Ring of Fire

Legend of the Five Rings card from Emperor Edition, Pre-Imperial Edition, Imperial Edition, Emerald Edition, Battle of Beiden Pass, Obsidian Edition, Celestial Edition, Jade Edition, Diamond Edition, Gold Edition, Lotus Edition, Pearl Edition, Samurai Edition, Promotional–Samurai, Training Grounds 2, Promotional–Diamond, Ivory Edition, Promotional–Emperor, Twenty Festivals, Onyx Edition, Shattered Empire, Crimson and Jade, Three Dynasties, Fire & Shadow, Soul of the Empire, Drums of War, Glory of the Empire, Promotional–Ivory, Promotional–Twenty Festivals

Card Type

Ring

Keywords

Unique, Fire

Card Text

Play after you win a duel during a battle, if your Personality did not enter the duel with higher Chi than the other. You may discard this Ring from your hand to use its ability without cost.
Fire Battle, w: Target an enemy card without attachments. After this battle resolves, if you lost the battle, destroy the target.

Focus Value

4

Legality

A Brother's Destiny (Ivory Edition), A Brother's Destiny (Twenty Festivals), Age of Conquest (Emperor), Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Clan Wars (Imperial), Destroyer War (Celestial), Four Winds (Gold), Hidden Emperor (Jade), Race for the Throne (Samurai), Rain of Blood (Diamond), Shattered Empire, Three Dynasties, War of the Seals (Onyx Edition)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Ring of Fire 0G 4FV You may play this card as a Reaction after you destroy at least 3 Personalities you do not control in one turn with battles, duels, and/or actions. Elemental Battle: Bow this card or discard it from your hand, and target and destroy a Personality you control: Target a Personality opposing yours with lower Gold cost and lower Chi. Destroy him." [MRP, Rise of the Shogun, September 2006] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 61
• You always compare the pre-challenge Chis of the two Personalities who are in the duel at its resolution. Which Personalities originally issued and received the challenge are irrelevant. [DW, l5rinfo, 11/19/96] Accumulated Rulings, February 8, 2000, p. 50
• Clarified: your Personality must win the duel. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 10
• Erratum: Changed: you must have had a lower Chi immediately prior to the challenge, not at the beginning of the duel. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 10
• Clarified: you may play the Ring as either the challenger or the one challenged. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 10
• Erratum: Clarified: your Personality must win the duel. Changed: you must have had a lower Chi immediately prior to the challenge, not at the beginning of the duel. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, Version 3.4 & errata, June 1997, p. 25
• Q: The Ring of Fire says I can only play it if I win a duel against an opponent who had a higher Chi before being challenged. Does that mean I can't play the ring unless my Personality is the challenger? A: No. You can play the Ring of Fire no matter who issued the challenge. Legend of the Five Rings FAQ, Version 3.4 & errata, June 1997, p. 9
• Erratum: Reads, "Ring of Fire 4FV Fire • Unique. Focus Effect: You may give this card –2 Focus Value. If you do, after the duel ends, put this card into play if you won this duel during a battle. Battle: Bow this card or discard it from your hand, and destroy your target Personality: Destroy a target enemy Personality with lower Chi." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009] Comprehensive Rules, Celestial Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, February 2012, p. 151
• Erratum: Reads, "Ring of Fire 4FV Fire. Focus Effect: You may give this card –2 Focus Value. If you do, and you win this duel, put this card into play. Battle: Bow this card or discard it from your hand, and destroy one of your target Personalities: Destroy a target Personality opposing him with lower Chi." [MRP, Samurai Edition, 25 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 152

Rules Q&A

• Q: 4. Ring of Fire and Blade of Truth: Does Ring of Fire alter the Focus value of your cards while they are in your hand? or is it an only-when-focused bonus? I ask because of this ruling: "Anything that restricts your focusing choices in a duel based on Focus values (e.g., Blade of Truths) does so based on the cards' values before they're focused. [JA, 3 April 2002]"
  A: "Anything that restricts your focusing choices in a duel based on Focus values (e.g., Blade of Truths) does so based on the cards' values before they're focused. [JA, 3 April 2002]" (Accumulated Rulings, "Duels") Martin Lund, "Rules for 21 January 2005", 24 Jan 2005
• Q: 2. I win another duel with Kakita. I draw cards equal to the number I focused, including the Ring of Fire. May I play it?
