Sneak Attack

Legend of the Five Rings card from Emperor Edition, Imperial Edition, Emerald Edition, Obsidian Edition, Celestial Edition, Battle of Kyuden Tonbo, Jade Edition, Diamond Edition, Gold Edition, Lotus Edition, Pearl Edition, Samurai Edition, Siege of Sleeping Mountain, Training Grounds, Training Grounds 2, Promotional–Diamond, Promotional–Emperor, Ivory Edition, Promotional–Ivory, Onyx Edition, Shattered Empire

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

0

Card Text

Engage: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass in this battle.

Focus Value

3

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, War of the Seals (Onyx Edition)

MRP

Is now an Engage action.

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Sneak Attack 0G 3FV Reaction: After a Battle Action Segment begins: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take an action or pass during this battle. Play proceeds in turn order from him after that." [MRP, Lotus Edition, 31 October 2005] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 33
• Changes who gets the first normal Battle or Open action. Other players may still use Reactions that occur before the first Battle or Open action (e.g., Purusha). [FAQ 3.10] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 33
• Clarified: the Defender takes the second action, not the player to the Attacker's left. Text Change & Errata List, February 15, 2000, p. 5
• Q: Can the Defender turn a battle into a naval invasion? A: Yes. He doesn't get to take two actions in a row, since the only time the order of actions changes is when the Attacker makes the battle naval, but the other two special rules still hold. This is a good way to prevent someone from using a Sneak Attack or Scout against you. The Imperial Herald, Vol. 2, No. 4, p. 18
• Scorpion Clan Coup: Q: Are these cumulative? Can I act twice before the Defender if, say, I have two Daikuas in the battle? A: Cards that give you the exact same kind of extra action aren't cumulative with each other. Even if you have ten cards that give you "one action before the Defender", what you get is exactly that: "one action". Different types of extra action (for example, a general action from Daikua plus a terrain from a Scout) will stack with each other. Also notice that Sneak Attack is subtly different. It doesn't give the attacker an extra action, but rather changes the order of play for the normal actions for that battle. It's cumulative with cards like Daikua – but, again, not with itself. The Imperial Herald, Issue 9, p. 11
• Erratum: Reads, "Sneak Attack 0G 3FV Reaction: After engaging: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass during this battle." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009] Comprehensive Rules, Celestial Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, February 2012, p. 155
• Erratum: Reads, "Sneak Attack 0G 3FV Reaction: After engaging in a Battle: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass during this battle. Play then proceeds in turn order from him." [MRP, Samurai Edition, 25 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 158

Rules Q&A

• Q: Set up: I am playing Khol Wall. I have two Shinjo Loruko's in play. I have 5 or 6 regions in play. I have Moto Latomu exp in play. My opponent has two 3F chump blockers in play.
  I attack my opponent's provinces A & B. Neither has a Region attached. He assigns one of his chump blockers to each Province, I assign a Loruko to each province, and keep Latomu exp in my Fief.
  I resolve Province A first, and play Sneak Attack. I us e the Khol Wall Action and switch the location of my two Lorukos.
  Question 1: Can I place a generic Region at both Provinces (or just the active battle) using Loruko's reaction to movement?
  A: You should be able to do it in both Provinces. It does not reference "opposing" or "this battle" or "the current battle," to run afoul of the infamous page 81 of the Diamond Edition Rulebook. Martin Lund, "Rules for 1 January 2004", 6 Jan 2005
• Q: Diamond Rulebook says : ""No player may take action (including Reactions) or bring cards into play between the start of the Battle Action Segment and the first Battle or Open action opportunity, except for Reactions to that action."
  - I know that means no one can play a Sneak Attack during a Naval Invasion.
  - During a Naval Invasion, I can play No Hiding Place if my first action is a RA, but my opponent can NOT play Fall on Your Knees on the NHP, right?
  A: Yes. Both Actions are taken before the first opportunity to take an Open or Battle Action, however only No Hiding Place is played in response to that first opportunity - thus only it is legal to play. Martin Lund, "Rules for 26 October 2004", 1 Nov 2004
• Q: Say I Sneak Attack, play Lotus at Dusk, then Brutal Confrontation. Does Lotus at Dusk prevent me from using the trait on Brutal Confrontation to take a free action on Brutal Confrontation, or can I use an action on Brutal Confrontation for free and follow up with the second action with Lotus at Dusk?
  A: Brutal Confrontation doesn't have any such trait. It has one ability, "Battle: All players may take the following actions for the rest of the battle. You may take one such action immediately if your army has at least two units ..."
  That's all part of the Action. It is an additional Action from an Action, something that Lotus at Dusk specifically prevents.
  Playing Brutal Confrontation under Lotus at Dusk can't yield you an extra Action from Brutal Confrontation. Martin Lund, "Rules for 29 August 2004", 2 Sep 2004
• Q: Can Fall On Your Knees cancel a Sneak Attack?
  A: Yes. Sneak Attack is a Reaction played during the Battle Action Segment. Martin Lund, "Rules for 18 April 2004", 20 Apr 2004
• Q: Thirdly: Due to the new wording on Sneak Attack, it is possible to Fall on Your Knees it, correct?
