Sun and Moon #rules-questions

March 2026

Messages from the Sun and Moon #rules-questions Discord channel, copied for Oracle of the Void. Players' names are left out; the rules officials are named. Rulings are as they stood on these dates; later rulings and the rulebooks may differ.

A player, 2 March 2026 13:35

I have a question for Ivory/20F, does hida toranosuke have to be at home to use his ability? Or can it be anywhere as a battle action? And follow on if I have two copies in play am I allowed to use both copies same turn? In my current game I am attacking 3 province with cheap scouts l, after my opponent declares defenders, i can swap out my my big toranosuke units and their followers at the undefended provinces?

Answers on: Hida Toranosuke
A player, 2 March 2026 13:45

Yup that is how he usually used

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 2 March 2026 13:53 · in reply

Specifically to your first part of the question, he does not have to be at Home; he could also be at the current battlefield and use his ability to leave. However, he cannot use it if he is at a non-current battlefield.

A player, 2 March 2026 13:55

So if I had a stacked unit at home I could test with a solo toranosuke and swap with a big stacked unit at home? Follow up Follow up could I use the same big unit twice with two different toranosuke?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 2 March 2026 13:57

1. Yes

2. Generally, no. The "no second battle" Rule prevents an attacking unit that was already in a battle resolution the same Attack Phase from moving to any other battles.

A player, 2 March 2026 14:11

Ok thank you that clears it up, appreciate the response!

A player, 2 March 2026 16:20

[EE] In battle does unbowed followers contribute force in bowed personalities?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 2 March 2026 16:21

Yes. Unbowed Followers contribute Force to Units in Battle Resolution even while Personality is bowed.

A player, 2 March 2026 16:21

I guess that's where it changed fron Samurai.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 2 March 2026 16:27 · in reply

In Samurai edition it works same way. It was a changed from Lotus, a last edition where bowed Personalities caused that whole unit had Force 0.

A player, 4 March 2026 01:24

For House of the Black Lion, if I play Hikahime Sensei the discount and penalties cancel each other out for Ronin right?

Eg. Toturi is just bought full price

A player, 4 March 2026 01:40

Yes they offset.

A player, 4 March 2026 01:50

Thanks!

A player, 4 March 2026 03:32

[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 ?

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Answers on: Sanado, Sneak Attack
kempy_nezumi (not official), 4 March 2026 05:47 · in reply

Please tag your questions with format/edition please. Non tagged questions will be deleted.

A player, 4 March 2026 07:08

Sorry, I guess it could be misunderstood as OBH. But it’s just for Siege.

A player, 4 March 2026 08:05 · in reply

My question is why sneak attack/sanado/daikua's faqs creating additional actions instead of using the cards main texts.

Sneak attack basically replaces the sequence of the battle from defender to attacker. And sanado and Daikua's ability allows to make an action before the "defender's 1st action"

If you could help understand why it has a different meaning in the faq... @Brook Cunningham 😊

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 10:52

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".

A player, 4 March 2026 11:03

Thank you so much

Answers on: Sneak Attack
A player, 4 March 2026 11:03

Is there any effect if the Attacker plays another Sneak Attack? Haha

A player, 4 March 2026 11:07

Like 2 Sneaks

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 11:08 · in reply

No. 😛

A player, 4 March 2026 11:12

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?)

Answers on: Sanado, Sneak Attack
A player, 4 March 2026 11:14 · in reply

Here is from the Accumulated Rulings document

Sanado 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]

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 11:17 · in reply

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.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:03

[ShE] Does this guy also negates focus effects related of winning or losing a duel? For example Way of the Crane's focus effect?

[attachment: Sin_titulo.jpg] [attachment: 000.jpg]
A player, 4 March 2026 22:05

No, Focus Effects are separate from the duel's effects

A player, 4 March 2026 22:06

Effects of the duel in other words if it is a kill duel the loser doesn't die.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:07

Thanks!

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 22:23

a player a player This is not correct. Any effect that is triggered by/applied to winning/losing the duel is an "effect of winning and/or losing the duel", regardless of the source.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:25

Why not add that to the card then including focus effects?

A player, 4 March 2026 22:25 · in reply

Wow, so Tatewaki negates everything then... ok, that's interesting...

A player, 4 March 2026 22:27 · in reply

What happens if the focus effect is not related to winning or losing... for example, increasing focus values or making the duel end without resolution?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 22:29 · in reply

Only things related to winning or losing.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:30 · in reply

So, he doesn't negate these focus effects, right?

