Card Rulings:Solemn Judgment

TCG Rulings

Mentions in Other Rulings

• Machina Fortress: You can negate this Summon with “Thunder King Rai-Oh” or “Solemn Judgment.”

• Reinforce Truth: If the activation of “Reinforce Truth” is negated by “Seven Tools of the Bandit” or “Solemn Judgment” you can still conduct your Battle Phase. If the effect of “Reinforce Truth” is negated by “Royal Decree” you cannot conduct your Battle Phase.

• Saber Hole: This card activates at the same timing as "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment." It does not target.

Judge Program Forum Rulings

• Suppose that Player A wants to Tribute Summon "Caius the Shadow Monarch". Player A declares that they are Summoning "Caius the Shadow Monarch" and tributes one of their monsters. Player B now has the chance to activate an effect to negate the Summon, like "Solemn Judgment". If they chose not to activate a such effect now, then "Caius the Shadow Monarch" is Normal Summoned successfully, activate its effect, and choose a target for that effect. Player B cannot now try to negate the Summon.

• You cannot activate "Solemn Judgment" against cards like "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness", "Tragoedia" or "Battle Fader". "Solemn Judgment" cannot negate effects. These monsters are being Special Summoned via an effect.

• Blue Rose Dragon: If the "Black Rose Dragon" was not properly Synchro Summoned initially, you will not be able to Special Summon it with the effect of "Blue Rose Dragon".
  • Example: If the Synchro Summon of "Black Rose Dragon" was negated by "Solemn Judgment", it cannot be Special Summoned from the Graveyard with cards like "Monster Reborn", "Blue Rose Dragon", and "Call of the Haunted".

• Gorz the Emissary of Darkness: Both "Solemn Warning" and "Solemn Judgment" are Counter Trap Cards so they can be activated in the Damage Step. "Solemn Warning" can be activated to negate the Special Summon of "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness". "Solemn Judgment" cannot be activated to negate the Special Summon of "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness".
  • "Solemn Judgment" cannot negate monster effects. "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" is being Special Summoned by a monster effect. "Solemn Warning" does not have such a restriction as its effect includes the ability to negate monster effects as well.

OCG Rulings

• Paying half your Life Points is a cost to activate this card.

• This card does not target.

On Negating Activations

• Parallel World Fusion: If the activation of "Parallel World Fusion" is negated - for example, by "Solemn Judgment" - then you can Special Summon during the same turn. However, if only the effect of "Parallel World Fusion" is negated - for example, by "Royal Oppression" - then you cannot Special Summon during the same turn, since it is still the same turn in which you activated "Parallel World Fusion".

On Negating Summons (In General)

• If the Summon of a monster is negated and destroyed, that monster is not treated as being sent to the Graveyard from the field, hand, Deck, Extra Deck or Banished Zone.

• The effects of "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "Black Horn of Heaven", "Solemn Judgment", and similar cards can only be activated when a monster Special Summons itself without starting a Chain, such as when a Special Summon monster Special Summons itself.
  • Example: The effect of "Thunder King Rai-Oh" can negate the Special Summon of "Cyber Dragon", "Dark Armed Dragon", and "Endymion, the Master Magician".
  • Example: The effect of "Thunder King Rai-Oh" can negate a Synchro Summon" and the Special Summon of "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus" from the Extra Deck.

• The effects of "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "Black Horn of Heaven", "Solemn Judgment", and similar cards cannot negate a Special Summon by another card effect.
  • Example: Cards like "Thunder King Rai-Oh" cannot negate the Special Summon by the effects of "Monster Reborn" or "Polymerization". However, "Solemn Judgment" can also negate the activation of a Spell/Trap Card, so it can negate the activation of "Monster Reborn" or "Polymerization" itself.

• The effects of "Thunder King Rai-Oh", "Black Horn of Heaven", "Solemn Judgment", and similar cards cannot negate a Special Summon which occurs during the resolution of an effect which activates.
  • Example: When Battle Damage is inflicted, the effect of "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" which Special Summons it activates. Thus, you cannot negate this with the effect of "Thunder King Rai-Oh".
  • Example: Monsters in the hand or Graveyard are removed from play to activate the effects which Special Summon "Dark Simorgh". Thus, you cannot negate this with the effect of "Thunder King Rai-Oh".

