Rain of Death

Legend of the Five Rings card from Lotus Edition, Web of Lies, Drums of War

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Keywords

Center, Formation

Card Text

While you meet the conditions to put this card into play, you have the following abilities which you may use any number of times per turn, "Tactical Battle: Choose your performing Tactician: Two consecutive Ranged 3 Attacks" and "Tactical Battle: Bow and destroy your performing Tactician and target two enemy cards without unbowed attachments: Destroy them."
Battle: If you control two Personalities with the base Tactician keyword at the current battlefield: Put this card into play there. Discard your other Formations. You may take an additional Battle action.

Focus Value

4

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Rain of Death 0G 4FV Center Formation. Formed by two Personalities with the printed Tactician trait. Tactical Battle: Target a Tactician you control at the current battlefield: He produces two consecutive Ranged 3 Attacks. Tactical Battle: Bow and destroy a Tactician you control at the current battlefield: Target two cards opposing him that have no unbowed cards attached. Destroy them." [MRP, Drums of War, 22 May 2006] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 29

Rules Q&A

• Q: May personalities (Tacticians) who moved in with Mieko's action be used for any action on Rain of Death?
  A: Yes. Neither Action requires Targeting the Performing Tactician, as per the Web of Lies Rulesheet.
  And yes, I checked with the Rules Junta on that one. Martin Lund, "Rules for 1 February 2005", 5 Feb 2005
• Q: Rain of Death: -Can I use the second Tactical Battle from Rain of Death to destroy, for example, two followers attacheds in two differents units? And if it is in the same unit?
  A: [MARTY] No part of Rain of Death requires that the targets be in the same unit, or different units. You can do it on two cards in the same unit, or two cards in different units. Martin Lund, "Rules for 21 January 2005", 24 Jan 2005
• Q: I bring several tacticians into a battle with Matsu Mieko, and thus cards I own cannot target them.
  I later play Rain of Death. Will activating any of the actions in Rain of Death target the performing tactician?
  A: Nope. It is printed after Dawn of the Empire and does not explicitly target the performing Tactician. Martin Lund, "Rules for 18 January 2005", 21 Jan 2005
• Q: If Kenson Gakka is my stronghold, and I use Mirotai's ability. During the following attack, is he considered to have the printed Tactician trait for satisfying the "formed by requirments" for Rain of Death? If I'm not using Kenson Gakka?
  No -- he's lost the trait.
  Is this true? If a personality “loses” a trait or ability, are they considered to NOT have the “printed” instance of that trait or ability?
  A: The printed card is not changed unless the effect text specifically says it changes the "printed" status of the card.
  Losing the Tactician trait to Mirotai's ability does not change his status as a having the - printed - Tactician trait.
  So sayeth the Jeff. Martin Lund, "Rules for 18 January 2005", 21 Jan 2005
• Q: Mirotai takes his action, looses his trait and goes to war. Does he count for the requirement of Rain of Death since Tactician is still printed on him although he lost it?
  A: Mirotai has the "Printed Tactician Trait" even though he does not currently have Tactician. Hence, he counts for the "Formed By" requirement, but can't perform the Tactical Battle Action. Martin Lund, "Rules for 2 December 2004", 6 Dec 2004
• Q: I looked here and used the search forum, but I didn't see anything.
  My question is: for the use of cards like Rain Of Death or Forward Sentries is the additional text on Void/Water shugenja considered "printed on" the cards?
  A: No.
  Printed: Means the same as “base,” even on cards that do not literally have their base stats printed.
  Base: "Base" refers to a stat, keyword, ability, or trait that exists on a card or other entity as printed (following the most recent printing) or initially created, without modifications from effects.
  And Pale Oak Castle's effects modify the Personalities. Alex Jones, "Pale Oak Castle", 5 Feb 2009
• Q: 1: With Rain of Death. Since the action comes from the formation is a Tactician "Performing" the action on the card? So does it count tward the use of tactician?