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Brook Cunningham (rules official), 4 March 2026 22:31 · in reply

Correct.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:31 · in reply

Great, thanks!! a player a player check this for future reference.

A player, 4 March 2026 22:32

I swear sometimes I'm good at this game

A player, 4 March 2026 23:55 · in reply

What about effects that would trigger AFTER you win the duel, not as an effect OF winning the duel... like the trait of the sensei or the effect of Meiji experienced?

A player, 5 March 2026 18:25

[20F-TBS] How these events work? Do I put them into play as an open action and then follow their texts? Or they are 1-use events that I have to resolve at the specific phase of the game they indicate (engage, battle/open, dynasty)?

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A player, 5 March 2026 18:27

Yup. There is no event phase. They are one time use events unless that are discarded after the use, unless the event says “put this card/event into play”

kempy_nezumi (not official), 5 March 2026 18:29 · in reply

They are played from Province then discarded. So eg Glimpse you play during Dynasty phase as Dynasty action then it's discarded from Province. Into the Wastes as Engage action during Engage segment of battle etc.

A player, 5 March 2026 18:31

I am starting to remember why I hated Ivory... sigh, ok, good to know...

A player, 5 March 2026 18:31

Thanks a player @kempy_nezumi

kempy_nezumi (not official), 5 March 2026 18:35 · in reply

?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 5 March 2026 18:39

AFAIK this Dynasty/Engage/Battle Events mechanic is continued in fanmade edition.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 5 March 2026 18:47

Anyway Glimpse is a reprint of oldie adapted to Ivory/20F mechanic.

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A player, 5 March 2026 18:47

Good old Glimpse

A player, 5 March 2026 19:14 · in reply

Not exactly. You can put them in play as an open or a dynasty action and then you decide in which turn to resolve the effect, and after you resolve the effect, 1, 2, 3... turns later, you then discard the event. That way, the event doesn't remain face-up in the province, slowing you down... not to mention that there are many events that are permanent...

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 5 March 2026 19:16 · in reply

No, Onyx/ShE Events work just the same as Ivory/20F, not how you describe at all.

A player, 5 March 2026 19:16 · in reply

Now, I am truly confused

A player, 5 March 2026 19:18

[ShE] Let's take this event as an example... let's assume this event appears in my first turn, I can put it into play as an open... then I can wait to resolve its effect as an engage action one, two, or several turns later, right? Then, after it is resolved, the event is discarded, right?

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A player, 5 March 2026 19:20

I was just told that events don't work that way in Ivory/20F

A player, 5 March 2026 19:20 · in reply

👆

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 5 March 2026 19:22 · in reply

Ah, yes, true. Many Onyx/ShE Events will put themselves into play and persist with a trait or an action discarding them from play you may choose to use at a later time, but that's by the explicit card text. The Rules are unchanged, just the Design leans in a different direction. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

A player, 5 March 2026 19:23 · in reply

I see your point. Thanks for the clarification!

A player, 5 March 2026 19:24

👍

A player, 5 March 2026 19:24

[20f]

Can I take a (n) (iaijutsu) battle action during the engage step per [aeshma] + [Kano tessen]?

[attachment: TBS_039_details.png] [attachment: printing_12357_1_details.jpg]
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 5 March 2026 19:25 · in reply

Note there are ShE Events that are still Designed to work the Ivory way, such as A Vision of Ama no Fuchigama.

A player, 5 March 2026 19:26 · in reply

I know, but I don't like those ones 😎

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 5 March 2026 19:27 · in reply

No. Without an explicit exception that the Battle action may be played regardless of being appropriate to the phase, it cannot.

A player, 5 March 2026 19:27

I think the events that are put into play are stronger but I think there are cards that can discard cards from the play (even events) Am I mistaken?

A player, 5 March 2026 19:28 · in reply

[ShE] Indeed, there are events that can discard other events or reshuffle them in the dynasty deck

A player, 5 March 2026 19:28 · in reply

https://tenor.com/view/catinthehat-cat-harumph-drseuss-movie-gif-16090171455832534928

A player, 5 March 2026 19:28

but think there are even strategies that can do that.. or other cards but cannot njot pinpoint none I do not remember

kempy_nezumi (not official), 5 March 2026 19:30

questions got answers. move along citizens.

A player, 5 March 2026 20:23

YES BIG BROTHER

A player, 6 March 2026 01:19

If the event “test of stone” occurs in a one v one match and the challenger is uncontested (like the opponent has no personalities) what happens? Nothing, or is it an auto gain of 4 honor?

