. I just want to be sure.
  A: Your intuition is correct - since Misdirection let you do the targeting, the other player did not target your Courtier, thus leaving you without a valid trigger for Share the Blame. Martin Lund, "Misdirection and Share the Blame", 2 Nov 2007
• Q: According to viewtopic.php?f=59&t=62543 1) Person targets a 5 gold cost unit with Ruthless advance, and has 3 gold available to pay for it. 2) Opponent plays Misdirection, and forces the target chosen to be a 6 gold cost unit instead. 3) Person must pay 4 gold, but has 3 available. 4) ___________________________
  What goes in the blank space?
  A: Give 'til it hurts. Pay. Zen Faulkes, "Re: Insufficient Gold", 14 Oct 2007
• Q: I have been reading posts on Misdirection and Ruthless but I couldnt find this..
  What happens if I have 7G unbowed and I target a 9GC Personality with a Ruthless Advance which is Misdirected to a 10GC personality?
  Do I have to bow all of my gold? or Can I choose to leave my gold unbowed? making the Ruthless Advance fail and go to my discard pile because I cannot pay the cost.
  Thanks.
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_R#Ruthless_Advance: "Cost must be paid if changes to the unit Gold cost occur, or a new unit is selected in the announcement step (e.g., Misdirection, Turn of Fortune)." (EMphasised.) Zen Faulkes, "Ruthless Advance + Misdirection (insufficient gold)", 14 Oct 2007
• Q: In reference to my previous thread about Eastern Hub Port and Misdirection.
  Let's use the same example. I attack one province with many Naval personalities. The defender controls a courtier at home. During the first battle, after engaging, I use the Naval ability, targeting my Yoritomo Brian at the current battlefield. I play Eastern Hub Port so I announce the "Equip" action that Brian can and must perform. Before choosing targets for the effects of this action, my opponent plays Misdirection.
  If I understand correctly, my opponent may not target a card which face is not revealed to him therefore he can never target an attachment card in my hand. His targeting fails to happen, my targeting has been replaced by the "instead" word so it doesn't happen, no card is targeted so the resolution of this Equip action does nothing. Then I've still got three other questions.
  1) Have I correctly understood this previous ruling ? If not, please explain which mistakes I made please.
  2) If I have only one card in hand, the Good Faith Rule implies that it must be an attachment card. Can my opponent target that one card according to this knowledge or does the previous ruling also apply there ?
  3) If I have one The Desiccated in my discard pile, can my opponent target it and if yes, must he target it or does it depend on the number of cards in my hand (or on something else) ? I mean: can my opponent use the previous ruling to say he can't target a card in my hand, he is not compeled to target The Desiccated, so he lets his targeting fail so that the Equip action does nothing.
  Thanks for your useful help.
  A: 1) Correct.
  2) I would say that if you only have one card in your hand, and no other targets to attach (such as The Dessicated,) then he must target the only card in your hand. (This specific answer is tentative and may change if the rest of the rules team disagrees with my logic.)
  3) If he knows of a legal target, such as The Dessicated, he must target it. Chris Fuchs, "Eastern Hub Port and Misdirection and The Desiccated", 26 Sep 2007
• Q: Zen's answer in this thread surprises me...
  Determination: Dark Virtue Reaction: Before you announce an action, target one of your Samurai: The action can not have its effects negated or have its targeting changed. After the action destroys any Personality, remove him from the game.
  Misdirection: Political Gozoku Reaction: Before another player would choose targets for one of his action’s effects during a battle, target one of your Courtier or Gozoku Personalities: You choose the targets instead.
  Misdirection seems clear about being played before targeting takes place, so that targets are not changed, it's just that who chooses them changes. And Determination (at least the MRP) says nothing about changing who makes the choice.
  Does the ruling stand?
  A: Rules Junta looked at this and agreed with me that "targeting can not be changed" is interpreted broadly. That is, no changes to the how the targeting is done, what can and can't be targeted, or what has been targeted after the fact. Zen Faulkes, "Determination vs Misdirection followup", 24 Sep 2007
• Q: If I play Determination on one of my actions, can my opponent react with Misdirection?