  A: Yes and yes. The "Tactical" descriptor in the Action dictates that it must be performed by a Tactician, as per the Rulebook. Martin Lund, "A Few Questions", 11 Apr 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: I am very confused over the recent rulings that Rain of Death can be used for the second Battle action in battles other than that which is being resolved (please see Marty's many explanations). I understand how it meets relevance, action coming from the card in the current battle etc. I can't see how it can be used based on these previous rulings from Jeff:
  Moto Kumari
  Cannot use his Reaction upon moving to a battle other than the current one, because it targets an opposing Personality, and actions targeting "opposing" cards require the card making the action be in the current battle. [Extension from Moto Latomu, 12 May 2004]
  Moto Latomu
  Cannot use his Reaction upon moving to a battle other than the current one, because Ranged Attacks target opposing cards, and actions targeting "opposing" cards require the card making the action be in the current battle. [JA, email, 12 May 2004]
  Seems to me that the use of the "opposing" in Rain of Death would have the same limitation. My reasoning:-
  1) Although RoD can meet relevance by being at a battle, it can never be opposed as it is not in an army. Therefore the word "opposing" needs to be applied to the tactician personality you use.
  2) RoD clearly states that it is the personality that is performing the action, in the cost portion of the second action.
  3) Previous rulings would show that you can only take actions targeting "opposing" cards, if the card performing the action is in the current battle.
  Marty, Jeff, Zen please explain this to me.
  [Edit] Is this just a difference between "performing" (as described on RoD) and "making" (as described in the rulings)?
  Cheers
  UK Ronin
  Thanks for the speedy response, I just wish there was a better way to continue this discussion.
  OK Zen wrote:
  Quote:
  UK Ronin wrote:
  Previous rulings would show that you can only take actions targeting "opposing" cards, if the card performing the action is in the current battle.
  Diamond rules, pg. 81: "A player can take an action that refers to an 'opposing' card or 'this battle,' or that includes an implicating phrase such as 'another attacking card' or 'the Province this card is defending,' only if the card on which the action is printed is in the current battle."
  The action is printed on Rain of Death. Rain of Death is in the current battle.
  In the case of the Moto Personalities, the actions are printed on them, so they must be in the current battle.
  Great, so you have shown that Rain of Death is in a battle (not disputed), that the action can meet relevance (coming from a card in the battle) and that, assuming you still have presence in the battle with RoD, you can take the action with a Tactician. So now answer how this interacts with Jeff's ruling, I have bolded the portion of Jeff's ruling causing my misunderstanding.
  Moto Latomu
  Cannot use his Reaction upon moving to a battle other than the current one, because Ranged Attacks target opposing cards, and actions targeting "opposing" cards require the card making the action be in the current battle. [JA, email, 12 May 2004]
  I state again a couple of points:
  1) Although RoD can meet relevance by being at a battle, it can never be opposed as it is not in an army. Therefore the word "opposing" needs to be applied to the tactician personality you use.
  2) RoD clearly states that it is the personality that is performing the action, in the cost portion of the second action.
  Is it your contention that the card Rain of Death is "the card making the action" even though the wording of Rain of Death clearly says that the performing card is the Tactician destroyed to pay the costs? DE rulebook pg 71 describes the process to determine what is performing the action. It seems to me that point 3. is the one that applies and that this confirms the Tactician you destroy as the cost is performing the action as described on RoD.
  I think basically it comes down to this question.
  Are "making the action" and "performing an action" the same or different?
  I cannot find a definition in the rulebook of what "making an action" means. Is Jeff's previous ruling just badly worded? Did he mean "performing" instead of "making"?
  Cheers
  UK Ronin
  A: Diamond rules, pg. 81: "A player can take an action that refers to an 'opposing' card or 'this battle,' or that includes an implicating phrase such as 'another attacking card' or 'the Province this card is defending,' only if the card on which the action is printed is in the current battle."
  The action is printed on Rain of Death. Rain of Death is in the current battle.
  In the case of the Moto Personalities, the actions are printed on them, so they must be in the current battle. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death and "Opposing" - Updated, take a loo", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: Is it your contention that the card Rain of Death is "the card making the action"(?)