  A: No. Again, Kakita happens when the duel is concluded, which is different that after you win a duel. Martin Lund, "Rules for 20 November 2004", 23 Nov 2004
• Q: 3. I win another duel with Kakita. I play the Ring of Fire in reaction to winning the duel. May I bow it in reaction to the duel ending?
  A: Yes. You play it after winning, then you use the ability after the duel itself ends (which comes later). Martin Lund, "Rules for 20 November 2004", 23 Nov 2004
• Q: Say you have Ring of Fire in play. what if the only card you focused in a duel was discarded by Smoke and Mirrors can you still draw a card from Ring of Fire?
  A: You still focused the card, even if it was later discarded. That card counts towards the number you can draw with Ring of Fire. Martin Lund, "Rules for 29 September 2004", 4 Oct 2004
• Q: 1. I have Hitomi Mae and Ring of Fire in play. Mae starts a duel with personality with weapon. Can I use her reaction to destroy opponents weapon, and then use her second reaction to gain first opportunity to focus or strike (opponent has more Chi)?
  A: You can use both Separate Reactions in turn. Just remember that the opportunity passes left after your first attempt, so everyone else gets a crack at Reactions the same trigger before you get your second Reaction in there. Martin Lund, "Rules for 13 May 2004", 16 May 2004
• Q: If you win both duels created by a Wanton Destruction, does that qualify you to play the Ring of Fire, or do the Duels have to come from different cards, or with the other player having a chance to play an action in between?
  A: You just need to win at least two duels. Wanton Destruction creates two duels. Win both, play the Ring. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 24 Feb. 2004", 26 Feb 2004
• Q: The trait on Ring of Fire provides its bonus only to the cards named FOCUS and not to all cards focused in a duel, right?
  A: Wrong. All cards in duel. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 24 November 2003, Part 2", 25 Nov 2003
• Q: If the Crane Champion is in play and the player has brought all winds in except the Black Heart what happens if that player puts Ring of Fire into play using the Voice ablity and then the Champion gets destroyed?
  A: Diamond Edition rulebook, pg. 70: nothing. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 22 November 2003", 23 Nov 2003
• Q: Say [Hitomi Mae] has 5 chi with the help of an item and her opponent has 4chi + 2chi from a weapon. I have the Ring of Fire in play. Can I destroy the weapon, and still have the first opportunity to focus or strike since the opposing personality had higher chi when Mae entered the duel?
  A: Yes. Just announce them in the right order. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 5 November 2003, Part 2", 6 Nov 2003
• Q: If I play the Ring of Fire after winning my second duel in my turn, can I then bow the Ring of Fire for it's effect[?]
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 2 November 2003", 2 Nov 2003
• Q: If I use Come one at Time's battle action and win two such challenges can I then play Ring of Fire?
  A: Left for Jeff Alexander. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 12 October 2003, Part 2", 13 Oct 2003
• Q: I've been tooling around with a Crab duelling deck, and I tried something I'm not sure of.
  Ring of Fire reads: Play this card when one of your Personalities wins a duel against a Personality who had higher Chi than your Personality before the challenge. Elemental Benefit: The controller of any Personality dueling any of your Personalities must play Focus cards face up.
  Let's say I've got a 4F/2C personality in play (Crab loyalists should be able to guess who) who I target with Test of Might to challenge an 0F/4C personality to a duel of force. When I win this duel, am I elegible to play Ring of Fire? Or does Ring of Fire only apply to duels of chi?
  A: The Ring of Fire requires that you win a duel. A Test of Might is a duel. If you win a Test of Might against a Personality who had a higher Chi than your Personality before the challenge, you may play the Ring. Jeff Alexander, "post for 20 May 2003", 21 May 2003
• Q: I have a question concerning Kyuden Doji. Can you use it's ability to easily play Ring of Fire ?
  For exampel, You issue a challenge with a low chi guy, then replace him and win the duel. I couldn't find anything in the archives.
