Unwavering Assault

Legend of the Five Rings card from Celestial Edition, Lotus Edition, Samurai Edition, Promotional–Samurai

Card Type

Strategy

Gold Cost

2

Card Text

Absent Battle: Straighten the unit of your target performing Samurai Personality in your home and move him to the current battlefield.

Focus Value

1

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Destroyer War (Celestial), Race for the Throne (Samurai)

Deck

Fate

Printings

Rulings

• Erratum: Reads, "Unwavering Assault 2G 1FV Battle:Target a Samurai Personality in your home: Straighten his unit. Move him to the current battlefield." [MRP, Celestial Edition, 29 June 2009] Comprehensive Rules, Celestial Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, February 2012, p. 162
• Erratum: Reads, "Unwavering Assault 2G 1FV Battle: Target a Samurai Personality in your home. Straighten his unit. Move him to the current battlefield." [MRP, Samurai Edition, 25 July 2007] Comprehensive Rules, Samurai Edition, with specific card rulings, final version, May 2009, p. 167

Rules Q&A

• Q: Can a player, with no units in a battle, announce Unwavering Assault(or other movement Strategy) with only 1 card in hand while the game state is under a Times of Strife?
  A: Yes, for the reason you gave. Brook Cunningham, "Times of Strife & movement to the battlefield", 4 Oct 2011
• Q: Okay, I know that this has probably been asked and answered before, but I looked up "movement", "kasei", and "rule of location" and found no results on this so...
  Matsu Kasei
  "Battle: Move a target Personality to the current battlefield if there are any units there on the side opposing his controller's. Straighten him if he moved."
  The way this card reads to me is: "Move any personality to the battle as long as it would be opposed."
  However, last night, I was playing in a game where Kasei got reduced to 0 by a nerve strike. I then moved him home, and attempted to use his effect.
  My opponent said because of the rule of location, since Kasei is not present, he cannot use his action on anyone but himself.
  Now, we went with that ruling, but I wanted to clarify this, because my issue is that Matsu Kasei has an effect that is similar the same effect as the fate card 'Unwavering Assault':
  "Target a Samurai Personality in your home: Straighten his unit. Move him to the current battlefield."
  It just does not make any sense to me as to why a fate card and a personality that do the same thing don't work the same way.
  Could someone please enlighten me on this is? Because the way I'm seeing this is that the player was either using an outdated ruling or they were being... dishonest... and I'd really, really like to not think that they were.
  A: Don't forget: Nerve Strike prevents the target from performing actions as well. Matsu Kasei could not have used his action to move in regardless.
  Assuming Matsu Kasei was merely sent home (while still straightened) and he would be opposed, he can use his ability to move himself (and only himself) into the battle.
  See http://rules.l5r.com/CE_Battles#Rule_of_Presence for the exception that allows Matsu Kasei to move himself to a battlefield where he would be opposed. Dan Jacobson, "Matsu Kasei movement", 30 May 2010
• Q: This came up in a game the other day and we weren't sure exactly what to do about it. Player A attacks Player B. After the final battle resolution and that attack phase ends, Player B plays 2 copies of Retribution targeting two different personalities. Personality X has their battle, sees battle resolution, then bows and goes home. Personality 2 then engages in their battle. Player B attempts to use Unwavering Assault to move Personality 1 into the battle with Personality 2.
  The questions that arose were whether the two battles occurred in the same Attack phase, or if there were two different Attack phases as a result of the two copies of Retribution played, and then subsequently (assuming they were different phases) whether the prohibition of a personality having seen battle resolution as the attacker related to the entire turn, or just that phase. Thanks.
  Retribution Reaction: After the end of an Attack Phase in which you were the Defender: Create an additional Attack Phase of your own in which you must choose the previous phase's Attacker as the Defender. Neither player may invite allies and you may only assign one unit. Give the Personality and each Follower in that unit +1F after it assigns.