  A: No. Zen Faulkes, "Determination vs Misdirection", 24 Sep 2007
• Q: When targeting is restricted based on its face-up features (such as Force, keyword, title, of card type), a player may not target a card whose face is not revealed to him or her, unless that card has been given such a feature by card or rules effects. [ADDED Sept 20 2007]
  A: Also take note of http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_I-J#Instead_of Chris Fuchs, "Eastern Hub Port and Misdirection", 20 Sep 2007
• Q: If the new X is negated, or fails to happen for a reason other than negation (“do not” wording, absence of relevant game elements), the old Y doesn’t happen.
  A: What this means is that if your opponent plays Misdirection and does not know what any legal targets in your hand are, his targeting fails to happen, and due to the "instead of" rules, you do not get to target your attachment either. Chris Fuchs, "Eastern Hub Port and Misdirection", 20 Sep 2007
• Q: In reference to my previous question, I'd like to ask another one about Equipping and Misdirection.
  I am still playing Eastern Hub Port. At the current battlefield, I control two personalities : one Samurai and one Shugenja. My hand contains only one attachment card: a Brothers in Arms, which can only attach to a Samurai.
  I announce that I am using the "Equip" ability. Before choosing targets for this action, my opponent plays Misdirection. He chooses this action is targeting my Shugenja. What happens ? I suppose the "Equip" action is negated but I'd like to know for sure.
  What would happen if I had another attachment card in my hand that my Shugenja could legally attach but I didn't want to pay for, such as a very expensive Spell ? Would I be compelled to attach it if I can afford it ?
  Thanks for your wise help.
  A: The personality targeted by the equip action is targeted as a cost, which Misdirection is unable to alter, as it is only able to change the targeting of effects. Chris Fuchs, "Eastern Hub Port, Equipping and Misdirection", 17 Sep 2007
• Q: My opponent announces a card which allows him to target a number of units in the current battle 'up to' a given number (say Two-Front War). I play Misdirection. Can I choose to make him target 0 units?
  A: With the new Misdirection wording, you choose the targets. You may choose 0 targets for something that allows you to target "up to" a certain number. Chris Fuchs, "Misdirection and 'up to'", 10 Sep 2007
• Q: Hi !
  1st question:
  If I play a card that targets a number of targets up to a certain value (like Shuten Doji's Fury) and my opponent plays Misdirection on it, can he target 0 card (or a different number than me) ?
  In lotus, the answer was 'no' but with Misdirection's new wording...
  A: Well, you never get to choose a number in the first place. Misdirection's wording now has it kick in "before" you get to do any targeting.
  He has to choose at least the minimum number of targets a card specifies, since the minimum number is considered to be the "mandatory" targeting.
  Shuten Doji's Fury has a most recent printing of: "Bow one or more target cards ..."
  So he's have to pick at least one, but he can pick just one, even if you intended to pick more. Martin Lund, "Misdirection and "up to"/ Determination vs Determination", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: does that mean you can have said challenge redirected to one of that players own personalities?
  A: No, because a player cannot have two of his or her own Personalities duel (Diamond rules, pg. 88). Zen Faulkes, "Another Misdirection question...", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: Rain of Death?... now the rules state they can only target the enemy army but once the action is declared I misdirect and target enemy units?
  A: No, because a player cannot shoot into his own army (Diamond rules, pg. 90). Zen Faulkes, "Another Misdirection question...", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: Also what about Utaku Tarako and Yoritomo Etsui? Can I redirect those actions back at them?
  A: Can their abilities be used on a player's own armies in the first place? Tarako: No, because, by erratum, her ability says "opposing." Etsui: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Another Misdirection question...", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: (S)ome one who used Yoritomo Tokaro and targeted my Daikoku and said because he had his he couldn't steal it so I had no option but to destroy my own (Personality.)
  A: Here. Zen Faulkes, "Another Misdirection question...", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: In a Steel on Steel, I target Two personalities, My challenger and the challenged personality.
  Can a Misdirection change who the challenger will be and at the same time who the challenged personality will be Provided of course that the challenger is still my personality and challenged personality is still his personality?