A player, 6 March 2026 01:34

[ShE] For purposes of Ninube Aitso exp, can I proclaim him for 4 Honor, because the Recruit action is checking his Personal Honor?

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A player, 6 March 2026 01:34

thus allowing him to make it check his Chi instead?

A player, 6 March 2026 01:36

I guess you're talking about The Black Court's trait, right?

A player, 6 March 2026 01:37

no, his own trait

A player, 6 March 2026 01:37

"You may have actions check Aitso's Chi instead of Personal Honor."

A player, 6 March 2026 01:54 · in reply

https://tenor.com/view/yes-yessss-simpsons-gif-11721141

A player, 6 March 2026 01:56 · in reply

You would think so, but the problem is the word "check" which is ultimately what we need clarification about. As proclaiming in the rulebook doesn't mention checking.

A player, 6 March 2026 01:56

I'm fairly positive you're overthinking it

A player, 6 March 2026 01:57 · in reply

Maybe so. But we would like an answer before heading into the tournie.

A player, 6 March 2026 01:58

https://tenor.com/view/i-warned-you-monty-python-gif-11381181458404364837

A player, 6 March 2026 02:01 · in reply

https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-monty-python-charge-oGOW75SleZPR6

A player, 6 March 2026 02:07

[ShE] If I use Wheels within Wheels to seppuku my personality, can I interrupt with Profitable Losses and respond with Matters of Succession? Or is the destruction not considered part of the action's effects?

[attachment: ShE_362_details.png] [attachment: CRIII_114_details.png] [attachment: RtR_141_details.png]
A player, 6 March 2026 02:10 · in reply

When you play [wheels], the action will rehonor then destroy your target Honorable person.

Then, You can take interrupts to that open action and you can take responses to that open action. (Yes and yes)

A player, 6 March 2026 02:10

[ShE] additionally, if I have the back-side of my Stronghold, can I use the Favor to use Yushiro's action, and then later in the turn bow him for the same effect? Does the nature of it being Repeatable mean that it doesn't count as having used it that turn? Or does it prevent the Once rule from stopping me to use it?

[attachment: CRIII_031_details.png] [attachment: ShE_380b_details.png]
A player, 6 March 2026 02:11 · in reply

I have been informed that this was ruled differently for the case of Kitsu Nishi, who has a similar effect.

A player, 6 March 2026 02:13 · in reply

That would be lovely... but seppuku is the effect (not action) from the rulebook that is destroying. Not the action.

If the ruling goes against my previous ruling I was told as stated above, and instead the seppuku IS an action, then by gawd you know im making my decks new and honor rocketing like a mofo!

A player, 6 March 2026 02:15

I was using wheels that way in my Genshin deck last year. So, I was not at all aware of this ruling until today.

A player, 6 March 2026 02:16 · in reply

Might have already been answered.

(link)

It's only favor action if you're using the favor

A player, 6 March 2026 02:19 · in reply

Where's this previous ruling you're referencing?

Seppuku USED TO be a rulebook effect. I believe onyx/she removed it (could be wrong here)

A player, 6 March 2026 02:20 · in reply

right, but it has Repeatable as long as I'm using the Favor. So, under what circumstances can I use it twice in the same turn?

A player, 6 March 2026 02:20 · in reply

It is absolutely a rulebook effect. and not an action... which is the whole problem.

https://discordapp.com/channels/1099299053814161419/1140814487289606184/1348087095595630744

A player, 6 March 2026 02:23 · in reply

Oh then you showed your work, why is the question being asked again? (Looks like I'm wrong and seppuku is still a rulebook effect lin ShE)

A player, 6 March 2026 02:24 · in reply

I didn't have the link, andrew was asking because they were under the impression that wheels was the action causing the destruction.

A player, 6 March 2026 02:24

And if they intend to use the deck for the tournie they need someone that isn't me to give them a ruling.

A player, 6 March 2026 02:24

lol

A player, 6 March 2026 02:25 · in reply

Onyx/she rules declare what a favor action is=

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A player, 6 March 2026 02:26 · in reply

But you just showed me/ us a ruling that "isn't you", huh?

A player, 6 March 2026 02:27 · in reply

because I eventually found it

A player, 6 March 2026 02:27

I knew what I was told, I just didn't remember when/how/I was told... and I could just be talkin out my foot lol

kempy_nezumi (not official), 6 March 2026 06:47 · in reply

(link)

A player, 6 March 2026 08:15 · in reply

Under the presented conditions, if i remember how L5R works correctly, Repeatable will check if the action has already been used that turn or not.