  A: That's 'cuz it's not there yet. ;)
  The answer is no. Ring of Fire is playable when one of your personalities wins a duel against a personality who had a higher Chi before the duel. Despite the fact that your representative in the duel has changed, his Chi as measured against the Chi of his opponent probably hasn't. Vaughn Derderian, "Rulings for January 5th", 6 Jan 2003
• Q: I'd like to confirm something about timing regarding this card:
  Nemesis: Target one of your Personalities without a nemesis and another player's Personality. The other Personality is your Personality's nemesis until the other Personality leaves play. While your Personality faces the nemesis in battle or a duel, your Personality gains +2F/+3C. [MRP, Gold Edition, 1 July 2001]
  I assume that "while in a battle or duel" means that, for instance, a a 2C personality challenging a 3C personality who is their Nemesis would satisify the conditions for, for instance, playing the Ring of Fire, since their chi is lower *before* the challenge?
  A: Correct...usually. The bonus from Nemesis doesn't begin until your Personality enters the duel, which happens distinctly after the challenge...which, itself, happens distinctly after the time "before the challenge", which is when the Ring of Fire says to compare Chi.
  The reason I say "usually" is that you might already be getting the +3C bonus from opposing your nemesis in a battle. Jeff Alexander, "post for 29 August 2002", 30 Aug 2002
• Q: I have a question about the Ring of Fire and Ryokan's Sword and how they interact if a Personality with the Sword is dueling a Personality controlled by a player with the Ring in play..
  Ring of Fire: The contoller of any Personality dueling any of your Personalities must play Focus cards face up.
  Ryokan's Sword: When this Personality focuses, you may play your Fate deck's top card as the Focus card. Do not look at the card until someone strikes....
  Which takes precedence? The Ring which makes your opponent play Focus cards face up? Or the Sword which specifically states that you don't look at it (presumably meaning face down)? I'm inclined to say that the Ring wins out, since the Sword seems to just mean that even the player focusing the cards should have no idea what they are. Clarification for one of my players, however, is desired. Thanks!
  A: They'd be focused face-up due to the Ring. The Sword's player would then see them. Jeff Alexander, "post for 15 April 2002", 16 Apr 2002
• Q: Also, Ring of Fire: I couldn't find this in the rulings or the AoF book, so please enlighten (oh the pun is bad, but it's not even 9am):
  - Ring of Fire
  Can one win a "duel" of *any stat* against someone of higher *Chi*?
  A: And then play the Ring afterwards, I assume? Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 20 March 2002", 21 Mar 2002
• Q: 3 - Domotai + Test of Might + focus, when I have Ring of Fire in play (I see the focus value)
  A: Yes. The focus bonus is public knowledge here. Jeff Alexander, "post for 21 February 2002", 22 Feb 2002
• Q: This situation happened a couple of years ago, and has bothered me every time I happen to think of it. I have a Togashi Mitsu in play, who is dishonored, with no fire tokens. I play Iaijitsu Art on a personality with 3 chi, then play A Moment of Clarity and put five 1/1 fire tokens on Mitsu. Obviously, I won the duel. My Mitsu was re-honored, but when I attepted to play the Ring of Fire, I was told that the Moment of Clarity occured before the duel, and that I had more Chi than the other personality going in and had not fulfilled the rings requirements. Was their interpretation correct, or should I have been able to play the Ring?
  A: The way the Ring of Fire is worded now, it's the Chi you had before you made the challenge that matters. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for early March, 2001", 14 Mar 2001
• Q: for effects such as if you lose a battle like Ring of Fire, since kumorus ambush does not kill anyone during resolution if one person has more force than the other is it still considered a win/loss? would attachments be destroyed?
  A: Yes, there is still a winner and loser, and battle resolution will still destroy attachments. Jon Palmer, "Kumoru's ambush", 30 May 2015
• Q: Does effect of Ring of Fire's ability (card dectruction) satisfy Ring of Water's requiremend of destroying cards during resolution?
  Quotes (only relevant text, as per Oracle)
  Ring of Fire Battle: Target an enemy card without attachments. After this battle resolves, if you lost the battle, destroy the target.
  Ring of Water Play after a battle resolves in which you played a Terrain, destroyed a Terrain, and destroyed any cards or provinces during resolution.
  A: No, it does not. "After this battle resolves" is not "during resolution". Jon Palmer, "Ring of Fire & Ring of Water", 1 May 2015
• Q: If the Ring of fire is used to target a shugenja without attachments, and there is a ward of air sitting on another air shugenja in play, if I win the battle does the ward of air protect against the fire destruction?
