Spell Speed
From Yu-Gi-Oh!
Spell Speeds come in 3 settings:
- Spell Speed 1
- Spell Speed 2
- Spell Speed 3
Each Spell Speed can only be countered with one that is greater, or equal. The exception is Spell Speed 1, which cannot be used against each other in normal play.
Summoning a monster and declaring an attack, are actions that do not have a Spell Speed, and therefore cannot be chained to. However, if it was the last action to resolve on the field, you may activate a card in response, which then becomes Chain Link 1. For example, Bottomless Trap Hole used when a monster is Summoned, or Mirror Force when your opponent's monster declares an attack.
[edit] Spell Speed 1
Spell Speed 1 is the slowest of all the Spell Speeds, and is the only Spell Speed that cannot be countered by cards of the same Spell Speed in normal play.
The following are all Spell Speed 1:
- Normal/Field/Continuous/Equip & Ritual Spell Cards
- Continuous/Ignition/Trigger & Flip Monster Effects
- The only case in which Spell Speed 1 effects can be chained against each other, is when they occur simultaneously i.e. 2 "Mystic Tomatos" attacking each other, or 2 "Sangans" attacking each other.
- For simultaneous Spell Speed 1 effects, please see Simultaneous Effects Go On Chain.
[edit] Spell Speed 2
Spell Speed 2 cards can be used against Spell Speed 1 and other Spell Speed 2 cards.
The following are all Spell Speed 2:
[edit] Spell Speed 3
Spell Speed 3 cards can be used against Spell Speed 1, Spell Speed 2, and other Spell Speed 3 cards. Spell Speed 3 cards can only be countered with other Spell Speed 3 cards. Therefore, you cannot counter "Negate Attack", "Magic Jammer", "Trap Jammer" or "Magic Drain" with "Royal Decree".
The only cards that are Spell Speed 3 are Counter Trap Cards
[edit] Spell Speed 4
Spell Speed 4 is a semi-official Spell Speed that was devised to accurately translate the effect(s) of "The Seal of Orichalcos" by Upper Deck Entertainment for use in their "Duel the Master" side events. It has no real-life relation in either the OCG or TCG, and was only intended for use by Upper Deck Entertainment for their version of "The Seal of Orichalcos", to indicate that no other card could counter it, apart from another Spell Speed 4 effect (which would be "The Seal of Orichalcos" again).
Upper Deck Entertainment has repeatedly stated that Spell Speed 4 was never a concept that they designed for use in the TCG. However, some have counter-claimed that, since they created a card (albeit, one that's secret and controlled only by employees of UDE), it still represents a precedent in the order of Spell Speeds.
However, there are cards which have spell speed 4 in a matter of speaking, since their effects will state that they are unable to be chained to and therefore cannot be prevented. "Uria, Lord of Searing Flames" is an example of this. It states in his effect that his effect of destroying face-down spell or trap cards cannot be chained to and if activated immediately, even spell speed three cards that counter monster effects cannot be used in response to the ignition. This also applies to the spell card "Super Polymerization".