  A: Yes. Performance is totally and completely irrelevant. Archive, General Rules, Effects: the source of the effect is where the ink is. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death and "Opposing" - Updated, take a loo", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: I challenge a duel in one of my opposing peeps, then my opponent uses this card. Can he/she redirect it to my own peeps? What about I use Rain of Death or To Do What We Must? Can he/she do the same way?
  A: Diamond rules, pg. 74. Zen Faulkes, "Misdirection", 31 Mar 2005
• Q: I apologise with regards to the 3rd question of the last post I made at this forum. Someone has kindly pointed out to me that there has already been a ruling archived that Terrains only affect cards in their battle.
  One important question that I had forgotten to ask however was the interaction between other Formations?
  Example:
  Endless Horde
  Center Formation Formed by a Personality with a Follower and a Samurai or Bushi Personality with a Follower. Battle: Bow one of your non-token Followers to destroy an opposing Follower, Item or Personality with no Followers or Items.
  I have attacking units in Province A and B. There are defending units in Province A and B. I resolve Province A first and successfully 'form' the formation Endless Horde. May I bow one of my non-token Followers in Province B to destroy an opposing Follower, Item or Personality with no Followers or Items in Province B.
  Likewise, does the rule apply to other Formations?
  Also, how does this rule interact with non-Formation action cards such as Brutal Confrontation? Can I bow one of my personalities in another Province to issue a duel to a personality opposing him in that Province?
  Thank you for your time and attention.
  A: Endless Horde has the same sort of interaction as the second Ability on Rain of Death. You can form it in the Current Battle and employ the Battle Action with Non-Token Followers in another Battle against targets at that battle.
  Brutal Confrontation, on the other hand, is not a card at the Battlefield. It is an Action Card that is played, then goes to the Discard Pile. It gives players a series of Actions to use for the rest of the battle. However, those Actions are not printed on a card at the battle, thusly they can not use that criteria to meet the Rule of Relevance.
  So their targets, typically, must be at the Current Battle to have the Action be Relevant, much like Tsuruchi Technique or Arrows from the Woods. Martin Lund, "More Rain of Death questions.", 27 Mar 2005
• Q: does Weight of the Heavens (Kiho) actually remove the "printed" Tactician trait - as in does it actually impact upon the formation / requirements of Rain of Death ?
  A: Here. Zen Faulkes, "Weight of the Heavens / Rain of Death", 25 Mar 2005
• Q: Can this apply to Moto Latomu's shared ranged attack actions since the rulebook looks for the printed action to be in the current battle if I move another unicorn personality to another province where in he will be opposed?
  A: No, no, and again, no. See Archive, Effects. People should stop trying to apply Rain of Death rulings to anything besides Rain of Death. They are often very particular to that card and how it is worded. Zen Faulkes, "Moto Latomu Exp versus Rain of Death", 23 Mar 2005
• Q: So, how can those ranged attacks target anything if Rain of Death is not in an army?
  A: Why did nobody ask this question about Arrows From the Woods nine years ago? Or Tsuruchi Technique a couple of years ago? Then we could have clarified a long time ago. They aren't in armies, either. Zen Faulkes, "Formations not in armies?", 21 Mar 2005
• Q: Zen Faulkes wrote:
  Derrick wrote:
  So, how can those ranged attacks target anything if Rain of Death is not in an army?
  Why did nobody ask this question about Arrows From the Woods nine years ago? Or Tsuruchi Technique a couple of years ago? Then we could have clarified a long time ago. They aren't in armies, either.
  This is hardly an answer. For Arrows from the Woods, Tsuruchi Technique and other fire-and-forget actions, it wouldn't matter even if they were briefly in your army. The status of Formations, however, is much more concerning, as if they're in an army they're vulnerable to many more actions - including Rain of Death.
  Is this just obvious legality, is there something deeper at work, or are you guys going to get back to me?