  A: It has always been possible. I don't believe Sneak Attack has ever been worded in such a way that it got played clearly before the battle started. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 8 March 2004", 9 Mar 2004
• Q: Can Shiba Danjuro's reaction be used to cancel Ambush?
  A: Danjuro can't cancel anything. He can only change an action's target. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 16 Feb. 204", 18 Feb 2004
• Q: 2. I attack with a shugenja with the stick and Kuro's. My opponent blocks with lots of people. I Sneak Attack, then Speed of the Plains giving me two actions. I use the first to Rend the Soul and use the second to Kuro's and destroy his entire army. Is resolution still a tie even though he has no personalities in his army?
  A: A battle cannot be a win, loss, or tie unless there is at least one unit on both sides during resolution. Jeff Alexander, "rules for 16 Feb. 204", 18 Feb 2004
• Q: I play a Sneak Attack at the beginning of battle. My opponent plays a Fall on Your Knees. Can I play another Sneak Attack in my hand?
  A: Yes (Diamond rules, pg. 72). Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 30 November 2003", 1 Dec 2003
• Q: Siege of Sleeping Mountain and Storms Over Matsu Palace reprinted several staple cards (Sneak Attack, Focus) to get new players up to speed.
  A: That also had the undesirable effect of experienced players snagging them for the rares, thus keeping them *out* of the hands of the very players they were meant to teach. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 16 September 2003, Part 2", 17 Sep 2003
• Q: Aha! Now this, you can't do. You *can* play a Sneak Attack, and then you can use the Scout's trait to play a terrain, but you *cannot* squeeze a Show of Strength in between those two.
  Ah Vaughn Jeff has already contradicted this.
  Jeff has ruled - Sneak "Insert Action" Scout "Insert Terrain" is a legal play order. And the reverse order is likewise legal.
  A: I agree. It's perfectly legal to combine Sneak Attack and Scout in any order. Public service announcement in 3...2...1...
  Kids, always be sure to check the most recent wordings of cards when you're trying to figure out how they work. I know that there are a lot of you out there with older cards, and they've all got such spiffy art. It's hard not to want to play with them. But sometimes, you just need to make sure that the words on the card are up to date.
  This is why, for those of you playing out there, you should always try to make sure that you have an accurately worded version of a card on hand (if one is available). For those of you thinking about answering rules questions, you should check the wording of cards you're answering questions about. Even ones that you're sure you know how they work. Like Sneak Attack. Vaughn Derderian, "Post for June 16, 2003", 16 Jun 2003
• Q: I should be able to play Sneak Attack because Sneak Attack reads "Reaction: Play this card when the Battle Action Segment begins. The Attacker may take an Open or Battle action before the Defender's first action in this battle." and Show of Strength reads "Political Battle: This action may not be played if you have passed or taken an Open or Battle action this battle.". So Sneak Attack is neither an Open nor a Battle action just like Kyuden Ikoma only cancels actions that have Battle on them, then play Show of Strength as my first action.
  A: Sure, you can do that. It's kinda a waste of a Sneak Attack, though. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for June 11th - Part One!", 11 Jun 2003
• Q: Just checking up on a couple things.
  1. Defensive Naval Invasion prevents Sneak Attack, Correct?
  A: Correct. It also prevents playing a Terrain via a Scout. Jeff Alexander, "post for 19 May 2003", 21 May 2003
• Q: 2. Can Agasha Hamanari cancel a Sneak Attack? (ie. is it considered to be "affecting the battle")
  A: Sneak Attack affects the battle. Hamanari can cancel it. Jeff Alexander, "post for 24 March 2003", 25 Mar 2003
• Q: Sneak Attack Reaction: Play this card when the Battle Action Segment begins. The Attacker may take an Open or Battle action before the Defender's first action in this battle
  I believed that if I Fall On Your Knees my opponent Sneak Attack, he can play another but somebody pointed out that the Fall On Your Knees would be the first action I played in the Battle making Sneak Attack useless, is these true?
  A: No. Another Sneak may be played. Sneak Attack is played "when the Battle Action Segment begins". That trigger still exists.
  Furthermore, all phrases such as "when / immediately after the battle begins" and "before the first / Defender's first action" are considered synonymous. [GE p. 58] They are not invalidated by a Reaction being taken. Jeff Alexander, "post for 12 March 2003", 13 Mar 2003
• Q: Secondly, on the interaction between Sneak Attack and Scout, I know that you can Sneak Attack, play a non-terrain action, and then play a terrain via the Scout all before the defender gets his first action. But can it be done the other way?
  A: Yes. You do still have to play the Sneak Attack itself before you declare you're using the Scout, though. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 December 2002", 11 Dec 2002
• Q: Can a player play more than one Sneak Attack in a battle. I get conflicting reports here.
  A: You can play more than one, but you do not get more than one extra action. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 Oct 2002", 11 Oct 2002
• Q: And if so does it cancel out cards like Sneak Attack?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 3 September 2002", 4 Sep 2002
• Q: Can Isawa Norikazu/Agasha Hamanari cancel Sneak Attack if they are in the battle when it is played?
  A: Sure. Sneak Attack certainly affects a battle. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 19 May 2002", 20 May 2002
• Q: Just a clarification, though. You get to decide whether or not you're doing a naval attack, right?
  A: Right. It's optional. Jeff Alexander, "post for 23 April 2002", 24 Apr 2002
• Q: Just a quick question about the interaction of Scouts and Sneak Attack.
