Rule Tidbits – Interacting with the Top Cards of the Deck
Hi meisters! You might probably recognize me from writing for Buddyfight, but I also know quite a little Weiss Schwarz too! Today, we will be going through some minor, but often confusing rules while interacting with the top cards of your deck, so check it out!
Drawing and Looking at Cards
When a card or ability states that the player may look, or draw up to a certain number of cards from the top of deck, the player will either look, or draw cards, one at a time. The player may choose to stop drawing or looking at any time he or she wants.
This is slightly different from the original rule, many years ago, which the player would have to decide the number of cards to look, or draw, before the action is being carried out.
Drawing cards immediately add cards into the hand from the top of deck, but looking at cards will allow them to be looked upon, and then interacted according to the effect. The cards are still a part of the deck during the moment cards at looked at, and before any further interactions which may put them into other zones.
When looking at cards, only the stated player can look at the cards, and unless otherwise stated, are returned back to the top of deck, in their original order face down after the resolution finishes.
When cards in your deck run out while drawing multiple cards, refresh your deck, finish drawing, before resolve the refresh point. However, since the cards are still part of the deck in the case cards run out while looking, the deck doesn’t refresh, and only the available cards can be looked at.
Revealing Top Cards of your Deck
When revealing cards from the top of your deck, the card becomes visible to both players, and is still part of the deck. They also do not move to resolution zone.
Since the cards are still part of the deck, in the case cards run out while revealing, the deck doesn’t refresh, and only the available cards can be revealed.
The cards are also revealed one at a time. Unless otherwise stated, the revealed cards will be put back to the top of deck, in their original order face down after the resolution finishes.
Brainstorm
When revealing cards from the top of deck by the ability of the ability “Brainstorm”, cards are moved to the resolution area, and then they are put to the waiting room one by one.
In the middle of the resolution of Brainstorm, if the deck runs out of cards, the player will perform a deck refresh, continue with revealing the cards, and finish the rest of the effect, before resolving the refresh point.
Putting Cards from the Top of your Deck into Waiting Room
When putting cards from the top of the deck into the waiting room, cards are put at the same time directly into the waiting room instead of putting them into the resolution zone, then to the waiting room.
However, if there aren’t enough cards, continue to put cards until the stated number is put into the waiting room after refreshing the deck, then resolve the refresh point.
Putting Cards from the Top of your Deck into your Clock
Another action involving the top of the deck involves putting cards from the top of deck into the clock. Sometimes, an interesting interaction will occur when there happens to be exactly 0 cards in your deck, and 7 cards in your clock at the same time. As both rules are interrupt type rule actions, choose one of the two to resolve first, then resolve the other pending on right after.
However, when a card with “Encore [Put the top card of your deck into your clock]” is put into the Waiting Room, paying the cost to encore will force the deck into a refresh along with the card that is supposed to be encored. The effect will lose its target, and the card cannot be put on the field.
Conclusion
There are countless more interactions with the top deck and these are about the basics. More and more abilities that revolve around the top deck will show up as more new cards are released, so do look out for them!!
The Writer
February
The Missing Moon Columnist
Not born in February, he just likes the month more than others. A regular in Bushiroad events, he plays not only Buddyfight, but also all other Bushiroad games and has years of experience as a Weiss Schwarz meister. Is into both fun and competitive play. Who knows, you might have played against or met him before…
Weiss Schwarz Weekly Column
Weiss Schwarz Weekly Columnn is a column written by your friendly Bushiroad staff, to provide you insight, tips and advice to become a better Weiss Schwarz Meister. You can look forward to deck tech, card review and event coverage in this column. Weekly updates are available every Wednesday.
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