Smoke and Mirrors

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, The Dark Journey Home, Twenty Festivals, Promotional–Twenty Festivals

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Card Text

You may focus this Strategy face-up to discard the last card the other player focused (if any), then draw a card. Each player may focus one additional time this duel.

Focus Value

0

Legality

A Brother's Destiny (Twenty Festivals), Hidden Emperor (Jade), Rain of Blood (Diamond), War of the Seals (Onyx Edition)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• If a Personality has focused with more than one card, Smoke and Mirrors removes only the top one. [Card text] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 33

Rules Q&A

• Q: If Kakita or Mirumoto focus with multiple cards and their opponent then plays Smoke and Mirrors, what happens?
  A: Exactly what it says in the card text: Discard the last card. Martin Lund, "Rules for 25 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: 5) I'm in a duel and I play Smoke and Mirrors, this reaction counts for the number of cards I'd draw with the ring of fire?
  A: Ring of Fire says, "to draw a number of cards equal to the number you focused from your hand in that duel."
  Smoke and Mirrors says, "Reaction: Play instead of focusing in a duel to discard your opponent's last focus card without effect. Draw a Fate card."
  According to its own card text, Smoke and Mirrors is not "focused" since it is played "instead of focusing." If a player plays Smoke and Mirrors and goes on to win the duel and bow Ring of Fire, he not count playing Smoke and Mirrors in the number of cards he focusing in the duel.
  On the other hand, if a player focused a card, had that card discarded with Smoke and Mirrors by his opponent, won the duel anyway, and then bowed Ring of Fire, he would draw a number of cards equal to the number of cards he focused, including any cards that were Discarded by effects like Smoke and Mirrors before the end of the duel.
  Ring of Fire cares how many times you actually Focused a card out of your hand. Nothing else matters to it. Martin Lund, "Rules for 24 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: 7) With Tsuma Dojo can I play a Smoke and MIrrors or The Shadow's Claw from my discard pile?
  A: Not for an Action, no. Tsuma Dojo says, "Focus with it instead of with a card from your hand." That means it gives you the ability to - FOCUS - with the card, not to take Actions on the card. You can play them face-down for their Focus Values only.
  It is good with Kharmic Strike, but bad with Smoke and Mirrors or The Shadow's Claw. Martin Lund, "Rules for 24 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: 8) I'm in a duel with kakita, can I focus two cards and then play Smoke and Mirrors or The Shadow's Claw instead of the third?
  A: No. Kakita says you make 1 Focus with up to 3 Cards. If you take a Reaction "instead of Focusing" then you do not Focus - at all - during that opportunity to Focus or Strike. Martin Lund, "Rules for 24 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: 10) I have Smoke and Mirrors in my hand and the I play The Shadow's Cloaw, can I use the Smoke and Mirrors instead of focus the card of The Shadow's Claw?
  A: Yes. Shadow's Claw causes you to Focus, and Smoke and Mirrors can be played from your hand "instead of focusing." You could not, however, use Smoke and Mirrors for its Reaction if it were one of the top 5 cards of your deck, rather than already in your hand. This is for the same reason as answer #7 - the Action permits you to play the card as a Focus, not to play it for an Action. Martin Lund, "Rules for 24 January 2005", 31 Jan 2005
• Q: If Shattered Focus is in play can I use a reaction instead of focusing ie. Smoke and Mirrors or Shadow's Claw?
  A: Going back to Jeff's ruling on Mirumoto, treat "must focus" effects like his and Shattered Focus's as if they said, "may not strike." So, with Shattered Focus in effect, you can not choose to strike unless you have focused at least once or can not focus. It will not prevent you from playing Reactions instead of focusing. Martin Lund, "Rules for 22 January 2005", 25 Jan 2005
• Q: So Kakita can play a say Smoke and Mirrors on his opponent 1st focus, then focus 3 cards on the second opportunity???
  A: Yes. Martin Lund, "Rules for 15 January 2005", 20 Jan 2005
• Q: So since I have to 'focus with it' I could not use reactions like Smoke and Mirrors or Shadow's Claw from the discard pile, but rather just focus their cards (smoke being a zero)?
  [MARTY] Exactly.
  But wear him down works fine, right?
  A: [MARTY] I don't think so.
  You can Focus with Wear Him Down without playing it for its Reaction. You put it face-down like any other card. When Wear Him Down is in your hand, you have the option of playing it for its Reaction (which happens to Focus the card anyway) or Focusing it like a normal card.
  You can only play an Action Card for one of its Actions from your hand unless a Rule or Effect specifically overrides that prohibition.
  Tsuma Dojo only grants you the ability to - Focus - with a card in the Discard Pile. It does not say that you may take any Action on that card as if the card were in your hand.