• If your Normal Summon was negated by "Solemn Judgment" or "Forced Back", then it is still considered that you Normal Summoned during this turn, so you cannot activate the effect of "Red-Eyes Wyvern" during the End Phase.

• If a card like "Solemn Judgment", "Horn of Heaven", or "The Selection" negates the Flip Summon of a monster, then the monster is not treated as being sent from the field to the Graveyard.
  • If the Flip Summon of "Chaos Sorcerer" is negated by a card like "Solemn Judgment", then it is not treated as being successfully Summoned by the method written in the text, so it cannot be Special Summoned by an effect like "Call of the Haunted".
  • If the Flip Summon of "Felgrand Dragon" is negated by a card like "Solemn Judgment", then it is not treated as being sent from the field to the Graveyard, so it cannot be Special Summoned by an effect like "Call of the Haunted".

• If "Solemn Judgment" is activated to negate the Special Summon of "Cyber Dragon", then "Cyber Dragon" is not considered to be in the hand when the effect of "Solemn Judgment" resolves. Thus, if a player controls "The Fabled Unicore", both players have 5 cards in their hands, and "Solemn Judgment" is activated when "Cyber Dragon" is being Special Summoned, then when resolving the effect of "Solemn Judgment" one player has 4 cards in his hand and the other player has 5, so the effect of "The Fabled Unicore" is not applied and the effect of "Solemn Judgment" will not be negated.

Negating the Summon of Specific Cards

• Backup Warrior: If the Special Summon of "Backup Warrior" is negated by an effect like that of "Solemn Judgment" or "Thunder King Rai-Oh", then you still cannot Synchro Summon during the same turn. If the Synchro Summon of a Synchro Monster is negated, then you still cannot Special Summon "Backup Warrior" during the same turn.

• Endymion, the Master Magician: If "Endymion, the Master Magician" Special Summons itself from the hand or Graveyard by removing six Spell Counters from "Magical Citadel of Endymion", then "Thunder King Rai-Oh"/"Black Horn of Heaven"/etc can negate the Special Summon of and destroy "Endymion, the Master Magician".

• Formula Synchron: When Synchro Summoning through the effect of "Formula Synchron", you can use "Solemn Judgment" to negate the negate the Synchro Summon. However, if the effect of "Formula Synchron" is activated at Chain Link 2+, then the Synchro Summon is performed in the middle of resolving a Chain; you cannot interrupt the Chain by activating "Solemn Judgment".

• Machina Fortress: Effects like "Solemn Judgment" and the effect of "Thunder King Rai-Oh" may be activated if "Machina Fortress" is Special Summoning itself by its effect, to negate the Special Summon of "Machina Fortress".

• Ultimate Offering: If you Normal Summon a monster at Chain Link 1 through the effect of "Ultimate Offering", then "Solemn Judgment" and "Horn of Heaven" can be activated to negate the Normal Summon. However, if you Normal Summon a monster at Chain Link 2 through the effect of "Ultimate Offering", then "Solemn Judgment" and "Horn of Heaven" cannot be activated.

• Urgent Tuning: "Solemn Judgment" can be used to negate the Synchro Summon by "Urgent Tuning", but only if "Urgent Tuning" is Chain Link 1. Otherwise, the Synchro Summon occurs in the middle of resolving a chain, so you cannot interrupt the Chain by activating "Solemn Judgment".

Mentions in Other Rulings

• Parallel World Fusion: If the Special Summon of a monster like "Cyber Dragon" is negated - such as by "Solemn Judgment" or "Royal Oppression" - then you still cannot activate "Parallel World Fusion" during the same turn.

• Quick-Span Knight: If a monster like "Quick-Span Knight" or "Beast of the Pharaoh" is used as a Synchro Material Monster but the Synchro Summon is negated by a card like "Solemn Judgment", then the effect of "Quick-Span Knight" does not activate since the Synchro Summon was not successful.

• Sebek's Blessing: "Sebek's Blessing" is activated during the Damage Step of the Battle Phase. "Imperial Order" cannot be activated during the Damage Step, so you cannot Chain "Imperial Order" to "Sebek's Blessing". "Magic Jammer", "Magic Drain", and "Solemn Judgment" can be activated during the Damage Step, so you can Chain these cards to "Sebek's Blessing".

• Thunder King Rai-Oh: "Thunder King Rai-Oh" negates Special Summons the same way that "Solemn Judgment", "Horn of Heaven", and "Black Horn of Heaven" negate Special Summons. You can only use the effect against a Special Summon which does not use a Chain Link. You cannot use the effect when a monster is Special Summoned by the resolution of another card.

