![[READ THIS!] Mandatory vs Optional Effects Empty](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif)
::Optional Effects::
Optional monster effects are Trigger Effects that don't automatically happen when the condition is fulfilled. The Optional Trigger Effect must be called out by the controlling player. You will be able to identify these sort of monster effects when you read the text in their effect. The text will usually say "When...you can...". Cards like Mystic Tomato, Naturia Cliff, Blackwing - Shura, etc. Have these types of effects. Optional trigger effects must be the last thing to happen in a chain. These effects can miss timing, unlike Mandatory or Compulsory effects. Let me give you some examples of situations where a certain effect "misses timing."
Situation 1: Naturia Cliff on the field, and Naturia Bambooshoot in hand.
When tributing Naturia Cliff for Naturia Bambooshoot, you will not be able to get the effect of Naturia Cliff because the last thing to happen in the Chain, is Naturia Bambooshoot. Naturia Cliff's condition is met when he is sent to the graveyard, the Chain must stop there for the effect to resolve. But since the last thing to happen is the summoning of Naturia Bambooshoot, Naturia Cliff misses timing.
Situation 2: Chaining Call of the Haunted when its targeted by Mystical Space Typhoon to get Green Gadget from the graveyard.
A bit more tricky of a situation to see that this does in fact miss the timing. But this is how it works:
Chain Link 1: Mystical Space Typhoon targets the face-down Call of the Haunted.
Chain Link 2: Call of the Haunted is chained and targets Green Gadgets.
-Chain Resolves Backwards-
Call of the Haunted special summons Green Gadget. This is the point in which Green Gadgets effect SHOULD activate, but it cannot interrupt the currently resolving chain.
-Mystical Space Typhoon destroy Call of the Haunted
-Green Gadget misses timing
Situation 3: You have a Geartown on your side of the field. A Dandylion in the grave, and a Debris Dragon in your hand.
You summon Debris Dragon and want to activate his effect, targeting Dandylion in the Graveyard. You synchro summon for Black Rose Dragon and use his effect, sending all cards to the Graveyard. It is at this point that Geartown should activate, but it is not the last thing to happen in the Chain Link. The last thing to happen is the summoning of 2 Dandy Tokens. Thus, Geartown misses timing.
Situation 4: Mystic Tomato vs Mystic Tomato
You attack your opponents Mystic Tomato with your own. Neither effect misses timing here since they both resolve during the damage step at the same time. However, you being the turn player get Mystic Tomatoes effect as Chain Link 1, and your opponents Chain Link 2. Meaning you wait for your opponent to search for a monster first and then you search. This can give you advantage because you might know how to read your opponents move and possibly counter it with your own special summon. Depending on the monster, however.
::Mandatory/Compulsory Effects::
Effects that MUST happen are called Mandatory/Compulsory effects. An example of such effects include Caius the Shadow Monarch, and Sangan. Mandatory trigger effects (or Compulsory Trigger Effects) are always Chain Link 1 in when a Chain is resolving, or it may start its own Chain as Chain Link 1. I'll give you one example/situation of Optional vs Mandatory/Compulsory.
Situation 1: You control a Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame and your opponent has a face-down Legendary Jujitsu Master.
During the damage calculation, you decide to drop a Blackwing - Kalut the Moonshadow to increase the attack of Shura, and destroy Jujitsu Master. Since Jujitsu Master has a mandatory effect, it is automatically placed on Chain Link 1. Shura, being an optional effect is Chain Link 2. So this is how the Chain resolves:
Chain Link 1: Legendary Jiujitsu Master's effect activates.
Chain Link 2: Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flames effect activates when Jujitsu Master is destroyed.
-Chain Resolves Backwards-
-Shura destroys Jujitsu Master and searches Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind from your deck.
-Shura is placed at the top of your deck due to Legendary Jujitsu Master.
This is also applied with Goyo Guardian vs Legendary Jujitsu Master. You can attack Jujitsu Master with Goyo Guardian and Special Summon it to your side of the field, while Goyo Guardian hits the extra deck after that.
Thats it for Optional vs Mandatory/Compulsory effects. If you have any questions contact me. Hope you enjoyed reading, and that this helped you.
P.S. This article is a bit outdated but it should help you understand the concept fairly well. Enjoy!