This means that the second and later uses can only be Favor actions, not the non-Favor bow-cost. As Anj pointed out from rules text, an action that has "X or Favor" as a cost is only a Favor action if the Favor cost is the one paid

A player, 6 March 2026 08:19

As for Ninube Aitso exp2, actions that check, use, or look for Personal Honor may do so with her Chi instead, meaning yes, Proclaim with Chi.

A player, 6 March 2026 08:19

So, I'd have to Bow for the action first, then straighten, and then I can use the favor version as much as I want.

A player, 6 March 2026 08:19

(er, as much as I can spend the favor)

A player, 6 March 2026 08:33

Yes, if you want to use the bow action, that is

A player, 6 March 2026 14:41

If I have Ring of Air and want to use it 3 times, for instance.

A player, 6 March 2026 14:43

So, Doji Meiji, Ninube Aitsu, and anyone with a Favor Action... Seems pretty good.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 6 March 2026 17:00 · in reply

Nothing. But as i wrote above, next time please mark your question with edition/format tag like [Imperial], [Gold] in the beginning etc as some cards have multiple versions printed in many edition with different wordings (like ToS has 4 versions). Also some rules changed through editions.

A player, 6 March 2026 17:31

Ok thanks! I’ll def do that next time. I gotta find out the name of the format I’m looking for 😅

A player, 6 March 2026 19:00

Formats would be named by arc or something more specialized:

- Imperial - Jade - Jade Extended (includes some Imperial cards) - Gold - Diamond - Lotus - Samurai - Celestial - Emperor - Emperor Extended (includes all Celestial) - Ivory - Twenty Festivals - Modern (SE, CE, EE, IvE, 20F, Singleton, 50/50) - Open (all cards with ban list, formulated by AEG) - Obsidian Hand Legacy (all cards with ban list, formulated by fans) - Big Deck (all cards, Singleton, 80/80) Onyx Lives formats - Twenty Festivals with The Blackest Storm - Onyx - Shattered Empire

And there could also be other formats.

A player, 6 March 2026 19:01

Ok thanks!

A player, 7 March 2026 01:23

[20F-TBS] What happens if I use School of Wizardry to pay for Hida Kozan as a Phoenix player? Does it cover the 2 additional gold I have to pay since she doesn't have my clan alignment? Or I would need to pay those 2 additional gold with another holding?

What happens if I want to use that holding to recruit Tonbo Jairyu with the invest? Do I need to pay the 5 additional gold with another holding or holdings? or does School of Wizardry cover the invest?

[attachment: 003.jpg] [attachment: 002.jpg] [attachment: 001.jpg]
A player, 7 March 2026 01:25

[20F-TBS] If I want to get all the features from this spell do I need to invest 10 gold or only 4?

[attachment: 004.jpg]
kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 01:47 · in reply

SoW pays for whole cost including Invest.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 01:47 · in reply

10

A player, 7 March 2026 01:49 · in reply

Including the 2 additional gold for Kozan due to her clan alignment?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 01:49

Yes.

A player, 7 March 2026 01:50 · in reply

Awesome! Thanks!

A player, 7 March 2026 01:54

[20F-TBS] Follow up question... what would happen in this case? @kempy_nezumi can I recruit/proclaim her with SoW including the invest? Or since the invest cannot be reduced, I would have to pay those 10 golds with other holding or holdings?

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A player, 7 March 2026 02:49 · in reply

yes? [SoW] does not pay for invest costs "like that"

(link)

A player, 7 March 2026 04:49

[ShE] Does Doji Yasuko's ability trigger off of focus effects giving you honor?

[attachment: ShE_095_details.png]
A player, 7 March 2026 04:53

[ShE] And follow up question, can Takuma respond to focus effects giving you honor?

[attachment: RoU_032_details.png]
A player, 7 March 2026 05:03 · in reply

No

A player, 7 March 2026 05:03 · in reply

No

A player, 7 March 2026 05:09 · in reply

Thanks!

A player, 7 March 2026 07:42 · in reply

@kempy_nezumi do this apply only for Orinoko or this also applies for the previous examples as well?

A player, 7 March 2026 07:43

@Brook Cunningham hi, could you please help me with this question? (link)

A player, 7 March 2026 08:01 · in reply

Could we get a clarification on this 😃

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 08:21 · in reply

Orinokos trait says that her Invest cost cant be reduced do SoW cant pay for this Invest.