  A: The exact same principle is at work for Arrows from the Woods, Tsuruchi Technique, and Rain of Death. They are actions. They cannot be in armies. But, by their text, they generate Ranged Attacks. Therefore, they circumvent the normal situation that Ranged Attacks be from cards in an army by the First Cardinal Rule. Zen Faulkes, "Ranged Attack actions", 21 Mar 2005
• Q: The status of Formations, however, is much more concerning, as if they're in an army they're vulnerable to many more actions - including Rain of Death
  A: Formations aren't in armies, ever. Terrains aren't either. They are at Battlefields. Zen Faulkes, "Ranged Attack actions", 21 Mar 2005
• Q: I have 2 tacticians on battlefield A, one tactician on Battlefield B, and one tactician on my home. I'm resolving battle A first. I play RoD. ¿Can I use the ability of destroy 2 opossing cards on battlefield B (destroying my tactician on B)?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Specifics on Rain of Death", 17 Mar 2005
• Q: Since the errata/ruling says "The action generating Ranged Attacks may be performed by a Tactician who is not in the battle" This ranged attack can target units con battlefield C (I'm still resolving battle A, and I dont have presence on C) ?
  A: No, it must be the current battle. See Archive, General, Ranged Attacks. Zen Faulkes, "Specifics on Rain of Death", 17 Mar 2005
• Q: Quote:
  steve simons wrote:
  Opponent: 2 Larukos, one of them bowed
  Me: 2 tacticians, Rain of death. Target the unbowed laruko first and then the bowed one with the bow and destroy action on rain of death. Opponent: Plays balance in nothingness. Does the unbowed Laruko still die?
  The only one dying is your Tactician Personality. The whole action is canceled by Balance in Nothingness after Rain of Death targets. You must now pay the cost and destroying your Tactician Personality (Archive, General rules, Canceling).
  _________________
  Zen Faulkes! * Crab Clan Scholar * Unaligned Archivist
  I thought consecutive ranged attacks were targeted and resolved seperately, according to DE rulebook. If this is the case, wouldn't the unbowed personality be targeted and resolved before the 2nd, bowed laruko is targeted, and thus before balance in nothingness takes effect?
  A: Rain of Death has two abilities. I was answering the question about the second, which is not a Ranged Attack. Zen Faulkes, "consecutive ranged attacks and cancelling", 14 Mar 2005
• Q: I have 2 tacticians on battlefield A, one tactician on Battlefield B, and one tactician on my home. I'm resolving battle A first. I play RoD. ¿Can I use the ability of destroy 2 opossing cards on battlefield B (destroying my tactician on B)?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Specifics on Rain of Death", 13 Mar 2005
• Q: Since the errata/ruling says "The action generating Ranged Attacks may be performed by a Tactician who is not in the battle" This ranged attack can target units con battlefield C (I'm still resolving battle A, and I dont have presence on C) ?
  A: No, it must be the current battle. See Archive, General, Ranged Attacks. Zen Faulkes, "Specifics on Rain of Death", 13 Mar 2005
• Q: Due to the recent threads about Rain of Death and how its actions are used,I have come to the conclusion that,while formations enter play,they NEVER belong to an army.Furthermore,another ruling a while back(on the ccg-list I think)(again about rain of death)said that if you play a formation,somehow suspend the current battle(eg Summon Air Kami),and began resolving another one, if you still met the "formed by " requirements, then the formation was still in play and its actions usable in the new battlefield,therefore showing that formations played during a battle at a battlefield are not specific to that battlefield.
  My question is:Can a formation in play be targeted by "Death of Ryoshun",thus making the use of its actions unplayable?
  I believe that targetting a formation with "Death of Ryoshun"would not satisfy the rule of relevance.,since nothing would be targeted or affected in the current battle.However,I have seen many players do this very thing(usually shutting off "invincible legions"),most recently during the mouzaka championship,and I don't know which ir right.Could someone enlighten me?
  The Mask has the "Experienced Mask of the Oni" trait. Do experienced traits count for card typing? I know Soul Ofs don't work, but what about Experience traits?
  A: Death of Ryoshun does not target.