  A: Diamond rules, pg. 74. Were they legal targets in the first place? If so, then the redirection is legal. Zen Faulkes, "A new kind of Misdirection query", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: i'm a phoenix player and i defend one of my provinces with sesaru, 2 kanjiros and another three (Personalities) against 4 lions with tactician trait. in the middle of a battle the lion play rain of death and kill sezaru and a kokujin daisho atached to danjuro.
  danjuro can bow to redirect the target on sezaru or it be an illegal target because he has attachead the Kokujin's Daisho.?
  later i play ancient battlefield and i gain the battle, when the delay terrain resolves he target a courtier in his home an play misdirection changing the target that i choose (in this case i choose to bring back sezaru) for an otomo taneji dead in the same battle.
  he can do this target changin with misdirection or not
  A: The general answer to 99% of all redirection questions: Could those have been picked as legal targets in the first place (Diamond rules, pg. 74)?
  In the first case, assuming the second ability of Rain of Death was used, Danjuro could not have originally been picked, so he cannot redirect it to him.
  In the second case, you could have picked someone else, so redirecting the action is legal. Zen Faulkes, "Ancient Battlefield and Misdirection", 25 Mar 2005
• Q: Lion attacks, provokes a personality. Dragon announces Ring of Water, with intent to move his personality out of the battle. Can the Lion Misdirect the personality target to a personality at home?
  A: The magic (but apparently never asked) question: Was the Personality a legal target for the Ring of Water in the first place? Yes? Then the redirection is legal. Zen Faulkes, "Ring of Water and Misdirection", 25 Mar 2005
• Q: If he can, the rule of relevance should then force the personality at home to move into the battle, but if for some reason it doesn't, does the Ring then target the province to which he is moving, allowing the Lion to choose the province to which the target goes?
  A: As always, the redirection must be legal, so during battle, would have to meet both Presence and Relevance. Zen Faulkes, "Ring of Water and Misdirection", 25 Mar 2005
• Q: If I use a Well-Prepared on one of my bowed personalities to unbow him, can my opponent use Misdirection to redirect the action to one of his unbowed personalities?
  A: Well, Well Prepared says: Martin Lund, "Suitengu's Uncertainty and Battle Resolution", 10 Mar 2005
• Q: Can you change the target of Rage of Matsu from one of your personalities @home to one of your opponent's personalities @home with Misdirection?
  A: Could you have picked your opponent's Personality in the first place? Then yes. If not, then no (Diamond rules, pg. 74). There are a couple of variables that aren't stated in the question that I'd need to give a more specific answer (like, which of the two abilities on Rage of Matsu are you talking about?). Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection/Rage of Matsu Question", 9 Mar 2005
• Q: Is this a legal sequence of events:
  Player A bows his stronghold to negate one of his units from going home with Kaneka as a wind
  Player B plays FOYK
  Player A plays FOYK targeting the first FOYK
  Player B plays Misdirection redirecting Player A's FOYK to his own reaction to prevent his unit from going home.
  If this isnt legal can Player B play Misdirection redirecting Player A's FOYK to Player B's Misdirection.
  A: You can't redirect Fall on Your Knees because it doesn't target.
  Due to its timing trigger, there is never more than one Reaction it can legally be played against. It can only be played against the Reaction that the current Timing Window is associated with. Reaction aren't like "Instants" in Magic. They can only be played at their legal trigger.
  The sequence would work like this:
  Send Home Effect
  --> Reactions to Send Home Effect (and only that) must be played now
  --> Reaction Played: Righ Hand
  ----> Reactions to Right Hand (and only that) must be played now
  ----> Reaction Played: Fall on Your Knees #1
  ------> Reactions to Fall on Your Knees #1 (and only that) must be played now
  ------> Reaction Played: Fall on Your Knees #2
  --------> Reactions to Fall on Your Knees #2 (and only that) must be played now
  --------> All players pass
  ------> Fall on Your Knees #2 resolves, canceling Fall on Your Knees #1, which can no longer be responded to.
  ----> Reactions to Right Hand (and only that) must be played now
  ----> All players pass
  --> Right Hand resolves, Negating Send Home Effect.
  No effects. Timing Windows closes. Next opportunity to take a Battle or Open Action. Martin Lund, "Fall On Your Knees/Misdirection", 5 Mar 2005