  A: Here's how it's supposed to go.
  Player A attacks B.
  Player B plays one copy of Retribution. The battle is fought.
  After that battle is over, Player B plays second copy of retribution in response to Player A's attack. (Although there has been a lot of stuff in between, you have not passed on the window of opportunity until all players pass on the Reaction trigger consecutively.) That battle is then fought.
  You don't play two Reactions and resolve them both concurrently, which seems to be what player B was doing. Actions always resolve completely, one at a time, before going to the next one. Zen Faulkes, "2xRetribution + Unwavering Assault", 30 Nov 2009
• Q: Is Unexpected Arrival considered to create presence in a battlefield the same way cards like Doomed Intentions, Unwavering Assault, etc. do*? Can I play it in a battlefield with enemy units where I don't have presence and thus create presence there?
  A: Unexpected Arrival is similar to Will in the sense that you must have presence to play these actions.
  Creating presence does not fulfill the requirements of the exception to the Rules of Presence and Location. Dan Jacobson, "Unexpected Arrival question", 30 Mar 2009
• Q: First, and this may be my stupidest question ever, can I use Sup Strat to look for a movement card (like Unwavering Assault) to move someone into a battle with no presence? I know that moving someone into a battle creates its own presence but can I use a Sup Strat (or Unshakable for that matter) to get that action to then move? I doubt it but I had to ask.
  Second, as was asked in this thread http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=59308&p=763856&hilit=+Superior+Strategist#p763856 (but not really answered) Can I use Sup Strat on a bowed Tactician? Everything I understand about the rules tells me I can but my friends still doubt me so I figured i would ask. It is performed by a Tactician and uses a tactical action (unlike Unshakable) and doesn't specifically state that it requires an unbowed Tactician so this is valid correct?
  Thank you.
  Superior Strategist Tactical Battle: Target one of your Tacticians: Search your Fate deck for an Action card with a Battle ability. You may take an additional Battle action to use one of its Battle abilities; if you do not, discard it.
  A: Can I use Sup Strat to look for a movement card (like Unwavering Assault) to move someone into a battle with no presence?
  No. Superior Strategist must be legal to play, and at the point where you must "target one of your Tacticians", you have no-one to target. That is, you're failing to satisfy Location or Presence.
  Can I use Sup Strat on a bowed Tactician?
  Yes. Any targeting that doesn't specify unbowed (and doesn't specify bowed!) may target either a bowed or unbowed card. Alex Jones, "Two Superior Strategist questions", 25 Mar 2009
• Q: I play Blanketed Forest, and after I annouce its battle (units can't move in or out), I play Determination. if someone tries to move their samurai into the same battle with, let's say Unwavering Assault and Determination, would they have to play two copies of it, since Blanketed Forest's battle is protected with a determination?
  A: This one is basically dealt with here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=67205
  Not exactly the same cards, but several.
  That said, the issue of multiple Determinations is very difficult for people to wrap their heads around, as seen here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=66277 Zen Faulkes, "Determination + Blanketed Forest, and movement", 3 Dec 2008
• Q: I declare an attack. I assign Moto Chagatai exp4 to an undefended province. Resolving that battle first, we both pass, the province is destroyed, and Chag goes home bowed. The next battle is at a province where neither I nor my opponent have presence. Chag's own ability says that even if he's bowed and has been in a battle resolution this turn, he can assign to the current battle, but he won't straighten if he's unopposed. With bowed Chag at home, can I play Unwavering Assault on him? I know it won't move him into the battle, but its straightening ability is a separate effect. The idea is that Unwavering Assault will straighten him at home, then I can use Chag's own battle action to actually move him into the battle. I think that by the good faith rule this is legit, but my opponent was arguing the rule of Location.
