DAMAGE STEP DETAILS
Here is an explanation of the Damage Step and when certain card effects are
activated. Remember that the Damage Step comes after the Battle Step. Items
with [bracketed numbers] are the sections explicitly listed in the rulebook.
Items with >>arrows are additional sub-sections that might crop up.
[1] Enter the Damage Step
>> "Sasuke Samurai", "Paladin of White Dragon", "Mystic Swordsman LV2",
"Mystic Swordsman LV 4" activate and resolve now.
[2] Flip target card face-up if face down
>> Continuous monster effects like "Jinzo", "Goblin King", "The Agent of
Force - Mars", apply as soon as they are flipped face-up.
>> "Reflect Bounder", if attacked while in Attack Position, inflicts damage
to the opponent now.
[3] Calculate and apply damage Part 1: "Calculate damage"
The following effects can be activated, form a chain, and
resolve:
>> Trap Cards and Quick-Play Spell Cards that modify ATK or
DEF, including "Limiter Removal" and "Mirror Wall".
>> Effects that negate the activation of a card can be used
in response, such as Counter Trap Cards, and monster effects like "Horus the Black Flame Dragon
LV8" and "Maryokutai".
>> Monster effects that can be activated during the Damage
Step and that modify ATK or DEF, like "Injection Fairy Lily" and "Sanga of
the Thunder".
>> "Disc Fighter's" effect is resolved between 'Calculate damage' and 'Apply
Damage'.
[4] Calculate and apply damage Part 2: "Apply damage"
>> Inflict damage to players' Life Points.
>> Card effects that activate when a monster inflicts Battle
Damage to a player's Life Points activate, form a chain, and resolve now
("Don Zaloog", "Airknight Parshath", "Robbin' Goblin", etc.).
>> "Reflect Bounder", if attacked while in Attack Position, destroys itself
now.
[5] Resolve effects
>> From this point forward, monsters are considered
"destroyed". So monsters destroyed by "Dark Ruler Ha Des" cannot activate
their effects, destroyed monsters are not eligible for selection by card
effects such as "Hane Hane", etc.
>> Activate unresolved card effects now that do not activate
when a monster is sent to the Graveyard. Examples: all Flip Effects, "D. D.
Warrior Lady", "Wall of Illusion", and the effects of "Slate Warrior" and
"Royal Keeper" that increase their ATK and DEF. These effects form a chain
and then resolve.
[6] Send to the Graveyard
>> Send destroyed monsters to the Graveyard.
>> Activate effects that activate "at the end of the Damage
Step" like "Legendary Jujitsu Master", "Getsu Fuhma", and "Ryu Kokki", as
well as effects that activate when the monster is sent to the Graveyard,
such as "Mystic Tomato", "Giant Rat", "Witch of the Black Forest", "Sangan".
These effects form a chain and then resolve.