  In a recent game, the following question came up: Can you use a Scout to play a terrain such as Suspended Terrain and then use action from Sneak to play Superior Tactics (or any other action card)?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 10 April 2002", 11 Apr 2002
• Q: What about if they Fall on Your Knees your Sneak Attack, can you cancel that?
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 8 March 2002", 9 Mar 2002
• Q: Quick question.
  The accumulated rulings specify that Scout can be used after Sneak Attack as the Defender still hasn't taken an action. Could it alternately be taken before the Sneak Attack or are the triggers different?
  JamesG, this cost me a game earlier this evening :(
  A: The Scout allows a Terrain before the Defender's first action. Sneak Attack is played at the start of the Battle Action Segment and allows a Battle or Open action before the Defender's first action. Since both those timing windows ("before the Defender's first action" and "at the start of the battle") are considered equivalent, all of the following are legal:
  play Scout's Terrain play Sneak Attack take Sneak's action
  play Sneak Attack play Scout's Terrain take Sneak's action
  play Sneak Attack take Sneak's action play Scout's Terrain Jeff Alexander, "post for 4 March 2002", 5 Mar 2002
• Q: Can I play Mushin with a Sneak Attack?
  ie: Sneak - Mushin - Frenzy - deadly ground
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 28 February 2002", 1 Mar 2002
• Q: snip
  Sneak Attack happens before the Battle Action Segment. Yes.
  Well, if Sneak Attack is exempt because of when it is played, and Fall on Your Knees can be used to cancel Sneak Attack, it falls to say that Fall on Your Knees does not need to satisfy Relevance or Presence when when cancelling Sneak Attack, because Sneak Attack does not need to satisfy Relevance and Presence.
  A: Sneak Attack, by the Most Recent Printing, is played at the start of the Battle Action Segment, not before. Sneak Attack therefore does need to satisfy Presence, as does Fall On Your Knees (currently). Jeff Alexander, "replies to 15-16 September 2001", 17 Sep 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: Ok, a couple of questions about Fall on your Knees that came up at a recent tournament.
  First, can Fall on your Knees cancel Sneak Attack? Sneak says it is played before the action phase of a battle, but the list archive says that the battle action segment begins immediately when the attacking player chooses which battle to resolve. Can FoyK cancel Sneak Attack or not?
  Second, can I cancel the Armor of Earth's ability to cancel a send-home action? If so, does it help at all(i.e., can the Armor's reaction immediately be used again against the same action)?
  A: Yes, you can, and no, it doesn't help. Jeff Alexander, "Rulings for 9 February 2001", 15 Feb 2001
• Q: Example: Ninja Stronghold - As a battle action, send home attacking army if it has less than 10 chi. This action can still occurr if the stronghold is bowed.
  What if I walk in with a Sneak Attack and Dead Ground/Night Battle. Or play Secret Entrance. Since the stronghold cannot destroy the terrains, and the player won't have a means to destroy it, does the fact the action is on the stronghold, negate the "lock" and allow him to take the action to send me home? Also, on Secret Entrance, if he has no defenders, and SE comes into play as my reaction, since he can't use actions that he normally could use if no defenders (imperial favor), then he doesn't get the stronghold affect now, right?
  From the Archive:
  A: The Dark Path of Shadow
  Ability is usable if prohibited by a card effect (e.g., Deadly Ground, The Secret Entrance) or with no units in the battle. [5 May 1999] Ability is not usable if you do not have a chance to perform Open/Battle actions (e.g., Crushing Attack). Ability can be cancelled (e.g., Storms of War).
  Essentialy, I think you're missing something about the Dark Path. The reason that the action can be used under Deadly etc. is because it says it can (you may take this action in a battle where you cannot take actions). That phrase isn't 'written' on all Strongholds, but it's definitely part of the Dark Path's ability, and it extends to all situations where the DPoS player is prevented from taking actions by card effects, in addition to situations where he's prevented from taking them normally because he doesn't have a guy there. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for December 11th", 11 Dec 2000
• Q: Hi. Just to confirm my understanding.
  Under page 26 "Taking actions" in the Ivory Comprehensive Rules PDF, Interrupt actions are announced during a non-Interrupt action.
  Question: Can I play an Interrupt action in response to an Engage action?
  E.g. Attach Legacy of Tadaka spell to Kuni Araizen as an Interrupt when Sneak Attack is played.
  For your reference:
  Kuni Araizen Earth Battle: Bow Araizen's target unbowed Follower or Spell to make a Melee Attack equal to Araizen's Chi.
  Legacy of Tadaka You may Equip this Spell as an Interrupt.
  Sneak Attack Engage: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass in this battle.
  Thank you for your attention!
  A: The only type of action that you can't Interrupt is Interrupt.
  You may Interrupt Engage actions (The Sun Returns wouldn't work if you couldn't). Alex Jones, "Interrupt and Engage actions", 8 Oct 2014
• Q: If I am the defender and have Isawa Amihiko in my army, can I play Sneak Attack and force my opponent to play an action or pass?
  Isawa Amihiko
  Sneak Attack
  A: Sure you can! CCCCombo! Brook Cunningham, "Sneak Attack On Defense", 8 Jul 2014
• Q: Can I play Lost Equipment in a battle where I have no units present? I don't think so, but some of my playgroup say that until Ivory is legal, all Engage actions are to be treated like Reactions upon engaging (like Sneak Attack and the like) and thus, they don't require Presence.
