CR / RELEASE 2026-07-24
Rule 359.3.e.14
Some instructions may reference Game Objects affected by, or Game Actions performed in, other instructions in a card. The referenced and referencing instructions are called “linked instructions.” Example: Hidden Blade reads “Kill a unit at a battlefield. Its controller draws 2.” The “its” in the second instruction references the unit in the first, so the two instructions of the spell are linked.
Rule hierarchy
Direct children
359.3.e.14.aIn order for a later linked instruction to execute, its earlier linked instruction must have executed. If the earlier linked instruction is ignored for any reason, the later linked instruction will also be ignored. Example: Hidden Blade reads “Kill a unit at a battlefield. Its controller draws 2.” If the chosen unit changes zones or moves to base in reaction to Hidden Blade, the spell will mistarget and the first instruction will be ignored. If the first instruction is ignored, the second instruction will not execute and the unit’s controller will not draw 2.359.3.e.14.bIf the Game Action performed in an earlier linked instruction is replaced, this will not affect the later linked instruction, unless the later linked instruction directly references the Game Action being performed. Example: Hidden Blade reads “Kill a unit at a battlefield. Its controller draws 2.” This effect is split into two instructions: killing the unit and the targeted unit’s controller drawing 2. The later linked instruction doesn’t reference an action directly, so it will execute even if the kill action of the earlier linked action is replaced by some other event. Example: Deathgrip reads “Kill a friendly unit. If you do, give +[M] equal to its Might to another friendly unit this turn.” If the friendly unit in question is not killed by Deathgrip because its death is replaced with another event, the later linked instruction will not execute because “if you do” directly references the game action.359.3.e.14.cReferencing a game action in this way only refers to the game action being performed and the object or player it was performed on, not the circumstances of its performance. Example: A spell reads “Deal 3 to an enemy unit at a battlefield. If you do, heal units you control at the same location as that unit.” If some but not all of that damage is prevented, the later linked instruction will still execute. Example: A spell reads “Banish an enemy unit at a battlefield, then play it to any battlefield. Then if you do, do this: stun all enemy units there.” A player plays it targeting a unit that has a passive replacement effect that reads “I enter in base.” The replacement effect causes the unit to enter in base, but this does not prevent the reflexive trigger of the spell from being placed on the chain. All that matters is that the unit was played.