  If so, is the ward of air discarded when the ring is targets to negate the destruction, or would it wait until the resolution of battle to determine if the ring's trigger goes off?
  A: The trigger for Ward of Air's effect is the actual destruction of the Personality. So when Ring of Fire's delayed effect gets around to destroying him, he may be protected by Ward of Air. You don't have to make the decision until the destruction occurs. Jon Palmer, "Ring of Fire and Ward of Air", 13 Mar 2015
• Q: Maybe this is a silly question, but it is unclear to me whether I need to fulfill the normal requirements to use the ability of a ring by discarding it from hand. For example, for using a Ring of Fire directly from hand, should I have won a duel during a battle, with a Personality that did not enter the duel with higher Chi than the other?
  A: You can use the ability of a Ring by discarding it from your hand without fulfilling the "Play" requirements. Those are only for if you want to put the Ring INTO play, thereby being able to use its ability each turn by bowing it. Brook Cunningham, "Discarding a true ring", 25 Aug 2014
• Q: I've been doing this thing in which I start with the Ring of Fire as Dragon, and equip a Storm-Forged Blade to a personality. I then attack a province with that personality, bow the Ring of Fire targeting an enemy card, then send the personality home with the blades ability. Now, my opponent technically wins the battle, so the thing I targeted is destroyed. I keep doing this every turn to pretty much just remove a card every turn. So I just want to make sure this is how that works. From what I know, that is how it would work, but it feels like it shouldn't be allowed.
  A: As long as the opponent's army has at least 1F (because a 0F army versus an empty army is NOT a win; it has no outcome, win, loss, or tie), then yes, that does work.
  Now, that said, your opponent should have plenty of options to counter this tactic of yours. He/she's getting two actions before you escape; first as the Defender, then the action between your taking the Ring of Fire action and the Storm-Forged Blade one. Also, if you're not attaching the blade to a Personality who could threaten to take the Province, he/she could also choose to not bother assigning any defenders. Brook Cunningham, "Ring of Fire and other Questions.", 25 May 2014
• Q: I also had a question about In Stillness, Forge the Soul. This card lets me look at the top five cards of my Fate deck and equip a weapon to a targeted Personality, but if I target a Kensai and don't equip a weapon, the strategy goes back into my hand. Does this mean I can just repeatedly do this every turn to rearrange the top five cards of my deck and just choose to put the strategy back in my hand? Again, it reads like I can do exactly that, but it just feels too strong to just constantly do it.
  A: Yes, you're reading it correctly. And it's not really that strong; I mean, every turn after the first, you're only seeing ~1 new card out of the five you look at. And you're sacrificing having that card constantly in hand, which can't help you whatsoever in battle, for the sake of that peek, whereas your opponent's entire hand could well be useful battle actions, giving him or her the mathematical edge in that regard. Brook Cunningham, "Ring of Fire and other Questions.", 25 May 2014
• Q: Lastly, can I use the ability on a weapon if the Personality it's attached to is bowed? I assume I can but there were some people at my store the other day debating whether or not you could.
  A: As long as taking the action or resolving some of the effects aren't dependent the Personality being unbowed (like Egg of P'an Ku Experiened) or on bowing him, yes you can; no Rule prohibits you using a bowed Personality's attachments that are themselves unbowed. Brook Cunningham, "Ring of Fire and other Questions.", 25 May 2014
• Q: Thanks.
  A: You're very welcome. Brook Cunningham, "Ring of Fire and other Questions.", 25 May 2014
• Q: Say I played a Terrain and destroyed a Terrain and I activate Ring of Fire in a battle. Resolution segment begins and I lose the battle triggering the destruction of a card because of Ring of Fire. Would I then be able to play Ring of Water?
  As far as I can tell Ring of Water only cares about if a card was during Resolution Segment which I think is a different timing than "after a battle resolves".
  A: Ring of Fire does not destroy a card "during resolution", so no, it will not allow you to play Ring of Water in the manner described. Jon Palmer, "Ring of Water & Ring of Fire", 2 Apr 2014
• Q: Hello Regarding this issue http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=102482
  I see in the comprehensive rules here http://rules.l5r.com/EE_Areas_of_the_game#Resolution_areas_.28out_of_play.3B_temporary.29 Its stated that If the card discards itself from your hand as a cost of its ability, this discard is done from the resolution area.