A player, 7 March 2026 08:24 · in reply

That's what I had assumed, but a player reply, and the message he quoted gave me the impression that SoW couldn't pay for invest costs in general.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 08:25

(link)

A player, 7 March 2026 08:30

Awesome, so SoW can't overcome Orinoko's restriction, but it can reduce any other invest cost as long as they are similar to the example of my first question, right?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 08:44

Yes

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 7 March 2026 12:02 · in reply

Alex was mistaken in the post you linked. See above.

To explain why/how: "Before you pay" DOES trigger for 0G costs, but he contended that it didn't and therefore Invest could not be chosen.

A player, 7 March 2026 13:45

@kempy_nezumi @Brook Cunningham Thanks a lot!!!

A player, 7 March 2026 18:57

[Jade extended] I had a couple of questions for this older format: 1) what kind of mulligan rules are there? I saw sun and moon had a tutorial where you can put your first dynasty flips back to your bottom of the deck, and then refill with face downs on turn one. I don’t remember that rule growing up, so I thought maybe it was a newer format rule. 2) how do you determine who goes first in extended jade? Random dice roll, or highest honor/ highest honor plus a fate card cut? Thanks!

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:05

1) There were none. Goldscrews were often a huge problem. 2) Usually highest honour goes first, then decide randomly in case of a tie.

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:05

Which is the SnM way, conveniently. There were times when it was done via the SH + cut-for-FV method, and it's valid, but not supported in SnM.

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:07

On a doesn't-matter-any-more level, there _was_ something to deckbuilding to optimize for that particular thing, especially in the mirror. So Super High Average Focus Value Crane™ to try and win the mirror _and_ against Lion/Phoenix.

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:08

More on 1), correct, the first "Legacy" Holding (Gifts & Favours) came out in... Diamond? Tail end of Gold? Somewhere around there. So the first five to six years were without, and goldscrews being A Thing™.

A player, 7 March 2026 19:18

depending on how you define "Mulligan", there have never been mulligans in L5R.

The methods of reducing gold screw have been cycling out your first turn's flips, and searching up a holding if you don't buy one on turn 1. But, those have only ever been implemented as in-game fixes, rather than pre-game. And you could never do this to your Fate hand.

The argument could be made that cycling your dynasty cards is a mulligan, but I think the fact that you still resolve events and can take actions before doing so makes it more of a built-in feature of the game, rather than a pre-game fix.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 19:27 · in reply

Ad 1) such Dynasty rulebook Cycle was introduced in last edition (Ivory ad 2014). In 2 previous editions, Celestial and Emperor players start with additional holding that also allows it. In some older editions are selfsearchable Holdings. But really early editions like Imperial or Jade have none of them.

A player, 7 March 2026 19:32

Ok thanks for the feedback everyone! So in the absence of turn one dynasty flips to the bottom, you just discard the cards you don’t want on turn one? ( like any other turn?)

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:34

Yeah, you can end up effectively skipping a turn if there's nothing that resolves, enters play, or that you can buy.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 7 March 2026 19:35

You may always discard any face up cards at the end of turn.

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:35

Side note, the Event called "Emergence of the Tortoise" was quite fun back in Clan Wars and Jade.

saaam (not official), 7 March 2026 19:36

Because of that.

A player, 8 March 2026 00:44

[Jade Extended] Do spells count as items? Like, for the purpose of imperial gift?

Answers on: Imperial Gift
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 8 March 2026 00:45 · in reply

No. Those are two different card types.

A player, 8 March 2026 00:46

Ok thanks!☺️

A player, 9 March 2026 12:51

[20F-TBS] What happens if I transfer the full invested (10 Gold) Guidance in War to another shugenja using The Miya Records? Does the new shugenja gets all the benefits or the spell transfers uninvested?

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A player, 9 March 2026 12:53

[20F-TBS] If I want to pay Guidance in War's full invest to attach it to Isawa Hibana, do I have to pay 10 gold or only 8?

[attachment: 003.jpg]
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 9 March 2026 12:53 · in reply

The "while it remains" duration ends when it is no longer attached to the first Shugenja, and you have a 10G blank Spell.

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 9 March 2026 12:53 · in reply

EDIT: 10. It's not a Fire Spell.

A player, 9 March 2026 12:54 · in reply

Thanks!!

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 9 March 2026 12:54 · in reply

See EDIT.

A player, 9 March 2026 12:54 · in reply

LoL... you are right!!!! For some reason I thought it was a fire spell... perhaps the illustration misled me...

A player, 9 March 2026 19:53

[ShE] Okay, so I have a Ninube Aitso in play, and I just bowed for the effect to increase my opponent's honor losses by 1. My opponent plays Hired Killer while they have a Hoji Misato in play, killing Aitso, and redirecting the honor loss to me with Misato's interrupt.