  Relevant text:
  Lost Equipment Engage: Bow a target enemy attachment.
  Another one, slightly easier: I have a bowed Kensai with two unbowed weapons. I know that I can't use my Kensai's printed abilities, but can I use the Weapons' abilities, if none of them requires to bow the Kensai, or that he is unbowed?
  A: 1. Engage actions do require presence, unlike reactions. You can point your playgroup here if they question you.
  2. Yes, unless something else prevents it, you may use abilities on unbowed weapons attached to a bowed Kensai. Jon Palmer, "A couple of questions", 1 Dec 2013
• Q: Ok.... Sorry for the multi-topic questioning, but, per Sneak Attack and Naval, These two instances do not stack for gaining multiple battle actions prior to the defender. However...
  With the ruling on Multiple Scouting the Pass, can the Naval Invasion stack with Scouting The Pass, assuming that the Naval Invasion targets a Naval Scout card not targeted by the Scouting the Pass?
  A: No. In almost all cases such as this - Scouting the Pass, Sneak Attack, Daidoji Yuki xp, Jade's Roar, etc, the attacker will only get one action before the defender's first action. Activating multiples can change restrictions on who is allowed/forced to Perform the action (for instance, I play Sneak Attack, the defender uses Jade's Roar to take back priority, the attacker then uses Yuki xp)
  The only exception to this would be a card that instead allows an additional action timed before the defender's first action - the only one I can think of offhand is Scout. Jon Palmer, "Scouting the Pass and Naval", 23 Jun 2013
• Q: I am given to understand through Search-Fu that multiple uses of Sneak Attack do not grant additional opportunities to take the first battle action. However, Scouting the Pass introduces an additional restriction via a performer. If my opponent has Scout A perform Scouting the Pass 1 and then has Scout B perform Scouting the Pass 2, what is the result? A) Does one instance of Scouting the Pass take precedence over the other because the active player decides the order, or B) Either Scout A or B can not satisfy the conditions of Scouting the Pass and the first opportunity must be passed back to the defender barring an action such as Brothers In Battle that is performed by multiple personalities?
  A: Scout B would have to perform the first Battle action.
  Each copy of Scouting the Pass changes the game procedure from the rulebook default, and the final change is what the game will look for and allow when you start the Combat Segment.
  1) The Default: Defender gets the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass. 2) You play Scouting the Pass: You now have the first opportunity to take a Battle action with Scout A or pass. 3) You play another Scouting the Pass: You now have the first opportunity to take a Battle action with Scout B or pass. Ben Higgins, "Multiple Scouting the Pass", 13 Jan 2013
• Q: I target a monk with Tamori Takeshis ability. I then assign said 4F monk to attack a "The Shadow's Lair" province. I play Sneak Attack, then Grappling the Snake. Can he still be sent home by the stronghold The Shadow's Lairs action?
  What if I did not play grappling the snake but used Height of Courage instead after the strongholds action targets my monk?
  A: Your monk will move home.
  In these cases, the effects of Grappling the Snake and Height of Courage are not being negated by The Shadow's Lair. Rather, they are attempting to negate the effects of The Shadow's Lair, and The Shadow's Lair's text causes that to fail. Jon Palmer, "Will not be negated actions", 17 Dec 2012
• Q: Naval Invasion: Reaction: After engaging, once per battle, if you are the Attacker and your current army has more Naval cards than the side opposing it, choose your performing Naval Personality: You have the first opportunity to take a Battle action, which he must perform.
  Sneak Attack: Reaction: After engaging: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass in this battle.
  Implication: Naval + Pass isn't valid, as Naval doesn't list Pass as a valid alternative, nor can a Naval personality perform a Pass.
  Corollary: What happens when someone does say: "Naval, pass" Example: Oops, guess I don't have an action anyone can perform.
  A: Passing is always a valid option - the "or pass" text on Sneak Attack is there for completeness, and could be reminder text. Alex Jones, "Naval Pass", 8 Jun 2012
• Q: Just to check my own understanding of this topic - If I resolve one Sincerity of the Dragon in my Limited phase naming four, play another Sincerity naming 3 and then move to my attack phase, If I react to engaging with Sneak Attack (thus triggering Sincerity of the Dragon's delayed effect), will this count towards Indecision/The Scorpion Wall Is Finished?
  A: Indecision is clear: After an action resolves, if its player has, in this phase, put cards into his hand as the result of at least two actions - which may have resolved at any time this turn or on any previous turn - then you may react with Indecision.
  The Scorpion Wall is Finished is Under discussion. Alex Jones, "Indecision, Scorpion Wall, Sincerity of the Dragon", 14 May 2012
• Q: I performed a series of actions last night in local playgroup that I feel fairly certain is legal, but still felt kind of weird - wanted to double check it before it possibly came up in an official tourney.
  I declare an attack, assigning a couple Paragons to a battlefield; my opponent assigns defenders, and I choose to do that battlefield first. As a reaction, I play Grateful Reward on one of my Paragons, attach the follower, gain 2 honor, and draw a card. The card I draw is Sneak Attack. My opponent did not have a reaction to engaging, so I then played the Sneak Attack I just drew as a reaction to engaging. Is that legal? (Like I said, it seems like it, but it feels kinda weird taking a second reaction that I drew as a result of a reaction.)