  A: This is a variation of the frequently asked question, "Is an action legal if an effect can't happen?"
  http://rules.l5r.com/FAQ#Is_an_action_l ... _happen.3F
  Also, if you look under the Rule of Location (http://rules.l5r.com/Battles#Rule_of_Location), it notes: "Even if the movement is subject to known effects that will cause it not to happen -- for example, due to ongoing negation effects, or due to the unit having been in an attacking army during the Resolution Segment of another battle -- the action can still be taken, because of the Blind cards rule." Zen Faulkes, "Unwavering Assault and Good Faith", 23 Oct 2008
• Q: I still don't understand whether Misdirection can make a legally attempted Unwavering Assault suddenly target a unit that was in an attacking army during the Resolution Segment of another battle during this Attack Phase, because Dr. Faulkes' new rules don't seem to affect targeting after an action is legally attempted.
  A: Misdirection can't cause something to be targeted something that couldn't be targeted in the first place. Zen Faulkes, "RE2:Moto Chagatai xp4 and Unwavering Assault", 23 Dec 2007
• Q: Sorry but i don't understand why you can't use Unwavering Assault in a personality who already been in an attacking army during battle resolution this attack phase , just to unbow his unit, but you can use rapid deployment in the same case and resolve another effect(movement of the another unit).
  A: The Rapid Deployment ruling is incorrect. Zen Faulkes, "RE2:Moto Chagatai xp4 and Unwavering Assault", 20 Dec 2007
• Q: I would like to ask for a little clarification on the specific situation from this question http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=64208
  Is it even legal to target any personality who has already been in a battle resolution as the attacker with Unwavering Assault (or any other move in action)? The rulebook specifically states that they cannot move in, and this is not negation (Likewise, the phrases “cannot” or “can only” appearing in rules text apply to the legality of doing something in the first place; they do not imply that doing that thing is merely negated.) [url]http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=59651&p=767162 [/url] From the comprehensive rules (Battles): The Blind Cards rule means that even if the movement is known beforehand to fail due to ongoing negation effects, the action can still be taken.http://rules.l5r.com/Battles
  All this would seem to imply that it is not even legal to announce the action in the first place.
  Thanks for clarifying.
  A: Ah, good point. I was thinking Moto Chagatai (Experienced 4) got around that rule, but that's only for his own action. Will fix. Zen Faulkes, "RE2:Moto Chagatai xp4 and Unwavering Assault", 20 Dec 2007
• Q: If my (Moto) Chagatai xp4 has already been in Battle Resolution this turn, and if in the current battlefield I have no army, can I use Unwavering Assault to unbow Chagatai's unit in home and then use his battle ability and move him to the current battlefield?
  A: No. You cannot attempt to move a unit in, because it's a rulebook prohibition on taking the action (http://rules.l5r.com/Glossary_C#Cannot), not negation. (Fixed.) Zen Faulkes, "RE2:Moto Chagatai xp4 and Unwavering Assault", 20 Dec 2007
• Q: (Playing EHP) If Tadame is at another battle and the currently resolved battlefield contains a unit that I want to use Tadame's reaction from to pay for an attachment, is that legal in SE.
  Also if Tadame is bowed at home and I resolve a battle, can I bring him in paying for his own Unwavering Assault as it is an action that would unbow him.
  A: http://rules.l5r.com/Battles#Combat_Segment
  Reactions are not subject to Location or Presence.
  http://rules.l5r.com/Abilities_and_acti ... _abilities
  Abilities on bowed cards may not be used. Chris Fuchs, "Yoritomo Tadame", 9 Jul 2007
• Q: Was Tireless Assault deliberately omitted from patching with the "Absent" keyword to keep its original functionality like Unwavering Assault received?
  A: (Replying to kempy_nezumi: "Probably mistake. @Brook Cunningham") Not deliberate nor a mistake. The fact remains that I never (or rather, still haven't, depending on your optimism? :P) finished converting every card in the Oracle to Ivory/20F formatting; some remain in Emperor format. You'll note that Tireless still has a constraints block.
  I'd be more inclined to go the other way, personally 🙂 Brook Cunningham and Alex Jones, "Sun and Moon #rules-questions", 7 Sep 2023