  1.) But since iron will States that costs are ignored, and discarding Ring of Fire is still a cost written on the card itself (not rulebook), then shouldn't it return to the hand? 2.) It shouldn't be discarded from the resolution area after the action ends because by then the effects of Iron will would have already returned it to the hand? 3.) Unlike Strategy cards, ring of fire does have the cost of discarding itself not as rulebook effect right?
  Thanks.
  A: Iron Will means you do not need to pay the cost, so the Ring of Fire stays in the resolution area; it then gets discarded when the action ends.
  Technically, there is no need to discard these the Ring of Fire (and similar cards) as a cost, as they will get discarded from the resolution area anyway. We have considered issuing errata for these cards along the lines of, "Even if this card is in hand, or bow it if it is in play, choose performers and targets: Do stuff" - but decided that the text you've quoted should be sufficient. Alex Jones, "Ring of Fire vs Iron Will", 21 Mar 2013
• Q: I fail to see how the change to the comprehensive rules affects this interaction as was ruled here. The comprehensive change reads:
  When using the Ring of Fire it is NOT entering play and hence should remain unaffected by this ruling change.
  A: Longer version: We have changed how all actions are taken using an ability on a card not in play. The card enters a resolution area as part of Announce the action, and is discarded from there when the action ends if it does not enter play. Alex Jones, "Follow-up Ring of Fire vs Iron Will", 20 Mar 2013
• Q: Recently I played a game and my opponent played Ring of Fire and I tried to counter with Iron Will. My question is can you use iron will to actually negate the ring of fire? Iron Will says negate the action's cost and effects but does that mean the Ring of Fire is not discarded as its cost or does it mean the personality the opponent used is not killed and the ring goes into the discard pile? If the ROF isn't discarded does that mean it's ability cannot be used again since it's a battle action and almost every battle action can only be used once per phase? Hopefully there is an answer since it's one of those things where the text can be ambigious.
  A: Iron Will will negate the destruction from Ring of Fire. If Ring of Fire is in play it will remain used for the turn; if it was being discarded, it will go back to its player's hand and since it has gone facedown and out of play, can be used again.
  The only time you'd generally want to use Iron Will against Ring of Fire is if you're going to follow it up with an Effortless Counterattack when they play Ring of Fire again (or if you're bluffing such). Jon Palmer, "Ring of Fire vs Iron Will", 27 Dec 2012
• Q: Are the ring of flame and ring of fire considered different cards? Can I include them both in the same deck?
  A: Yes, they are different cards, by virtue of them having different titles and neither the "Soul of" keyword, nor the "Experienced [Alternate title]" keyword which would make them equivalent for deck construction or being in play at the same time, respectively.
  So, the follow-up answer is also "yes". But I should add at this point that this only applies to War of Honor and Legacy Formats, as Ring of Flame is not one of the EE-legal cards in War of Honor (noting its lack of EE legality bug). Brook Cunningham, "War of Honor Ring of flame and Ring of Fire", 25 Jun 2012
• Q: If I am able to play both the Ring of Fire and the Ring of Earth, but only have Earth in my hand and a Yung in play: Can I use Yungs reaction to playing the Ring of Earth, get the Ring of Fire, and then play Ring of Fire to the same battle resolution?
  A: Yes, you will fully resolve Yung's ability to go and get the Ring of Fire, and the reaction window to the end of the resolution of the battle will still be open, so you may play the Ring of Fire. Jon Palmer, "Yung and timing for rings", 4 Jun 2012
• Q: In post viewtopic.php?f=59&t=97616 a ruling was made that Ryoshun's Guidance could redirect the Ring of Fire to a personality that doesn't meet its constraints block (at least as far as I can tell). Can your provide more clarification on the sequence of how the two cards play out?
  A: 1. You have two Personalities at a battle with 3 and 4 Chi (thanks to the +1C from Ryoshun's Guidance, which is what I believe you missed).
  2. Enemy leader announces Ring of Fire, chooses a 3C performer and targets your 3C guy.
  3. You React with RG's ability. First comes the cost of discarding it. NOW, your two guys only have 2C and 3C respectively.