How much honor do I lose? 3 or 4?

[attachment: CRII_031_details.png] [attachment: CRIII_030_details.png] [attachment: ShE_316_details.png]
A player, 10 March 2026 02:24

[ShE] Can non Raid battle actions be taken during a Raid battle?

A player, 10 March 2026 02:26 · in reply

Yes

A player, 10 March 2026 20:34

[ShE] When do players lose unspent gold they've produced?

A player, 10 March 2026 20:37 · in reply

4

A player, 10 March 2026 20:53 · in reply

When that phase ends

A player, 10 March 2026 20:55

In the Action Phase (I think it is called that way, don't have the comprehensive rules file at hand) you have a gold pool that is consumed once you enter Battle Phase. Then another gold pool is created during that phase. Finally, that second gold pool is discarded before entering the Dynasty phase where a third gold pool is created.

A player, 11 March 2026 16:49 · in reply

Is there any chance you could explain that a bit more? Like, when an honor loss is redirected, what exactly is happening? Where would I find this in the comp rules?

A player, 11 March 2026 16:51

Is it being prevented and then an equal loss is applied to another player?

If that's the answer, I expect it's not (as I suppose I assumed) the target of the loss being altered.

A player, 11 March 2026 17:55 · in reply

After some thought, the answer is 3. Let me break it down:

Crane player uses Aitso on the Mantis player. The Mantis player uses Hired Killer and Interrupts with Misato. At this point, neither player has suffered an honor loss as the action is still “resolving.” Once the Interrupt step is finished and you move to resolve the action, the honor loss is redirected. The Mantis player never actually lost honor, so there is nothing to increase.

The key point is Aitso’s action “A target player’s Honor losses…” is referring to the player, not their actions specifically.

A player, 12 March 2026 14:29

(LEGACY QUESTION) I have 0 rings in play. Can I us Changing Paths to Declare Ring of Void, and then immediately search for it and put it into play? Similar question. If I play Changing Paths to Declare False Ring Of Fire, can I immediately search for it and put it into play?

[attachment: printing_1294_2_details.png] [attachment: printing_6338_22_details.png] [attachment: printing_10533_1_select.png] [attachment: printing_8603_1_details.png]
kempy_nezumi (not official), 12 March 2026 14:37

Those Rings dont have traits to put them into play. They enter play by Limited/Open abilities.

A player, 14 March 2026 14:06

[20F-TBS] Can this fortification negate an engage action at another battlefield?

[attachment: 000.jpg]
A player, 14 March 2026 14:38

No. Fortifications have to be at the current battlefield to use their actions

A player, 14 March 2026 14:45 · in reply

Thanks!

A player, 14 March 2026 14:47

If it could be use in another battlefield it would say that that it can.

saaam (not official), 15 March 2026 07:31

[ShE?] Interrupts need to meet the rule of presence or whatever it's called now?

A player, 15 March 2026 07:39

It's still called rule of presence, and yes. They also have to follow the rule of location.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 15 March 2026 07:40 · in reply

Format tag please. Just because in some formats movement actions may create presence.

A player, 15 March 2026 09:16

[Obh] at'tok'tuk sensei and Shadowlands Horde. Ratlings gain shadowlands but can not have their cost reduced, I am right?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 15 March 2026 09:20

Theres no Shadowlands clan alignment for Personalities.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 15 March 2026 09:22

Only stuff this Sensei provides to SH player is reduced Ratling Followers' cost.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 15 March 2026 09:25
[attachment: Screenshot_20260315-102453.png]
A player, 15 March 2026 11:32

Thanks Kempy

A player, 15 March 2026 11:33

Another question about OBH.

A player, 15 March 2026 11:34

[Obh] a player with Shadowlands Horde Sh must pay 2 extra gold for personalities non shadowlands and clan alignment?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 15 March 2026 11:35 · in reply

Correct. As seen in point "3" above, the OBH Rules give a specific exemption to "out of Clan tax" for SLH players, but only for Personalities with Shadowlands.

A player, 15 March 2026 12:24

Thanks!

A player, 16 March 2026 08:17

[20F]: https://oracleofthevoid.com/#game=l5r,#cardid=11303, can i target a cavalry unit in play with this ability to, at least in theory, cancel its cavalry ability during the attack phase ?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 16 March 2026 08:29

No. Cavalry Engage is a rulebook ability.