  A: A little weird, maybe, but totally legal.
  The timing window of the start of engagement doesn't "close" until both players pass their opportunity to React to it. You react with Grateful Reward, the other player passes, and lookee! You have another Reaction! No reason you can't play it.
  Enjoy the weirdness. Brook Cunningham, "Grateful Reward + drawing further reactions", 21 Mar 2012
• Q: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=96455
  This brings up an additional question. If an attacker uses Sneak Attack to attach a spell and then uses their additional action to use a battle action on that spell, then the defender could use Entrenched Position to negate that action's effects since it was taken before the defender's first normal opportunity to act or pass, correct?
  A: Both the Equip action and the additional action from the spell are taken "before the Defender's first normal opportunity to act or pass." Alex Jones, "Sneak Attack/Entrenched Position/Equip negation", 28 Feb 2012
• Q: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=96122&p=1271030&hilit=naval#p1271030
  Any update on this?
  A: Still under review, but I just bumped it. Jon Palmer, "Sneak Attack/Naval", 19 Feb 2012
• Q: Can I negate the reaction of Sneak Attack by using Bad Kharma?
  A: Bad Kharma says, "Reaction: Play this card when an action card is being played by a player with a family honor below zero. The action is canceled and its effects are negated." (Crimson & Jade)
  Sneak Attack is a Strategy, ie what used to be called an action card, so yes. Alex Jones, "Bad Kharma and Sneak Attack", 21 Dec 2011
• Q: Say Katahide is attacking, and the opposing player defends. The attacking player uses Sneak Attack on Katahide, and the defender uses Reinforce or No Time for Games. Does Katahida get his additional action. I would say yes, because he never says "If Successful"
  A: Whether or not their effects "do not" happen or are "negated", all actions that are taken "resolve".
  So, yes, Katahide will have a vaild trigger for his Reaction even if the Defender uses Reinforce the Gates or No Time for Games on your first action. Brook Cunningham, "Katahide vs Negation", 2 Jul 2011
• Q: Does Open Emotion allow the defending player to play the shown strategy before the attacker can react with Sneak Attack?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Open Emotion, Sneak Attack, and Reinforce the Gates", 1 Feb 2011
• Q: Can Reinforce the Gates be used to negate the card strategy played by Open Emotion's ability?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Open Emotion, Sneak Attack, and Reinforce the Gates", 1 Feb 2011
• Q: Can one play multiple copies of Open Emotion to then play multiple cards before the chance to Sneak Attack?
  A: Yes. Zen Faulkes, "Open Emotion, Sneak Attack, and Reinforce the Gates", 1 Feb 2011
• Q: If yes, do they have to be cards with different titles?
  A: No.
  A quick summary of the timing here:
  1. Engage at Battlefield.
  2. Resolve Delayed Effects triggered by engaging (Open Emotion's actions goes here).
  3. The Attacker may use Reinforce the Gates (still before the Defender’s first normal action).
  4. Resolve Reactions triggered by Engaging (Sneak Attack goes here).
  5. First normal Battle action. Zen Faulkes, "Open Emotion, Sneak Attack, and Reinforce the Gates", 1 Feb 2011
• Q: After reacting with (Pillars of Virtue) and playing another action, is my opponent able to play another Reinforce the Gates to negate this action too?
  A: Yes, since the additional action is still "a Battle action before the Defender’s first normal opportunity to act or pass" (Reinforce the Gates' trigger). Zen Faulkes, "Pillars of Virtue and Sneak Attack vs. double Reinforce the", 6 Sep 2010
• Q: Hi,
  Let's say in this battle I have Sneak Attack, Deathly Aura and Strike from the Shadows in my hand. Can I play them all and grant me 3 first actions before my opponent does?
  Strike from the Shadows Reaction: After engaging, if you are the Attacker, target your Ninja Personality at the current battlefield: You have the first opportunity to take a Battle action in this battle, which must be performed by a Ninja. You may discard any cards in the current battlefield's province; if this discarded a Personality, draw a card.
  Deathly Aura Reaction: After engaging, if you are the Attacker, choose your performing Samurai: You have the first chance to take a Battle action in this battle, which must be performed by that Samurai.
  Sneak Attack Reaction: After engaging: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass during this battle. Play then proceeds in turn order from him.
  Thanks!
  A: Note that unless the Samurai who performs Deathly Aura is also a Ninja, you'll be unable to satisfy both conditions, so you'll have to pass at that first opportunity to take a Battle action in this battle. Alex Jones, "Multiple "Sneaks"", 9 Jul 2010
• Q: Very simple. If I'm attacking as crab and use sneak attack leading to hida's guidance's ability to destroy the Celestial and the army to destroy the province... what happens if my opponent uses Reinforce the Gates? I imagine that I would lose my army and the celestial because they are a part of the cost of the action, but the province of course would not be destroyed.
  Is this the case? With reinforce the gates it says you use it after the action is announced. This is before costs are paid right? So if that is the case then do I also keep my guidance?
  Hida's Guidance: Kami • Unique Crab Clan players' provinces have +2 strength. Battle: If you are an attacking Crab Clan player, the Defender has 2 or more provinces, and your current army's total Force is greater than the current battlefield's province's strength, destroy all your Personalities there and discard this card: Destroy the province and end this battle without resolution.
