Purusha

Legend of the Five Rings card from Fire & Shadow

Card Type

Personality

Force

0

Chi

2

Honor Requirement

0

Gold Cost

3

Personal Honor

1

Clan

Naga

Keywords

Abomination, Hunter, Naga, Nonhuman, Scout

Card Text

Reaction: Immediately before the Defender takes the first action in this battle, bow Purusha: Ranged 3 Attack.

Legality

Hidden Emperor (Jade)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rulings

• If a player pre-emptively plays a card to stop ranged attacks or actions (e.g., using a Scout; but not Sneak Attack), Purusha cannot use its ability. [ZF, May 2000] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 120
• May not combine its ranged attack with other "normal" ranged attacks in the unit, because all ranged attacks must be legal when performed. [DW, April 2000] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 120
• May be used if defender ends up passing on his or her first normal battle action. [ZF, May 2000] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 120
• Multiple copies of Purusha can all be used before battle. [ZF, May 2000] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 120
• Q: Just how does Purusha work? A: Just like he says, of course! Seriously, the FAQ answers most of the questions about Purusha (<www.zdi.net/jwa/l5r>), in the section about actions before the Defender's first action. The most important thing to remember about Purusha's ability is that "before the Defender's first action" just means, "before the first Battle or Open action" (even if the Defender ends up passing!). The most popular "I go first" card, Sneak Attack, lets the Attacker take the first normal action. Between the Sneak Attack itself and that first "normal" action, however, any player involved in the battle can react with Purusha. Other "I go first" cards, however, may work differently than Sneak Attack. If the Attacker preemptively plays a card to stop ranged attacks with one of those (e.g., Scout, Hitomi Tashima), Purusha cannot react. Some cards similar to Purusha provide "one action" or "an action" before the battle (e.g., Daikua), and these are not cumulative. Purusha is worded differently, however; multiple copies of Purusha can all be used before battle. Finally, Purusha can't combine its ranged attack with other "normal" ranged attacks in the unit. All ranged attacks must be legal at the time they are performed. The Imperial Herald, Issue 16, p. 12

Rules Q&A

• Q: Here's an interesting situation that cropped up in an Open game recently. My friend was playing his new Naga deck, while I was playing my Mantis Naval/RA deck. He had several Purusha in play, and I attacked with a Naval army. The Question is, when exactly does Purusha get to make her ranged 3 attack? Now, since my army was Naval, I got to make the first battle action. The options we saw that might be valid at the time:
  1: Purusha makes her attack before my action. 2: Purusha takes her reaction after my action, but before his action (the first Defender action.)
  A: In this specific case, Option 2. However, in the case that you were being attacked by an army with several Purusha, the answer is Option 3 - never.
  Purusha's action is timed to take place before the Defender's first action. If there is a Naval Attacker, no Reactions can be taken before his first, Naval granted, action. However, Reactions (and traits) that are played before the Defender's first action can still be used after the Naval attackers first action, but before the Defenders first action.
  If the *Defender* declares a Naval Invasion, however, then the clause prohibiting Reactions applies to his first action, which also happens to be the Defenders first action - locking Purusha out entirely. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 25th, 2003", 25 Jul 2003
• Q: - defend my opponent's Bayushi Shoju (inexp.) with a Purusha and make the Ranged attack before the switch of fate hands?
  A: It depends. The player to the left of the active player gets the first reaction to the beginning of a Battle Action Segment. Most of the time (since most games are 1-on-1 and the active player is usually the Attacker), Purusha will shoot first in your example. Jeff Alexander, "replies to 22-23 September 2001", 24 Sep 2001
• Q: Please, I need some help. Could Bayushi Kachiko (exp.3) cancel the ranged of a Purusha on the opposing army? That's it.
  A: Nope. Purusha's action is a Reaction, and Kachiko ex3 can only cancel Battle actions. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 20th", 20 Jul 2001
• Q: If he plays a "Deadly Ground" could a Purusha do the ranged attack?
  A: If the attacker has a Scout, and the defender has a Purusha, the defender will get to Purusha before the attacker can Scout. Due to the new timing rules, the start of the battle action segment is considered to be triggered by the active player (who is usually the attacker). So, the defender's gets the first shot at performing 'before first action' stuff, then the player to his left, and so on. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 20th", 20 Jul 2001
• Q: Ok, nobody can play any actions under a "Deadly Ground" unless the action will destroy the terrain. But, when anybody have the opportunity to destroy the terrain, the "moment" to Shoju or Purusha to act will be gone.
  A: True. A Scouted Deadly Ground will stop pretty much all of the other 'before first action' cards from being used. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 20th", 20 Jul 2001
• Q: Because Shoju's ability says it is done before anyone can take any action, I believe his action would go first. Next would be the Scout, as his is just before the defenders first battle action. Then would come Purusha as his happens immediately before the Defender's first action. Finally, the normal Battle action sequence would begin.
  A: Incorrect. All 'before first action' stuff is considered to happen inside of the same timing window, regardless of tiny little differences of text. Shoju inexp, Scout, Purusha, Sneak Attack, Daikua, Sanado, and anything else that would be used after a battle has been chosen to resolve but before the defender gets to take his or her normal first battle action (gasp!) trigger off of the same timing window. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 20th", 20 Jul 2001
• Q: Sanado Can I use Three Sanados to take three actions before the Defender like a person with three Purusha? If so What are the order of these actions?
  A: Multiple Sanados and/or Daikuas aren't cumulative. Multiple Sneak Attacks aren't cumulative. The reason: you don't take the additional action they give you at the same time as the Reaction. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 18 March 2001", 24 Mar 2001
• Q: Nope. That's just the way that it is. All 'Sneak' timed actions, including Purusha and Sneak Attack and Daikua, are part of the Battle Action Segment, because as soon as you decide which battle you are going to resolve, you have begun the BAS. In the rulebook, there's no part of battle resolution listed after Cavalry Maneuvers and before the BAS, so all Reactions have to be played in one of those. If the resolving battle has been decided, then you're in the BAS.
  If that's the case, then how can you play Sneak Attack when it clearly states to play it before the Battle Action Segment for a battle?
  A: If the MRP of Sneak Attack says it's played "before the Battle Action Segment", then the ruling on it will have to be reversed. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 15-16 February 2001", 19 Feb 2001
• Q: And don't forget Purusha, who I THINK can shoot you from any province, and can only be shot at if his province is the one under attack.
  A: Nope. Purusha can only be used at the battle where he's assigned. No telescopic sights for him. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for February 2nd", 3 Feb 2001