  4. In resolving its effects, you choose the (now) 3C guy. Ryoshun's last effect changes the targeting to him, if legal, which it now is, thanks to him having lost his Chi bonus. Brook Cunningham, "Ryoshun's Guidance Vs Ring of Fire", 26 Apr 2012
• Q: Player A controls Ryoshun's Guidance in an army with two personalities with chi 3 and 4 (would be 2 and 3 without the guidance). Player B has a chi 3 personality and announces Ring of Fire, targeting the personality with equal chi, since the other wouldn't be a legal target for him. Player A reacts with Ryoshun's Guidance to change the target to the other personality, would that be a legal play since the legality of the target is checked after discarding Ryoshun's Guidance?
  A: It's legal, and it works. Alex Jones, "Ryoshun's Guidance Vs Ring of Fire", 25 Apr 2012
• Q: I have a question about the timing of Introspection and putting either the Ring of Fire or Earth into play. If I win a battle at a province and satisfy the conditions for both Rings, would I be able to play one, Introspect for the other and then play it? Or would the 'window' have closed by that point?
  A: Yes, as Introspection is a reaction to the Ring entering play, there will still be opportunities for both players to respond to the destruction of the province. Jon Palmer, "Introspection timing", 9 Feb 2012
• Q: Does this mean that, if a battle has two armies and is a tie, any of the players that had units at resolution would qualify for playing Ring of Fire by its own text? Card text suggest it is so, but the play seems weird enough so I'd want a confirmation.
  A: Only the Attacker or Defender may play the Ring of Fire. In a tied battle, either or both may do so.
  See Battles, Resolution Segment: If the Attacker wins: i. The Attacker simultaneously destroys all cards in the defending army. ii. If the attacking army's total Force when the outcome was determined was greater than the defending army’s total Force plus the Province Strength of the current battlefield’s province, the Attacker destroys the province.
  If the Defender wins: i. The Defender simultaneously destroys all cards in the attacking army.
  If the armies tie: ii. The Attacker and Defender simultaneously destroy all cards in their respective enemy leader's army. Alex Jones, "Ring of Fire and a tied battle", 6 Feb 2012
• Q: Player A uses Ring of Fire from his hand, choosing a low-PH, high-Chi personality as the performer and targets player B's high-PH, low-Chi paragon. Player B reacts with Iron Will. Does the Ring of Fire stay in player A's hand, being usable immediately for the additional action granted by Iron Will (since it is face-down and out-of-play)?
  Ring of Fire
  Battle: Bow this card or discard it from your hand, destroy your performing Personality, and target an enemy Personality with equal or lower Chi: Destroy him.
  Iron Will
  Reaction: After another player targets your Paragon with a Battle action performed by a Personality with lower Personal Honor: The action's costs are ignored and its effects are negated. That player may take an additional Battle action.
  A: The ability on Ring of Fire may immediately be declared again.
  According to Areas of the game, Using non-Strategy abilities from the hand: If, when the action ends, the card is still in the hand, it turns face down again. Alex Jones, "Iron Will vs Ring of Fire", 23 Jan 2012
• Q: Player A has The Badgers Live Out. Player B is attacking and player A has an non-shadowlands human personality at the battlefield defending. Player A uses the Ring of Fire to try and destroy player B's attacking personality, using the non-shadowlands human personality. Assuming player A's personality had high enough chi to fulfill the chi requirement to use the ring of fires effects, could player A use the ring of fire while the The Badgers Live was in effect?
  A: I'm going to go to the second question, because it also deals with this one. Zen Faulkes, "Negating Costs", 23 Dec 2011
• Q: Referring to this thread. http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=88877
  I've accepted the difference between focussing a card and playing a card. I am assuming, based on my reading of Lack of Vigilance, however, that you are disallowed from bringing Ring of Fire into play through it's own text, if I have named Ring of Fire when my Lack of Vigilance turns up in my province. I understand that focussing a card is different from playing a card, but I just want to confirm that there isn't some wierdness of the rules that makes Ring of Fire able to enter play through a Focus Effect. Thank you for your time.
  A: Nope, no weirdness. Ring of Fire, if named for Lack of Vigilance, will not enter play by its Focus Effect.
  "Will not enter play" is an ongoing prevention effect. For its duration, if Ring of Fire is named and then focussed and reduced as per its Focus Effect, it will try to enter play, but Lack of Vigilance's effect will cause the effect of it entering play to fail. Brook Cunningham, "Lack of Vigilance clarification", 11 Feb 2011
• Q: Focus Effect: You may give this card -2 focus value. If you do, after the duel ends, put this card into play if you won this duel during a battle
  This seems straight forward but I wanted to verify: can I bring this into play during my limited phase?