  Reinforce the Gates: Reaction: After a player announces a Battle action before the Defender’s first normal opportunity to act or pass: Its effects do not happen.
  A: You still have to pay the costs.
  Note that, unlike with Dramatic Assassination being redirected, the section under Interference with mandatory costs doesn't apply, since there's no interference with any of the costs. Alex Jones, "Reinforce the Gates vs Sneak Attack + Hida's Guidance", 22 May 2010
• Q: I undertand it is possible to react as many times as you like to the same trigger and that actions can fail. What I was wondering is if this means I can use the same reaction twice, to deliberately have one fail, but have it count towards the Ring of Void.
  The specific instance I was thinking of would be something on the lines of:
  1) Ambush 2) Sneak attack 3) Sneak attack (which fails to grant me anything above what the first one accomplished) 4) Random fate card 5) Drop Ring of Void.
  Is there anything in the rules that prevents me from using this chain of actions now that Void no longer requires a 'successful' action?
  Sneak Attack: Reaction: After engaging: The Attacker has the first opportunity to take a Battle action or pass during this battle. Play then proceeds in turn order from him.
  Ring of the Void: After you resolve your fourth or later non-Kiho action from Strategies in one phase: You may put his card into play from your hand.
  Thanks!
  A: Yes, this works as you suggest. Multiple Sneak Attacks can be played at the same battle, just so that the multiples count for The Ring of the Void. Note that this does not grant you extra actions however, just the first one. (Assuming you are the Attacker) Dan Jacobson, "Multiple Sneak Attacks", 21 May 2010
• Q: I tried looking over the rules and did a quick search but didn't see anything. I have a couple of questions. I also want to be clear that I enjoy having fun with L5R as well as any card game and my intentions are not to be offensive or crude.
  #1: Are there any restrictions as to what can be used to represent tokens in a tourney? For example, would I be able to print a few of the following and use them in actual koteis and tourneys?
  http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=77329#p1022014
  #2: Are there any restrictions against using cards that have been drawn on in tournaments? Could I take a card like Sneak Attack and draw my own art over the existing art and still be able to play it legally in tourneys? Could I take a rubber stamp that says "Neutered" and stamp the Central Castle with it and still have it be tourney legal? Can I draw the phrase "Son of Jor-El, Kneel Before Me!" over the artwork on Unfamiliar Ground and still have it be tourney legal?
  Again, I'm not trying to insult anyone or disrespect any artists out there, but I do try to get as much fun out of my CCGs as I can and I do enjoy drawing. BTW, I didn't come up with the follower token idea, however I do love the movie.
  A: Questions about Tournament Floor Rules should be asked here, please.
  This forum is just for the Rules of the CCG, as noted here. Brook Cunningham, "Questions about Tourney Floor Rules", 8 Apr 2010
• Q: So I keep getting a "page not found" when trying to use the search, so apologies if this HAS been posted before, I tried to use the search function first >.>
  If my opponent plays Sneak Attack, and then follows it up with a battle action, which I Reinforce the Gates
  Does it "successfully" resolve, for the purposes of, for example, Pillars of Virtue, or is it considered unsuccessful?
  Thanks in advance!
  A: The last cards in L5R to care about "successful" resolution were the CE printings of the Rings of Air, Water, and Void.
  As of their MRPs in... forgive me, I forget if it was Path of the Destroyer or The Harbinger... "successful" was removed from their text and is no longer a term or distinction that we will be using.
  So, for any CE-legal card including Pillars of Virtue, it doesn't matter if any of an action's effects actually occur; it still always "resolves" if legally taken, and will trigger effects that happen due to such. Brook Cunningham, "Reinforce the Gates + Successful Resolution", 8 Apr 2010
• Q: If I use Sneak Attack to issue a challenge with Kakita Kado, and my opponent plays Reinforce the Gates in response, what happens? I understand the duel does not occur, but was a challenge issued? Namely, does Kado gain Force from his trait even if the duel is negated?
  A: Kado's trait would not trigger in the scenario you describe.
  For an action that creates a duel, all of the duel (even the challenge part) is part of the "effects" of the action. Reinforce the Gates make the action's effects "not" happen, so no challenge would even be issued. Brook Cunningham, "Kakita Kado vs. Reinforce the Gates", 20 Mar 2010
• Q: What exactly does it mean for an action to have resolved? Specifically if a dragon player, playing Pillars of Virtue, plays Sneak Attack and then announces a battle kiho action, if the defender plays reinforce the gates; can the dragon player use the reaction on Pillars of Virtue?
  A: Even if Reinforce the Gates makes it such that the effects of a Kiho "do not happen", the action is still considered to have resolved. Someone who casts a Kiho and has it's effects fail via Reinforce the Gates may use Pillar of Virtue's Reaction to take an additional Battle Action. Dan Jacobson, "Reinforce the Gates and Pillars of Virtue", 1 Sep 2009
• Q: I have one province left on my opponent's turn. I play a recon action targetting it. My opponent attacks, I defend with Shinjo Kai Li, my opponent plays Sneak Attack for the first action. Can I now take Kai Li's reaction to supercede Sneak Attack and have first action again (fulfilling criteria of terrain or region action)?