• Triple Star Trion: If the Tribute Summon is negated by "Solemn Judgment", then you cannot acivate the effect of "Triple Star Trion".

Previously Official Rulings

• "Solemn Judgment" cannot negate a Special Summon if it results from the activated effect of a monster card, like "Mystic Tomato", "Light and Darkness Dragon", "Van'Dalgyon the Dark Dragon Lord", "Marauding Captain", "Lonefire Blossom", etc.

• "Solemn Judgment" can negate the Special Summon of a monster that is Special Summoned through its own inherent Special Summon effect that does not start a Chain, like "Cyber Dragon", "The Fiend Megacyber", "Dark Necrofear", "Dark Armed Dragon", "Judgment Dragon", "Gladiator Beast Gyzarus", "Elemental Hero Storm Neos", etc.

• You cannot negate the Special Summon of a monster after it is Special Summoned with a Spell or Trap Card, but you can use "Solemn Judgment" to negate the activation of the Spell or Trap Card.

• If halving your Life Points results in a fraction, your Life Points are rounded up.

• "Solemn Judgment" does not target the card it will destroy.

Mentions in Other Rulings

• Blast with Chain: When this card is negated by "Solemn Judgment" or "7 Tools of the Bandit", this card is negated and destroyed and the effect does NOT activate.

• Card of Safe Return: If the Special Summon is negated with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment" you do not get to draw a card.

• Creeping Doom Manta: You can negate the Normal Summon of this monsters with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment". (In which case the Normal Summon failed and the effect of the monster is not applied.)

• Curse of Royal: You can use "Curse of Royal" against cards like "Magic Jammer", "Seven Tools of the Bandit", "Solemn Judgment", "Curse of Royal", "Mystical Space Typhoon", "Dust Tornado", "Magic Drain", "Riryoku Field", "Judgment of Anubis", etc.

• Cyber Dragon: You can negate the Special Summon of "Cyber Dragon" with "Royal Oppression", "Solemn Judgment", or "Horn of Heaven".

• Dark Magic Curtain: If you Normal Summon, Flip Summon, or Special Summon a monster and the monster's Summon is negated (by “Horn of Heaven”, “Solemn Judgment”, etc.), you still cannot activate “Dark Magic Curtain” during the same turn.

• Dark Necrofear: If the Special Summoning of "Dark Necrofear" is negated and "Dark Necrofear" is destroyed by the effect of "Solemn Judgment" or "Horn of Heaven", it will become an Equip Spell Card during the End Phase.

• Destiny Board: The placing of a Spirit Message on the field by the effect of "Destiny Board" cannot be negated with "Magic Jammer", "Magic Drain", "Solemn Judgment", etc.

• Eagle Eye: You can negate the Normal Summon of this monsters with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment". (In which case the Normal Summon failed and the effect of the monster is not applied.)

• Electric Snake: If the summoning of "Electric Snake" is negated by "Solemn Judgment", etc. its effect is not activated, as it is not considered to have gone directly from your hand to the Graveyard.

• Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy: If the Tribute Summon is negated (with "Solemn Judgment", etc.), "Evil Hero Infernal Prodigy's" ^[sic] effect does not activate during the End Phase.

• Fairy Guardian: Spell Cards that are eligible for this card's effect include: Set Spell Cards, Equip Spell Cards, or Continuous Spell Cards destroyed by your opponent's card effects and Spell Cards negated and destroyed by an opponent's "Magic Jammer", "Solemn Judgment", "Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8", etc. It also includes Spell Cards discarded from your hand by your opponent's card effect, like "Delinquent Duo" or "Confiscation" and Spell Cards sent from your Deck to Graveyard by your opponent's "Needle Worm", "Don Zaloog", "Vampire Lord", etc.

• Fire Sorcerer: Removing 2 cards from your hand is part of the resolution of this card's Flip Effect, not part of the cost. So if its Flip Summon is negated by "Solemn Judgment" you do not remove any cards from your hand.

• Granadora: When "Granadora's" Summon is negated and it is destroyed, by "Solemn Judgment" or "Horn of Heaven", the owner of "Granadora" takes the damage.

• Invasion of Flames: You can negate the Normal Summon of this monster with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment". (In which case the Normal Summon failed and the effect of the monster is not applied.)