  The bizzare "Summon Air Kami" example Zen answered doesn't alter the location of the Formation card played. It is still at the suspended battle. However, that does not mean its effects stop working just because another battle is resolving.
  Naming a Formation that is in play at the Current Battlefield, however, affects that card by making its abilities unplayable, so it is Relevant. Naming a Formation in play at a battle suspended by Summon Air Kami rather than the Current Battle, however, is not. Martin Lund, "Formations and Death of Ryoshun", 12 Mar 2005
• Q: Question was :
  Some time ago there I was asking whether I can use Rain of Death ability (two ranged attacks) with tactician from outside a battle. Answer was "yes".
  There are following questions :
  I played Rain of Death in battlefield A. Can I use tacticians in battlefield A ro 'rain a death' on units in battle B ? If no - why 'other-battle' tatician is allowed to RoD unit in current battle ?
  As above, but i try to RoD units in battlefield B with tacticians in home / battlefield B / other. subquestion - as above.
  Note that RoD says nothing about opposing or 'this battle', and as a formation it cannot oppose anything neither... Thus it's RA are rather strange.
  Rain of Death
  Tactical Battle: Produce two consecutive Ranged 3 Attacks.
  Zen said :
  Quote:
  Quote:
  Sejmitar wrote:
  Can I use tacticians in battlefield A ro 'rain a death' on units in battle B ?
  Yes.
  [ link : http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13865 ]
  Marty said :
  Quote:
  You can perform the Tactical Action with a Tactician at any location.
  You must, however, still target the Ranged Attack from the Formation against cards in the Current Battle, opposing cards you control.
  Oh, and Tsuruchi Technique fails the Rule of Relevance if it targets anything outside of the Current Battle.
  [ link : http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13875 ]
  Which answer is cosidered final ? Marty was last.
  Additionaly, Marty said :
  Quote:
  You must, however, still target the Ranged Attack from the Formation against cards in the Current Battle, opposing cards you control.
  WHY my ranged attack should be targeting a card opposing to a card I control but different that source of attack at battle ? Here are some rules :
  Making Ranged Attacks (DE Rulebook, p. 90, no erratas on Rulesheets, no rulings relevant in Archieve)
  Some cards have ability to make range attacks. A ranged attack must target a single card opposing the card or cards making the ranged attack: either a Follower or a Personality with no Followers.
  Glossary : opposing (DE Rulebook, p. 102, no erratas on Rulesheets, no rulings relevant in Archieve)
  For a card or unit: In the opposite army from the card or unit.
  There are no sentence 'when you are making ranged attack, it should be tageted at a card opposing your cards". the only thing that should be opposed to a target is the card that MAKE a ranged attack.
  "Hey, but your Tactician is performing this action" - yes, he is performing action. But from th beginning of Diamond edition Jeff said one, two, LOTS of times that performing and making an action is not the same. Check for Castle of the Wasp rulings, for example.
  Then we are back at beginning - card that MAKES this attack is a formation. Only card that has be opposed by targets is card that MAKES attack. Then formation HAS to target opposing card(s). Then :
  - this formation is a dude and cannot shoot at all - because formation cannot be opposed and as such cannot find any opposing cards;
  - or this formation IS opposed, and this means that all actions targeting opposing cards can target a formation;
  - or there is third way, which allows formation to shoot while unable to target opposed cards.
  In second case Marty is right, but provides wrong backup for his words. Not to mean how nice the setting will be when formations (and battle terrains, why not) should be considered to be opposable.
  In third case there is no force than a separate ruling 'out of air' that can explain why RoD can not shoot to different battles.
  Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you in advance for answer.
  A: You know, I just discovered that my Web-based email account actually has search functionality? Booyah.
  Anyway, here is what Jeff (the Lead Designer) said about the card and how to play it back in November. Some of that may need to go in the Accumulated Rulings. Martin Lund, "Rain(s) of Death - after riposte", 12 Mar 2005
• Q: Marty/Jeff,
  Can you clarify the rules on ranged attacks, please? If a personality
  performs an action on an action card that creates a ranged attack,
  does
  the ranged attack count as coming from the personality or the action
  card?