  A: Yes. http://rules.l5r.com/Effects: "When effects conflict in their application but not their timing, the later effect takes precedence over the previous effect." (I think there is a more explicit statement in the rules wiki somewhere, but can't find it this instant.) Basically, if there is something only one player can have, last effect played wins. Zen Faulkes, "Shinjo Kai Li Vs. Sneak Attack", 4 May 2009
• Q: Does play then procede as normal to the attacker?
  A: The effect, "Play proceeds in turn order from him after that" from Sneak Attack would still apply, so whoever is sitting clockwise from that player would get the next go. Zen Faulkes, "Shinjo Kai Li Vs. Sneak Attack", 4 May 2009
• Q: Could my opponent play Determination with Sneak Attack? How would that afect he above scenario if at all?
  A: Determination is legal to play, but would change nothing, because the effects of Sneak Attack are not being negated nor is the targeting being changed. Zen Faulkes, "Shinjo Kai Li Vs. Sneak Attack", 4 May 2009
• Q: (I) play Sneak Attack. As my Sneak Attack action, I play Superior Strategist and use Determination with it to prevent it from being negated. Does Determination also prevent the effects of the card played from being negated(?)
  A: No. The effect of being given an extra action is the opportunity to use that action, not the action itself. Zen Faulkes, "Determination + Extra Actions", 5 Apr 2009
• Q: 2. My opponent plays Sneak Attack and announces the first action. I react by playing Reinforce the Gates. Can I play Isuke's reaction to his action eventhough I negated the action's effects (is the action still considered "resolved") ?
  A: Yes.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Abilities_and_actions#D._Action_resolves: "An action resolves even if all its effects are negated or otherwise do not occur." Brook Cunningham, "Shinjo Isuke", 6 Mar 2009
• Q: Just confirming I understand correctly how does this card work, because if I'm right it seems this card is very powerful.
  Daidoji Murata: Recon Open: Target two provinces. During battles at their battlefields, actions may not be taken before the Defender's first chance to take a Battle action or Pass.
  Does that mean that no player is allowed to play any kind of Reaction after armies engage (including the one in Akodo Hachigoro, the Naval reaction, or Sneak Attack, but also ten or so other cards) in the provinces targeted by Murata's Open? Reactions are actions too, after all. Would the players be forbidden to even announce them? Is this effect a negation? (My guess is No, it isn't)
  A: You are correct in your guess, and your analysis.
  Reactions like the one of Akodo Hachigoro and the Naval rulebook reaction would be illegal to announce at battlefields at provinces targeted by Daidoji Murata's Open action.
  May not is not a negation. See here. Dan Jacobson, "Questions about Daidoji Murata", 19 Jan 2009
• Q: (I)s there anything stopping the Defender from playing Sneak Attack?
  A: A desire to win games?
  Rules wise, no. Zen Faulkes, "Sneak Attack", 18 Dec 2008
• Q: (C)ould I play 2 Sneak Attacks at the start of a battle?
  A: Yes.
  Additional: The second Sneak Attack, though legal to play, is not successful: the game state does not change because the Attacker already has the first chance to take a Battle action. Zen Faulkes, "Sneak Attack", 7 Oct 2008
• Q: My opponent attacks me with Bayushi Tsimaru (Experienced) who has used his reaction once this turn. I defend with personality X. My opponent uses Sneak Attack and bows Personality X as his first action. I attempt to send my personality home with Surprising Resistance. My opponent negates my movement home. At this point, the cost has been negated, but I can still legally pay it.
  A: As it says in the second paragraph from the CR above, you can actually no longer legally pay the cost. So you: Brook Cunningham, "Paying costs and negations", 1 Oct 2008
• Q: If I declare an attack, assign a unit and use one of the two legal methods for playing a Terrain "sneak-style", can I then play Sneak Attack for a total of two Battle Actions before the defender's first chance to act (one from Sneak and one from Insurmountable Obstacle's granted additional Battle action)?
  A: Well, technically, you'd get three Battle actions before the defender's first action in that scenario, counting your playing of Insurmountable Obstacle in the first place.
  But, yes, that's all quite correct:
  Upon engaging, the delayed effect of Untested Scouts' Recon action would trigger, allowing you to play Insurmountable Obstacle, which gives you another additional action immediately after it resolves, and after all that's done, we move down the A-F "timing tree" (see here) from D, delayed effects, to F, Reactions (such as your Sneak Attack). Ouch.
  Almost the same scenario if you're using Removing the Advantage. Upon engaging, you can React with that, allowing you to play Insurmountable Obstacle, which gives you another additional action immediately after it resolves, and after all that's done, your opponent can React to engaging. Assuming the poor soul passes, you can then take another Reaction to engaging (such as your Sneak Attack). Still ouch. Brook Cunningham, "Sneak Attack + Insurmountable Obstacle + Jank", 5 Jun 2008
• Q: So if an attacker attacks and uses the Naval (or Sneak Attack) effect, can the defender wait until after the subsequent action is announced before he plays the Reinforce the Gates to negate the effect?