Last edited by KingMP94 on Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:07 am; edited 1 time in total
Optional monster effects are Trigger Effects that don't automatically happen when the condition is fulfilled. The Optional Trigger Effect must be called out by the controlling player. You will be able to identify these sort of monster effects when you read the text in their effect. The text will usually say "When...you can...". Cards like Mystic Tomato, Naturia Cliff, Blackwing - Shura, etc. Have these types of effects. Optional trigger effects must be the last thing to happen in a chain. These effects can miss timing, unlike Mandatory or Compulsory effects. Let me give you some examples of situations where a certain effect "misses timing."
Situation 1: Naturia Cliff on the field, and Naturia Bambooshoot in hand.
When tributing Naturia Cliff for Naturia Bambooshoot, you will not be able to get the effect of Naturia Cliff because the last thing to happen in the Chain, is Naturia Bambooshoot. Naturia Cliff's condition is met when he is sent to the graveyard, the Chain must stop there for the effect to resolve. But since the last thing to happen is the summoning of Naturia Bambooshoot, Naturia Cliff misses timing.
Situation 2: Chaining Call of the Haunted when its targeted by Mystical Space Typhoon to get Green Gadget from the graveyard.
A bit more tricky of a situation to see that this does in fact miss the timing. But this is how it works:
Chain Link 1: Mystical Space Typhoon targets the face-down Call of the Haunted.
Chain Link 2: Call of the Haunted is chained and targets Green Gadgets.
-Chain Resolves Backwards-
Call of the Haunted special summons Green Gadget. This is the point in which Green Gadgets effect SHOULD activate, but it cannot interrupt the currently resolving chain.
-Mystical Space Typhoon destroy Call of the Haunted
-Green Gadget misses timing
Situation 3: You have a Geartown on your side of the field. A Dandylion in the grave, and a Debris Dragon in your hand.
You summon Debris Dragon and want to activate his effect, targeting Dandylion in the Graveyard. You synchro summon for Black Rose Dragon and use his effect, sending all cards to the Graveyard. It is at this point that Geartown should activate, but it is not the last thing to happen in the Chain Link. The last thing to happen is the summoning of 2 Dandy Tokens. Thus, Geartown misses timing.
Situation 4: Mystic Tomato vs Mystic Tomato
You attack your opponents Mystic Tomato with your own. Neither effect misses timing here since they both resolve during the damage step at the same time. However, you being the turn player get Mystic Tomatoes effect as Chain Link 1, and your opponents Chain Link 2. Meaning you wait for your opponent to search for a monster first and then you search. This can give you advantage because you might know how to read your opponents move and possibly counter it with your own special summon. Depending on the monster, however.
::Mandatory/Compulsory Effects::
Effects that MUST happen are called Mandatory/Compulsory effects. An example of such effects include Caius the Shadow Monarch, and Sangan. Mandatory trigger effects (or Compulsory Trigger Effects) are always Chain Link 1 in when a Chain is resolving, or it may start its own Chain as Chain Link 1. I'll give you one example/situation of Optional vs Mandatory/Compulsory.
Situation 1: You control a Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame and your opponent has a face-down Legendary Jujitsu Master.
During the damage calculation, you decide to drop a Blackwing - Kalut the Moonshadow to increase the attack of Shura, and destroy Jujitsu Master. Since Jujitsu Master has a mandatory effect, it is automatically placed on Chain Link 1. Shura, being an optional effect is Chain Link 2. So this is how the Chain resolves:
Chain Link 1: Legendary Jiujitsu Master's effect activates.
Chain Link 2: Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flames effect activates when Jujitsu Master is destroyed.
-Chain Resolves Backwards-
-Shura destroys Jujitsu Master and searches Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind from your deck.
-Shura is placed at the top of your deck due to Legendary Jujitsu Master.
This is also applied with Goyo Guardian vs Legendary Jujitsu Master. You can attack Jujitsu Master with Goyo Guardian and Special Summon it to your side of the field, while Goyo Guardian hits the extra deck after that.
Thats it for Optional vs Mandatory/Compulsory effects. If you have any questions contact me. Hope you enjoyed reading, and that this helped you.
P.S. This article is a bit outdated but it should help you understand the concept fairly well. Enjoy!
Last edited by KingMP94 on Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:07 am; edited 1 time in total