A player, 16 March 2026 11:55

Nor is cavalry an ability, but a keyword.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 16 March 2026 11:58
[attachment: Screenshot_20260316-125802.png]
A player, 16 March 2026 20:24

[Obh] duelist trait have some effect in obh?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 16 March 2026 20:31

yes, same as in 20F

kempy_nezumi (not official), 16 March 2026 20:32

duelist wins ties against non-duelist

A player, 16 March 2026 20:33

Nice, thanks

A player, 22 March 2026 09:02

[Imperial]

Can this Stronghold use the Reaction ability even if the Lion player has no presence in battle?

[attachment: image0.jpg]
A player, 22 March 2026 09:03

@Brook Cunningham

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 22 March 2026 09:51 · in reply

Yes. Reactions are not beholden to the Rules of Presence/Relevance, only Battle or Open actions.

A player, 22 March 2026 12:42 · in reply

That SH is so strong

A player, 22 March 2026 19:37

[ShE] and ongoing next arc does this card counts kihos that was played before it was put into play? I assume yes but i want to be certain.

[attachment: image.png]
A player, 22 March 2026 20:05

That's how I read it.

A player, 22 March 2026 20:11 · in reply

Yes

A player, 23 March 2026 08:21

and that cards count itself as a kiho for its trait?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 23 March 2026 09:32 · in reply

Yes. No reason it wouldn't.

A player, 24 March 2026 00:59

[Legacy] does the key word “rich region” mean anything?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 24 March 2026 01:06 · in reply

Mechanically, no. It's just for "color"/flavor.

A player, 24 March 2026 13:20

[obh] If I'm playing out of Journey's End Keep XP, and I have three Imperial Personalities who also have separate clan alignments (A scorpion, lion, and crane walk into a bar...), does Mutual Support give a force bonus? My assumption is yes, given that they still have different clan alignments, even though the share the Imperial alignment.

[attachment: printing_10406_1_details.png] [attachment: printing_10384_2_details.png]
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 24 March 2026 13:36 · in reply

Correct.

A player, 24 March 2026 20:03 · in reply

Ok thanks!

A player, 25 March 2026 01:40

[Legacy] for Test of the Emerald Champion, are opponents forced to choose a challenger for the event’s duel? Like if they have one personality on the table, they had to choose that one?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 25 March 2026 01:42 · in reply

No. Accepting the challenge is optional.

A player, 25 March 2026 01:44

Ok thanks! And then if the duel is uncontested, the player who has the event removes their champion from the game, gets 3 honor, and a province?

A player, 25 March 2026 01:44

Or only if there was a challenger?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 25 March 2026 01:46

The 3 Honor is only for any duels won. Then, if no duels were lost (either because they were all won or none happened), the Champion is rftg and a province is gained.

A player, 25 March 2026 01:46

Ok thanks so much!

A player, 25 March 2026 06:38

[OBH Legacy] Just seeking confirmation that Hantei the XVI Inexperienced is the only Hantei personality with the "Imperial" keyword or should the other Hanteis (i.e. Hantei Genji) also have "Imperial"?

Answers on: Hantei Genji
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 25 March 2026 09:28 · in reply

As incongruous as it seems (and admittedly is), "Emperor" was never implicitly equivalent to "Imperial". They weren't printed with, or errated to add, "Imperial" so they are technically not.

A player, 27 March 2026 15:02

[OBH] "Unaligned" is not a keyword anymore, so a Personality who lacks one of the recognized clan alignments is Unaligned, correct? So many of the Ronins, for example, are Unaligned and will care about cards that care about Unaligned?

A player, 27 March 2026 15:04

Pretty much all of the rule sets consider anything without recognized clan alignments for your format as unaligned.

A player, 28 March 2026 00:46

ShE if I use Nitoshi's gift and then raid, does the raid count as a "battlefield"

Answers on: Nitoshi's Gift
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 00:51 · in reply

Raids do create a battlefield. It would be better to know which effect you're using to create the Raid to give you a more complete answer, though.

A player, 28 March 2026 01:00

The Mantis stronghold

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 01:05 · in reply

Ah, ok. So yes, using Nitoshi's Gift could indeed make your opponent think twice about assigning or moving the target to Defend at your Raid Attack's battlefield.

A player, 28 March 2026 12:48

[Soul of the Empire] Can someone please explain the card “empty cravasse?” It might be just because I tend to stick to the old formats and have never seen a card like this before 🙂 so it attaches to a province when you spend the gold for it, but it enters bowed, and you can bow it on later turns for gold?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 28 March 2026 13:03 · in reply

It's Jade or Legacy question? Please edit. SotE is a name of expansion.

kempy_nezumi (not official), 28 March 2026 13:05

Its a Fortification Holding type of card. It's just a Holding but it attaches to Province. If Province is destroyed, this one is also discared.