  A: Not only can the defender wait, the defender must wait. Neither the Naval ability nor Sneak Attack is a legal trigger for Reinforce the Gates because they are not Battle actions. Zen Faulkes, "Naval/Sneak Attack - Reinforce the Gates - Timing II", 16 Sep 2007
• Q: I am attacking a province with Mirumoto Kei experienced, my opponent defends with a unique personality. I play Sneak Attack, and use Kei's battle action. May the opposing player use Reinforce the Gate to negate the effects of the action? My opponent says that Reinforce reacts to the announce of the action, and not to the targetting and effects. Is he correct?
  A: "Reaction: After a player announces a Battle action..." (emphasis added).
  Yes, your opponent can do that. Zen Faulkes, "Mirumoto Kei experienced + Reinforce the Gates + Sneak Attac", 20 Aug 2007
• Q: It got pretty far down with no answer and since we are playing again today, Ill ask once more.
  Player A attacks player B, but assigns no units and asks for allies from player C. Player C assigns all to attack Player B defends with all. Player A plays a Sneak Attack, Then plays Blunting the Charge Against one of the defenders Infantry units. Is this legal since he has no units in the battle? I know he doesnt have to be there against Calvary, but I thought he has to have a unit there to target Infantry. Is opposing and opposed the same?
  A: Let's read Blunting the Charge:
  "Battle: Even if you have no units at the current battlefield: Target a Cavalry Personality with 5 or more Force, or an opposed Infantry Personality with 5 or more Force. Move him home."
  Well, we've got the clause "Even if you have no units at the current battlefield," so that'll take care of the Rule of Presence.
  The target is an opposed Infantry Personality with 5 or more Force, so the Targeting is legal.
  The target is at the Current Battlefield, so the Rule of Location is satisfied.
  The play is completely legal.
  "Even if you have no units at the current battlefield," is all it says in the restrictions box. It is not contingent upon whether you target a Cavalry or Infantry Personality.
  "Opposed" just means that there are 1 or more units on the opposite Side of the Battle from a given card, as per the glossary entry.
  I think you have been tripping over now defunct Diamond Edition or Lotus Edition rules. Those things were unnecessarily complicated so we tried to sack them wherever possible and make the cards much more clear about what they are trying to say. Things like the old, "Cards are 'opposing' players when they oppose one or more of that player's cards at any battlefield," rules were really weighing things down, so we try not to make cards with crazy wordings that require creating extra rules like that any more. Martin Lund, "one more try", 30 Jul 2007
• Q: [ShE] What happens if my opponent use Kano's Tactical Engage and then I use Sneak Attack as the attacker? Who does get the first opportunity to take a battle action?
  A: You do. Only one person gets to take the first action. The Rulebook says the Defender does. Then, Kano's effect resolves and says he does, which likely doesn't change anything if your described scenario is 2-player, then your effect resolves and changes who does to you. If you played Sneak first, and then Kano took his action after, he would get the first action, and your Sneak would have been undone and wasted. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 5 Jun 2026
• Q: So, if Sanado is defending, the Defender has an action first regardless of Sneak Attacking? And if no Sneak Attack, is the Sanado-granted action before the first regular Defender action? Just so I'm understanding the sequence correctly (or am I missing something because I'm only looking at card text and not Oracle text?)
  A: Yes, the scenario you described is correct, and the Oracle text isn't completely clear either, but I can see where I tried to make it so "the Defender's first opportunity to act" as I reworded it is meant as a game-sequence timing point, not technically the Defender's liiteral first action. Like a Reaction "Before players Focus in a duel" even if no one chooses to Focus, that Reaction can still be taken; Sneak Attack is a "Strike" without any focuses, in this imperfect analogy. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 4 Mar 2026
• Q: Thank you so much Is there any effect if the Attacker plays another Sneak Attack? Haha Like 2 Sneaks
  A: No. 😛 Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 4 Mar 2026
• Q: [Imperial]
  Saw this ruling of Sanado wherein he still gets the first action in the case of a Sneak Attack
  If you are the Defender, you'd get two actions in a row: the extra one as soon as you react and then the first normal one in the Battle Action Segment. In the case of Sneak Attack, you'd still get the extra action first, then the Attacker would get the first normal action and you'd get the second normal action. [l5rinfo, 1/20/2000]
  My interpretation is that Sneak Attack changes the 'defender has first action' into 'attacker has first action' so Sanado's ability creates one action before that first action.
  Can you help us expound this rule @Brook Cunningham ?
  A: a player Thanks for bringing my attention to that Ruling. I should probably tweak the Oracle text of Sanado and Daikua to be clearer how to follow it.
  The reason is... well, basically, the game was still too new to have really stringent, technical wordings at that time, so sometimes you would get Rulings based on what was "intended" rather than what the card literally says, without anything but the ruling to help with the "correct" interpretation (ie no Rule change or erratum). 🙁
  But as to why, the logic/reasoning is what tea master said above; "the Defender's first normal opportunity to take an action" is considered a timing point, not necessarily fixed to the defender actually taking an action but meant to signify a normal point in game operation; when the Attacker Sneaks, it switches the "normal order", but anything that happens "before" that still happens "before". Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 4 Mar 2026
• Q: [Clan Wars]
  Which goes first-- opponent's Sneak Attack or my Bayushi Shoju-inexp ability?
  A: Sneak Attack. Per its OE printing, it's played just before the "Battle Action" phase begins, and Shoju's Reaction is before the first action of that phase is played, which is clearly after the phase itself begins, allowing actions to be played. Brook Cunningham, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 10 Oct 2025