  [Mod edit: Formatting. -ZF]
  A: Not through its own text, no. You must be in a duel in a battle for this card to be played. Dan Jacobson, "Ring of Fire entering play", 18 Apr 2010
• Q: Hamstrung: Focus Effect: Lower this card's Focus Value by an amount from 0 to 4: Gain Honor equal to the amount it was lowered by.
  Ring of Fire: Focus Effect: You may give this card -2 Focus Value. If you do, after the duel ends, put this card into play if you won the duel during a battle.
  Changing Paths: Battle/Open: Target your unbowed Shugenja or Monk: Name a Ring. The next time this turn you would trigger its base trait that would put it into play from your hand, search your discard pile, then Fate deck, for that Ring. Show it. Put it into your hand. (You then have a chance to play it by its own text.)
  Q: If you decreased the focus value, on Hamstrung, by 2, would that allow you to use Changing Paths to search and play the Ring of Fire?
  [mod edit - thread title - LH]
  A: The Ring of Fire's requirement (for the purposes of Changing Paths) is that you focus the Ring of Fire.
  Focusing a card with a similar focus effect will not work for Changing Paths. Dan Jacobson, "Ring of Fire and Hamstrung's Focus Effects", 30 Jun 2009
• Q: Is it impossible to grab Ring of Fire with Changing Paths?
  A: This is also more of a strategy question, but as far as I can tell, it is indeed not possible.
  Mod Nudge:Please post such similar questions in the CCG main forum, as opposed to the Rules Forum. Dan Jacobson, "Changing Paths with Ring of Fire", 21 Apr 2009
• Q: Does the ruling here http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=65977 change the ruling here http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=60166
  Just wanted to make sure I understand.
  [Mod edit: Thread title. -ZF]
  A: It has no impact whatsoever. The changes there have to do with Step J - ending the duel and then cleaning up Focused Cards and Focus Pools. Focus Effects have already triggered before that (Step F). Reactions and Effects triggered by winning a duel as well have already resolved as well (Step I). Martin Lund, "Ring of Fire and Triumph of Courage", 7 Mar 2008
• Q: Regarding: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=62980&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
  Why would Monk A have to bow?
  Elements Path says: Kiho Open: Target one of your Monks and one of your non-Void Rings: Permanently copy an ability from the Ring to the Monk. The Monk permanently need not bow to pay costs of the copied action. (emphasis mine)
  A: Oops. Fixing. Thanks for the catch. Zen Faulkes, "re: The Elements' Path & Ring of Fire", 30 Oct 2007
• Q: Situation: Monk A and Monk B are at a battlefield. Monk A has the ability on "Ring of Fire" copied to it From "The Element's Path". Can I use the ability on Monk A to target and destroy Monk B to pay the cost of the ability?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "The Elements' Path & Ring of Fire", 29 Oct 2007
• Q: If I bow Ring of Fire to destroy a personality, then destroy an opposing personality. Am I correct in understanding that Adeiko's reaction has to wait until the entire action of ring of fire resolves before her reaction will trigger right?
  A: Yes. http://rules.l5r.com/Rulings_S#Shosuro_Adeiko Zen Faulkes, "Adeiko Again.", 11 Oct 2007
• Q: So...something that will never happen (except maybe at this crazy Enlightenment tournament I'm attending in November, but occurred to me anyway: Both my opponent and I have the Rings of Earth, Water, Void, and Air in play. First, I issue a challenge during battle with one of my Phoenix Clan personalities. My opponent focuses the Ring of Fire, I strike and lose. Now, I have resolved an action which destroyed my third Phoenix during battle, so I play the Ring of the Phoenix, yet he's won the duel so he can put the Ring of Fire into play. Has the game become an Enlightenment draw? Or is it one of those "active player decides" things?
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Challenges_and_duels: A duel is won before a Personality is destroyed. Ring of Fire goes first. Zen Faulkes, "Ring of Fire vs. Ring of the Phoenix", 5 Sep 2007
• Q: We just got a Phoenix player for SE and he asked if Ring of the Phoenix could replace Ring of Fire for Enlightenment?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Ring of Phoenix", 20 Aug 2007
• Q: Triumph of Courage Focus Effect: You may switch one of your focused cards with a card in your Fate discard pile. After this duel resolves, your focused cards are removed from the game instead of discarded.