• Jinzo: When "Jinzo" is Tribute Summoned, cards like "Trap Hole" and "Torrential Tribute" cannot be activated because "Jinzo's" Continuous Effect is applied when it is Summoned, but you can negate its Summon with "Solemn Judgment", "Horn of Heaven", etc.

• Lady Assailant of Flames: Removing 3 cards from the top of your Deck is part of the resolution of this card's Flip Effect, not part of the cost. So if its Flip Summon is negated by "Solemn Judgment" you do not remove any cards from the top of your Deck.

• Minar: If the summoning of "Minar" is negated by "Solemn Judgment", etc. its effect is not activated, as it is not considered to have gone directly from your hand to the Graveyard.

• Pharaoh's Treasure: You cannot activate "Seven Tools of the Bandit" or "Solemn Judgment" when "Pharaoh's Treasure" is drawn.

• Royal Oppression: There are basically 2 ways to Special Summon a monster. The first way is with a Spell Card like "Monster Reborn", a Trap Card like "Call of the Haunted", or an Effect Monster like "Magical Scientist". The second way is built in to the monster, and Special Summons it without activating an effect, such as "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" or "Dark Necrofear". "Royal Oppression" can negate both of these types of Special Summon. In the first case, you chain the activation of "Royal Oppression's" effect to the activation of the Spell, Trap, or Monster Card's effect, and negate the effect. In the second case, right before the monster is Special Summoned, you can activate the effect of "Royal Oppression" to negate the Special Summon (the same procedure that you use for "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment").

• Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys: If "Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys" is Summoned (except by its effect), and the Summon is negated by "Horn of Heaven", it is Special Summoned during your next Standby Phase because it was destroyed by a card effect. When it is Special Summoned by its own effect, "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment" cannot be activated, because it is being Summoned by its own Trigger Effect, not by a built-in "this is how you Summon this monster" effect.

• Sangan: If the Summon of this card is negated with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment" you do not get its effect.

• Skull Knight #2: If the Tribute Summon of a Fiend-Type monster is negated by "Solemn Judgment" or "Horn of Heaven", the effect of "Skull Knight #2" will not activate.

• Soul Exchange: If the activation of your "Soul Exchange" is negated (by "Solemn Judgment", etc.), you may conduct your Battle Phase. If only the effect of "Soul Exchange" is negated (by "Imperial Order", etc.), you may not conduct your Battle Phase.

• Tactical Espionage Expert: You can negate the Normal Summon of this monster with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment". (In which case the Normal Summon failed and the effect of the monster is not applied.)

• Thunder King Rai-Oh: "Thunder King Rai-Oh's" second effect can be activated at the same timing as "Solemn Judgment", "Horn of Heaven", etc., to negate Special Summons that do not start a Chain.

• Trap Monster: You can negate the activation of “Embodiment of Apophis” by chaining “Solemn Judgment” ..., but you cannot use these against it once it is a monster.

• Tyrant Dragon: When you Summon "Tyrant Dragon" the opponent can activate "Solemn Judgment" or "Horn of Heaven" to negate the Summon.

• Vampire Lord: If you Summon "Vampire Lord" (except by its effect) and he is destroyed by your opponent's "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment", "Vampire Lord" will be Special Summoned in your next Standby Phase. When it is Special Summoned by its own effect "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment" cannot be activated, because it is being Summoned by its own Trigger Effect, not by a built-in "this is how you Summon this monster" effect.

• VWXYZ: The Special Summoning of these monsters from the Extra Deck has no Spell Speed and cannot be chained to (but can be negated with "Solemn Judgment").

• Witch of the Black Forest: If the Summon of this card is negated with "Horn of Heaven" or "Solemn Judgment" you do not get its effect.

• Zolga: When a Tribute Summon using "Zolga" is negated by "Solemn Judgment", you don't increase your Life Points.

Judge List Rulings

• Jinzo: If "Jinzo" is Summoned and "Forced Back", "Solemn Judgment", or "Horn of Heaven" is activated to negate the Summon, "Jinzo"'s Continuous Effect does not get a chance to resolve so "Forced Back"'s effect is not negated.

• Raiza the Storm Monarch: "Raiza the Storm Monarch's" effect activates when it is successfully Tribute Summoned. If a card like "Solemn Judgment" negates the Tribute Summon, then the Tribute Summon is not successful so the effect of "Raiza the Storm Monarch" will not activate.