A player, 28 March 2026 13:21

Ok thanks! And I guess [Jade]?

kempy_nezumi (not official), 28 March 2026 13:23

Jade

kempy_nezumi (not official), 28 March 2026 13:24
[attachment: image.png]
A player, 28 March 2026 13:43 · in reply

It's actually a good combo with Isawa Taeruko, searching fortifications. Battle or open. Crab wall deck makes it very fast

A player, 28 March 2026 15:02

[20F] Can I use Yoritomo Yusuke's tireless open ability to dishonor and straighten him if he's already dishonored?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 15:03 · in reply

No. If effects are connected by the word "to", the one before the "to" must occur, or the one after will not.

A player, 28 March 2026 15:48

[20f]

I feel like I'm going crazy trying to find this question that I know has been asked and answered in here

Can you "over pay" a 0gc (no gold cost listed) strategy?

(For example: can I announce [imperial summons], and "pay 2 gold using [temple fortress]" to gain honor?) (In addition, for this example, does that make 2g float for the phase?)

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 15:49 · in reply

No. Sorry, I'm not by the CR currently to cite that, but I'm quite sure you can't.

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 15:52 · in reply

I believe it came up in here most recently asking about creating a copy of a card with an Invest trait, and because you don't pay for the copy, there is no trigger/step in which you even have any option to pay, which is what causes Invest to trigger.

A player, 28 March 2026 15:54

But, that's specific to invest? But, I understand what you be saying

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 16:09 · in reply

Well, the logic carries through. If there is no opportunity to "pay costs" for something which has no cost, then you cannot overpay for it. Note that this would be different for something with a printed (or reduced-to) 0G cost, for which one could overpay.

saaam (not official), 28 March 2026 17:05 · in reply

Usually, on your first turn playing Eternal Halls of the Shiba, you get a Taeruko and a free Holding. On your opponent's turn, you use Taeruko to fetch and attach an Empty Crevasse. On your second turn, it now unbows and is usable. You can then fetch a second one on your opponent's second turn. Etc.

A player, 28 March 2026 17:19

Oh ok thanks!

A player, 28 March 2026 17:21

[Jade] regarding dishonoring personality effects, suppose there is an honored personality in play with 3 PH. You attach a follower with RH of 3 to it. Then after it’s been attached, if later on said personality is dishonored with PH reducing to 0, does the follower stay attached? Or are they disgusted with the lack of honor and just leave?

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 28 March 2026 17:22 · in reply

It stays. HR is only checked upon attaching.

A player, 28 March 2026 17:23

Ok thought so, thanks!

A player, 29 March 2026 01:14

[20F] Does the target of Holding Cells have to be at the battle where it's performed?

Answers on: Holding Cells
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 29 March 2026 01:16 · in reply

Yes. Rule of Location.

A player, 29 March 2026 16:10

[Jade] for Kolat Master, that doesn’t change the personality’s clan, right? For instance you can’t give an ancestral weapon later on to someone from another clan that you’ve grabbed with Kolat Master, right?

Answers on: Kolat Master
Brook Cunningham (rules official), 29 March 2026 16:11 · in reply

Correct. Changing control does not implicitly change Clans. Such an effect would have to be explicit (see Oath of Fealty).

A player, 29 March 2026 16:11

Ok thanks!

A player, 30 March 2026 12:33

[20F] can a dishonor personnality lobby for the favor ? And can a dishonor personnality choose to keep an honor gain and ont ne rehonored ? Thanks !

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 30 March 2026 12:35 · in reply

No and no. Note that the target of the Lobby ability must have 1 or higher PH.

A player, 31 March 2026 02:31

[Jade] For Kitsu Osen exp ETB effect, you can’t use feign death to save your targeted personality, right? Bc they are removed from the game instead of destroyed?

Answers on: Kitsu Osen, Feign Death
A player, 31 March 2026 02:32

Err, regular Kitsu Osen

A player, 31 March 2026 02:33

(Plus flavor wise, it just doesn’t make any sense)

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 31 March 2026 02:35 · in reply

No, you were right the first time; Kitsu Osen Exp.

Brook Cunningham (rules official), 31 March 2026 02:36 · in reply

Correct. RftG is not the same as destroyed.

A player, 31 March 2026 02:51

Ok thanks!