  Since you can still use Tsuma Dojo's ability fully without breaking the basic rule that Action Cards must be played for their Actions from your Hand, Tsuma Dojo does not allow you to break that rule and play Wear Him Down for its Action from your Discard Pile.
  You must simply focus it for its Focus Value.
  - Marty Lund Deputy Rules Monkey Martin Lund, "Rules for 9 December 2004", 12 Dec 2004
• Q: Also he may only focus once, with this can Kakita play Smoke and Mirrors or ditch Wrath of the Emperor (since both are "instead of focusing"), and if so, can he focus 2 (or is it 3) more cards with either of them or did they take up the entire ability of focusing thrice?
  A: It takes up the entire opportunity to Focus, regardless of how many cards you are allowed to put down as a single Focus. Martin Lund, "Rules for 6 December 2004", 10 Dec 2004
• Q: Also he may only focus once, with this can Kakita play Smoke and Mirrors or ditch Wrath of the Emperor (since both are "instead of focusing"), and if so, can he focus 2 more cards with either of them or did they take up the entire ability of focusing thrice?
  A: Kakita does not focus thrice. He focuses once, using up to 3 cards instead of just 1.
  And no, you he can't play a Reaction instead of Focusing - this would clearly violate the rule laid down by his Trait. Martin Lund, "Rules for 4 Decemeber 2004", 9 Dec 2004
• Q: If I cancel my opponent's Smoke and Mirrors with a Keen Eye, does he get the opportunity to focus or strike again??
  A: No. He still used his opportunity by playing Smoke and Mirrors. Keen Eye - negates the effects - of Smoke and Mirrors. That does not mean the play wasn't made. (Diamond Edition Rulebook, Page 72) Martin Lund, "Rules for 22 November 2004", 24 Nov 2004
• Q: Keen Eye vs Smoke and Mirrors: If your Smoke and Mirrors has Keen Eye played on it you still play/discard Smoke and Mirrors and it prodoces no effects correct?
  A: Well, you play Smoke and Mirrors instead of Focusing. Then immediately before it produces effects, you use Keen Eye to Negate all its effects. It was still played, and takes your opportunity to Focus or Strike, but it produces no effects. Martin Lund, "Rules for 29 September 2004", 4 Oct 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: *1st case:
  - I have one Shadow's Claw and one Smoke and Mirrors in hand. - I'm in a duel and it's my turn to focus or strike - Instead of focusing I play my shadow's claw and 'look at the top 5 cards' as per card text
  here are the questions:
  a. Can I react to the 'focus with one' effect of the shadow's claw with the smoke and mirrors I already have I in my hand thus drawing the first card of my fate deck, taking one of the 5 cards looked by the shadow's claw effect and reshuffling 4 cards into my Fate Deck?
  A: Smoke and Mirrors says, "Reaction: Play instead of focusing in a duel to discard your opponent's last focus card without effect. Draw a Fate card."
  Shadow's Claw says, "Reaction: Play before your Personality focuses in a duel. Look at your top five Fate cards. Focus with one, take one into your hand, and shuffle the rest into the deck."
  You can play Smoke and Mirrors. It will Negate the effect of focusing with one, and make you draw the first card on your deck. However, keep in mind that those 5 cards you are looking at haven't moved. They are still the top 5 cards of your deck. You'll draw the first one. Martin Lund, "Rules for 22 September 2004", 25 Sep 2004
• Q: 3 - My opponent plays Smoke And Mirrors, I cancel with Keen Eye. Who gets to focus / strike now ?
  A: I believe that your opportunity to act (focus) passes to the next player, just like your opportunity to play an Open or Battle Action in the Battle Action Segment or a Reaction to a given trigger passes when your Action is canceled. Martin Lund, "Rules for 11 April 2004", 13 Apr 2004
• Q: The Shadow's Claw + Smoke and Mirrors: if you play The Shadow's Claw and draw Smoke and Mirrors, can you still use the later's ability instead of focusing, or are you "compelled" to focus because TSC says "...focus with one..."?
  A: The Shadow's Claw says: "Look at your top five fate cards. Focus with one, take one into your hand, and shuffle the rest into the deck."
  OK, so do this:
  Look at 5 cards. Put one down as a Focus. Draw one. Shuffle the rest.
  You put one of those cards on the top of your deck down as a Focus before you draw a card. Therefore, if you draw Smoke and Mirrors, it is too late to play it because you've already focused. If you focus Smoke an Mirrors, you can't play it for the Reaction. You certainly can't play it as a Reaction out of your Fate Deck before drawing it. Martin Lund, "Rules for 7 April 2004", 8 Apr 2004
• Q: Chi Strike/Smoke and Mirrors (destroy enemy focus and +2 for me)
  A: Yes and yes. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 1-2 April 2001", 7 Apr 2001
• Q: Suppose I take an action that creates a duel, in which my Personality is a Duelist whose duel stat is not lower than the other Personality's. Can I use the Interrupt on Hidden Strength, pay the Invest, not get any of the Focus-related effects, and still draw a card at the end from the Invest?
