The Imperial Standard

Legend of the Five Rings card from Diamond Edition, Forbidden Knowledge, Gold Edition

Card Type

Item

Force

+1

Chi

+2

Gold Cost

5

Keywords

Unique, Imperial

Card Text

After this card is targeted by the Equip action: Give that action the Political keyword until it resolves.
Bringing this card into play has the additional cost, "Discard the Imperial Favor."
After this card enters play: Gain 4 Honor.
Each Follower in this unit has +2F and Fear effects upon it are negated.

Focus Value

4

Legality

Clan Wars (Imperial), Four Winds (Gold), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "The Imperial Standard +1F/+2C 5G 4FV Unique. Putting this card into play from your hand is a Political action. You must use and discard the Imperial Favor to bring the Imperial Standard into play. Gain 4 Honor. Each Follower in this unit gains +2F and is immune to Fear while Imperial Standard is attached." [MRP, Diamond Edition, 27 October 2003] Rules Archive, August 18, 2007, p. 52

Rules Q&A

• Q: 4)Is attaching the Imperial Standard considered a political action taken by the target? If so, and I Enough Talk the attachment, what happens in case of a tie?
  A: No. It does not meet any of the first 4 "Performing" criteria on page 71. Martin Lund, "Rules for 28 November 2004", 30 Nov 2004
• Q: If Confusion at Court is used to negate The Imperial Standard is it discarded or is it returned to hand?
  A: Cancelled and returned to hand, unless you can pay the cost of the Favor by some other means (Diamond rules, pg. 72). Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 18 December 2003", 18 Dec 2003
• Q: I remember I have seen something about this somewhere but I can't find it again so here are the Questions:
  1- does using the imperial favor as the cost of an action makes the action political ? (e.g. attaching the Imperial Standard)
  A: Only in the case of cards printed exclusively prior to Gold Edition. [H&E rulesheet] For all cards printed in Gold Edition onward, and all actions in the current rulebook, the ONLY thing that matters is whether the word "Political" appears. Jeff Alexander, "post for 16 May 2003", 21 May 2003
• Q: Such as attaching the Imperial Standard.
  A: The Standard is in Gold Edition and says nothing about its attachment being Politcial, plus, the current rulebook does not say that all uses of the Favor are Political. Ergo, it's not Political. Jeff Alexander, "post for 25 March 2003", 26 Mar 2003
• Q: I'd like to know if Munemori can do something about the standard being put into play. So my question is : Is putting the Imperial Standard into play a political action ?
  A: Not under Gold Edition rules, no. Jeff Alexander, "post for 24 February 2003", 25 Feb 2003
• Q: Can you play Confusion at Court as a Reaction to someone attaching the Imperial Standard to a personality.
  A: Yes. Jeff Alexander, "post for 24 February 2003", 25 Feb 2003
• Q: Is it considered a Political Action when the Imperial Favor is discarded to attach the Imperial Standard?
  A: Not under Gold Edition rules, no. Jeff Alexander, "post for 26 August 2002", 27 Aug 2002
• Q: Greetings to all
  This question regards the Imperial Standard. Here's the key text: "You must use and discard the Imperial Favor to bring the Imperial Standard into play."
  I always assumed this meant that you discard the favor, it counts as a use (i.e. can be cancelled by Confusion at the Court), you spend some gold, and you get the standard.
  A: That is the correct interpretation. Jeff Alexander, "post for 14 June 2002", 15 Jun 2002
• Q: Alright here's my question, can someone play outmanuvered in court to cancel someone attaching The Imperial Standard since it requires pitching the favor?
  A: Don't you mean Outmaneuvered by Force? No. Attaching the Standard is not a Political action under Gold Edition rules. Jeff Alexander, "post for 6 May 2002", 7 May 2002
• Q: Yasuki Hachi has the Imperial Standard attached, and then gets hit with Retirement. He will forever have 0(-1) Force until he is given a permanent raise to his force-is this right?
  A: It doesn't have to be permanent. For example, a Charge will make him 1F (2 + 1 - 4 + 2) until the end of the turn, then it's back to 0F(-1). Jeff Alexander, "post for 18 November 2001", 19 Nov 2001
• Q: pps: another question just occured to me. Is discarding the Imperial Favour considered a use, or only if the text of the card says it is. eg. Imperial Edicts and The Imperial Standard. (actually I think this one may be in the archive, I'll go look...)
  A: Only if the card says that it is. There are already existing card effects that discard the Favor without being an actual use of it. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for August 17th", 17 Aug 2001
• Q: Question 2) In Time of War has gone off. My opponent gains 2 honor and then attaches the Imperial Standard. I have a 3 chi shugenja. Using a Wind's Truth, can I get the 3 honor that he would get from the Imperial Standard or am I limited by the fact that he gains 4, but only 3 gets added to his honor? (I hope this questions makes sense)
  A: You get the gain he would have gotten, which is 3. Jeff Alexander, "replies to 15-20 July", 26 Jul 2001
• Q: Question 2) In Time of War has gone off. My opponent gains 2 honor and then attaches the Imperial Standard. I have a 3 chi shugenja. Using a Wind's Truth, can I get the 3 honor that he would get from the Imperial Standard or am I limited by the fact that he gains 4, but only 3 gets added to his honor? (I hope this questions makes sense)
  A: It does. You gain 3. This question becomes a little easier to answer if you move one step further in the chain. Your opponent gains 2, and then attaches the Imperial Standard. Then, because he's a silly wonk, he bows his Poorly Placed Garden. Can you Wind's Truth the 2 point gain from the PPG before it gets eaten by In Time of War? No. When In Time of War is in play, honor gains are modified before they can be Reacted to. Vaughn Derderian, "Rules for July 23rd", 23 Jul 2001
• Q: I'm attempting to attach the Imperial Standard to an appropriate personality. My opponent has a Confusion at Court in hand. If I discard the Imperial Favour as the first cost I pay, is my opponent required to play Confusion at Court immediately[?]
  A: Yes. You have to play reactions a soon as the trigger occurs. Zen Faulkes, "Rules for 22 June 2001", 24 Jun 2001
• Q: What happens when I Surge out a personality with the Imperial Standard attached?(I know this came up in a thread recently, but there was only speculation as opposed to any actual ruling.).
  A: Untrue. I answered it. Standard comes back and gives you honor. Zen Faulkes, "Another Suitengu's Surge Question", 21 Feb 2005
• Q: First, If I Surge my Unit with the Imperial Standard attached to the Personality, what happens when it tries to come back?
  A: It returns to play (Suitengu's Surge card text: "with all attached cards") and creates an honor gain (Imperial Standard card text). Zen Faulkes, "Konishiko, Suitengu's Surge...", 20 Feb 2005