  Effects come from the card with the action. What "performs" the
  action is irrelevant.
  If it comes from the action card, the question becomes, do Formations
  count as attacking cards, if you're attacking?
  No. Only cards in the attacking army are "attacking cards".
  If they don't, how does
  Rain of Death get around the fact that Ranged attacks can only target
  opposing cards?
  The same way Tsuruchi Technique does, and Arrows From the Woods before
  that.
  A reference to "an opposing card" means "a card opposing this card"
  when it is used on a card that can be in [an army]. It instead means
  "a card opposing a card you control" when used on something else.
  If they do, can a Tactician who's not in the battle
  perform the action on Rain of Death?
  Yes.
  Can I combine the Ranged Attacks on Rain of Death with....
  No. You cannot combine them, period, because they come from the
  Formation, and the Formation is not in a unit. Only ranged attacks
  from multiple cards in one unit may be combined.
  A: I think it has been long-established that Rain of Death is very badly phrased card that needs a lot of clarification / explanation (as well as Duct Tape and Bubblegum) to hold it together. I've been pulling for an MRP myself. Martin Lund, "Rain(s) of Death - after riposte", 12 Mar 2005
• Q: Opponent: 2 Larukos, one of them bowed
  Me: 2 tacticians, Rain of death. Target the unbowed laruko first and then the bowed one with the bow and destroy action on rain of death. Opponent: Plays balance in nothingness. Does the unbowed Laruko still die?
  A: The only one dying is your Tactician Personality. The whole action is canceled by Balance in Nothingness after Rain of Death targets. You must now pay the cost and destroying your Tactician Personality (Archive, General rules, Canceling). Zen Faulkes, "Balance in Nothingness and Rain of Death", 12 Mar 2005
• Q: Due to the recent threads about Rain of Death and how its actions are used,I have come to the conclusion that,while formations enter play,they NEVER belong to an army.Furthermore,another ruling a while back(on the ccg-list I think)(again about rain of death)said that if you play a formation,somehow suspend the current battle(eg Summon Air Kami),and began resolving another one, if you still met the "formed by " requirements, then the formation was still in play and its actions usable in the new battlefield,therefore showing that formations played during a battle at a battlefield are not specific to that battlefield.
  My question is:Can a formation in play be targeted by "Death of Ryoshun",thus making the use of its actions unplayable?
  I believe that targetting a formation with "Death of Ryoshun"would not satisfy the rule of relevance.,since nothing would be targeted or affected in the current battle.However,I have seen many players do this very thing(usually shutting off "invincible legions"),most recently during the mouzaka championship,and I don't know which ir right.Could someone enlighten me?
  A: Death of Ryoshun does not target.
  The bizzare "Summon Air Kami" example Zen answered doesn't alter the location of the Formation card played. It is still at the suspended battle. However, that does not mean its effects stop working just because another battle is resolving.
  Naming a Formation that is in play at the Current Battlefield, however, affects that card by making its abilities unplayable, so it is Relevant. Naming a Formation in play at a battle suspended by Summon Air Kami rather than the Current Battle, however, is not. Martin Lund, "Formations and Death of Ryoshun", 8 Mar 2005
• Q: I still don't understand why cards in the Lion's army are not legal targets for redirection of the ranged attack.
  A: Because you can only aim Ranged Attacks at the enemy army. We had Arrows from the Woods for about nine years and nobody ever questioned that before. Expect a new ruling in the Archive soon, something like "Action cards generating Ranged Attacks can only target cards in the enemy army."
  This loophole is now plugged. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death and Tangen Sensei", 7 Mar 2005
• Q: Can I perform RoD first battle action (two ranged attacks) with tactician in different battlefield ?
  A: Archive, Rain of Death: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death and tactician at different battlefield", 5 Mar 2005
• Q: Can I bow and destroy another player’s Tactician to perform Rain of Death’s second action.
  A: Archive, General rules, Costs. Zen Faulkes, "Re: Two more rain of death questions", 5 Mar 2005
• Q: I still don't understand why cards in the Lion's army are not legal targets for redirection of the ranged attack.