  EDIT: And an additional question - if I play a card such as Stand or Run, with a challenge that may be refused, when do I play Hidden Strength? Am I required to do so before my opponent chooses whether to accept the challenge? If so, am I correct in thinking that I would not draw the card from the Invest if they then refused the challenge?
  EDIT 2: And a final question, I hope - if I create a duel in which my personality has a lower duel stat and play Hidden Strength, my opponent and I both Focus, and then my opponent plays Smoke and Mirrors, is the bonus +2FV from Hidden Strength then lost with the discarded focused card?
  A: An "if" in an action's effects only indicate that the condition following the "if" must be true for the action to be announced, if that "if" starts the ability's text. See the Good Faith Rule, item 3.
  For example, the "If" in the ability on Hidden Storehouse of House Rafiq begins the text, so if you will not have fewer cards in hand after playing it, you may not declare the action. On the other hand, Hidden Strength's text begins with "After", so you may play it to Interrupt any action.
  However, the Invest trait's phrase, "your Personality", relates only to the Personality who is "your Personality" in the duel. If the action does not create a duel - for example, if there is no challenge, or the challenge is refused - the phrase "your Personality" has no meaning, so the Invest trait fails to create an effect. On the other hand, if a duel is created, the phrase has meaning, so the Invest trait will draw you a card if your Personality is a Duelist, regardless of the relative Chi stats.
  You must play Hidden Strength in the action's Interrupt Action Round, which, as step D of the Action Sequence, comes before step E, the Effects step, which is when the challenge occurs, and is accepted or refused.
  The first card focused gets the bonus. If it is discarded by Smoke and Mirrors, it gets the +2FV when it is turned face-up. Alex Jones, "Hidden Strength (20F)", 30 Mar 2015
• Q: Say I'm in a duel with someone and they focus a card. Since I can look at the cards that I focus off the top of my deck, if I see that the card I focus is Smoke and Mirrors, can I flip it face up to get the effect off of it?
  Thanks!
  A: The Comprehensive Rules needs a slight tweak here, as it currently says "the player ... takes the top card of his or her Fate deck without looking at it, and puts it face–down in a special focused cards area."
  The "without looking at it" is misplaced: you may not look at the card before you decide whether or not to strike or focus from hand, deck or elsewhere. Once you have made that decision - and have decided to focus from the top of your deck - you take the top card of your fate deck, and may look at it. If, like Smoke and Mirrors, it has a trait that allows you to focus it face-up, you may do so. Alex Jones, "Top Deck focusing and Smoke and Mirrors", 9 Mar 2015
• Q: I play Smoke and Mirrors, my opponent plays Keen Eye. Can I now focus instead? Can I play a 2nd Smoke and Mirrors if I have it or some other such 'instead of focusing' card? Or do I just lose the chance to do anything? What about the same scenario with The Shadow's Claw?
  A: Archive, Duels, Focusing. Zen Faulkes, "Questions about Keen Eye", 3 Apr 2005
• Q: If I focus during a duel and Kakita is in play and my opponent Smoke and Mirrors my card does that still count as a card focused for the purpose of drawing after the duel if I win.
  A: Yes. You focused. The trait does not say anything like "the number of focus cards revealed when a strike occurs." Zen Faulkes, "Kakita and drawing cards", 7 Mar 2005
• Q: Some suggest (not me) that if someone plays SMOKE AND MIRRORS after KAKITA has focused with his 3 cards, that ALL 3 (having been focused at once) would be discarded.
  A: "Last focus card" is singular. Only one goes. Zen Faulkes, "Smoke and Mirrors used against KAKITA", 7 Mar 2005
• Q: May I use Smoke and Mirrors instead of focusing ability when using it in conjunction with Tsuma Dojo.
  A: This sentence is vague. I'm guessing you want to pull Smoke and Mirrors of of the discard pile then use its ability. No. Tsuma Dojo tells you what you can do with the targeted card -- "use an action printed on it" isn't one. Zen Faulkes, "Smoke and Mirrors and Tsuma Dojo", 28 Feb 2005
• Q: Could Chee'trr use its reaction if it was in a discard pile as well?
  A: No. Zen Faulkes, "Smoke and Mirrors and Tsuma Dojo", 28 Feb 2005
• Q: Can I play Smoke and Mirrors when my opponet plays Wear him Down? In this case, is Wear him Down discarded?
  A: By the archive, when a player is forced to pick "focus" for one particular focus/strike decision, he may freely take Reactions to that focus, including ones that make him do something else instead, such as Smoke and Mirrors. If he does, it will discard your Wear Him Down. Jeff Alexander, "3 quick rules questions.", 24 Feb 2005
• Q: If I fall my opponent's Smoke and Mirrors, do they get another chance to focus or is it my turn?
  A: Your turn. As mentioned by others in this thread, your opponent opted to play a Reaction instead of focusing, and cancelled Reactions do not turn back the clock. Zen Faulkes, "Smoke and Mirrors and Fall on Your Knees", 22 Feb 2005