  Ring of Fire Focus Effect: You may give this card -2 Focus Value. If you do, and you win this duel, put this card into play.
  If I focus Triumph of Courage and use its focus effect to switch Triumph with a Ring of Fire that was on my discard pile:
  1) May i use Ring of fire focus effect? 2) If yes, and i win the duel may i put the ring of fire into play? Does the ring stay in play, it will be removed from the game, or it will be removed from the game then come back to play due to Ring of Fire Focus effect?
  A: Yes, you can use Triumph of Courage to swap in Ring of Fire and use Ring of Fire's Focus Effect.
  I've coved that here.
  If you win the duel, Ring of Fire will be put into play. Step I of Dueling involves applying all consequences of Winning and Losing the Duel. Then Step J involves cleaning up all Focus cards - including cards in the Focus Pool and the Focused Cards Area. Since Ring of Fire isn't in the Focused Cards Area during Step J, it would not be Discarded normally, so it won't be removed from the game by Triumph of Courage "instead" either. Martin Lund, "Triumph of Courage and Ring of Fire", 7 Aug 2007
• Q: For example, may I use the Focus Effect of Triumph of Courage to get a Ring of Fire into my focus pool, and then use the Focus Effect on Ring of Fire to play it?
  A: Yes, specifically because it says that if a new card enters the focusing area during the process of resolving Focus Effects you must resolve its Focus Effect before leaving Step F: "Focus Effects resolve".
  Triumph would switch with another card - and any Focus Effect of that card would have to take place before moving to Step G where final dueling scores are computed. Martin Lund, "Chaining Focus Effects", 7 Aug 2007
• Q: Ok, I couldn't find this in the search, maybe it was on the old board, and I think I know the answer, but there has been some depate in my area.
  Can you include both Ring of the Phoenix and Ring of Fire in the same deck? Can you have both in play?
  Thanks.
  A: You can include both, you can have both in play, but you will still need the four other element rings (void, earth, air, water) to win by enlightenment. Chris Fuchs, "Ring of the Phoenix + Ring of Fire", 20 Jul 2007
• Q: Can you Keen Eye the Elemental Reaction of Ring of Fire?
  A: Please search!
  Here. Zen Faulkes, "More ?'s", 25 Mar 2005
• Q: I think I remember someone ruling that you cannot fetch Ring of Fire with Takao Sensei and then play it by its own text (if you would have otherwise met the requirements), but i'm not sure why- wouldn't the duel action still technically be active after another response is used? Otherwise you could only ever Respond once to any action ever or does the RoF only care about the "check for winner" step of the duel, so when a Response happens its already past that window? if so that feels very strange
  A: This one. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 26 Jun 2024
• Q: Thank you. I'm still not sure why they don't count. There are cards which specifically target rings in play, so they must exist in some form. I'll dig through the CRD again and see what I can find. Since the consensus is that I can't destroy a ring with Ring of Fire, I assume I missed something
  A: Shiwan has it, but to reiterate and elaborate, "enemy" can only refer to an opponent themself on the opposide side during an attack (the Defender if you're attacking or vice-versa), or cards in units controlled by or allied with such a player (or an army that collectively contains such cards). Cards not in units, even if controlled by an enemy player and even if they're at the battlefield (such as their Terrains or Fortification Holdings) are not "enemy" cards. Brook Cunningham, "Oracle of the Void #rules", 19 Dec 2023
• Q: Can I use Dotanuki to fulfill the requirements for playing Ring of Fire?
  A: I wonder if @kempy_nezumi could dredge up a contemporary ruling? I admit it's not terribly clear, and I'd love it if the legwork had already been done 8-9 years ago. 🙂 Brook Cunningham, "Oracle of the Void #rules", 22 Nov 2023
• Q: right, for the Dragon stronghold you can have one ring already in play. Usually I would put the ring of Fire in play
  A: There's a Dragon and a Brotherhood/Monk version of the House of Tao Stronghold. The former is not a MRP of the latter. Brook Cunningham, "Oracle of the Void #rules", 26 Apr 2023