  A: Because you can only aim Ranged Attacks at the enemy army. We had Arrows from the Woods for about nine years and nobody ever questioned that before. Expect a new ruling in the Archive soon, something like "Action cards generating Ranged Attacks can only target cards in the enemy army."
  This loophole is now plugged. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death and Tangen Sensei", 4 Mar 2005
• Q: Marty ruled that Tsuruchi Technique couldn't modify Rain of Death of tactical action becuase the formation is what is producing the ranged attack.Pg 92 of the Diamond rulebook says that, "Such Personalities have the Tactician trait, and are the only Personalities allowed to perform Tacticial actions." Second Tacticial Battle on Rain of Death confirm that it the Tactician performing the action when is says "Bow and destroy the performing Tactician" So wouldn't the personality performing the action mean that the unit was making the range attack. Wouldn't that allow it to be modfied by the Tsuruchi Technique.
  A: No. Marty's ruling stands. Zen Faulkes, "Re Rain of Death", 3 Mar 2005
• Q: It's already been established that if a tactical action is being performed, a tactician is performing it. Since the personality is performing the ranged attack, it is NOT a floating ranged attack, like Tsuruchi technique. Or is my logic somewhat flawed here?
  A: To repeat: what card performs the attack does not matter. The source of the attack is the Formation. The Formation is not in an army. Therefore, it cannot be opposing any other card, and get around the usual Ranged Attack requirements in the same way that Arrows From the Woods and Tsuruchi Technique does. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death: Clarification", 9 Feb 2005
• Q: I believe the question now is does Rain of Blood Suspend the normal restriction on ranged attack listed on pg. 90?
  A: Effects come from the card with the action. What "performs" the action is irrelevant. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death: Clarification", 9 Feb 2005
• Q: [H]ow is it again that a tactician not at the battle can perform a ranged attack, much less 2?
  A: What rule would prevent it? There's no rule that Tactyicians can only perform Tactical actions in a battle. No rule that performing an action during a battle has to be performed by a card in the battle. And so on. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death: Clarification", 9 Feb 2005
• Q: Even if it is ruled that there is no "cost" in this, it is indisputable that tactical personalities perform tactical actions. There is no other legal way to play a tactical action, except that a Tactician perform it.
  A: They certainly perform Tactical actions. However, Tactical does not add any cost to an Action. It simply puts a requirement that the Action be Performed by an elligible Tactician. Performing such an Action does not of itself implicitly require you to be in a particular location. Only explicit mention in the ability's text can make such a requirement, and the keyword "Tactical" does not count as such. Martin Lund, "Rain of Death: Clarification", 9 Feb 2005
• Q: Does this mean that the Formation opposes the "Enemy Leader's" army to perform the RA?
  A: No. Action cards never enter play (Rules Archive, General Rules, Entering play, so they can't oppose anything. Zen Faulkes, "Rain of Death: Clarification", 9 Feb 2005
• Q: Jeff,
  Just to be clear, can you confirm for everyone that
  Rain of Death does not target the Performing
  Tactician, as the entry in the Web of Lies Rulesheet.
  I don't think Marc was CC'd on the follow-up
  discussion to the original question.
  Per the rulesheet, its cost does not target at the current time.
  However, it does still require making a choice who is going to bow
  during the targeting step to work appropriately.
  A: So, at least until we see another Rules Change, Clarification, or Errata, neither ability targets the Performing Tactician, though you still have to choose one during the Targeting Step for the second Action, since it mentions "opposing" in relation to the victim targets which you have to choose at that point. Martin Lund, "Daily rules", 7 Feb 2005
• Q: Ahh i always thought since rain of death said printed it didnt work but then i read the sensai again
  A: No, it doesn't work. Rain of Death does require printed, and the Sensei does not fit that requirement. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 11 Feb 2024
• Q: Rain of death we are playing OBH so it would be 20f rules
  A: Ah, easy then. Ranged Attacks can only be combined if they're from cards in units. RoD's RA is from itself. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 10 Oct 2023