Goat format ruling
Skill Drain
Card effect (current official text)Activate by paying 1000 LP. Negate the effects of all face-up monsters while they are face-up on the field (but their effects can still be activated).
Rulings
- Paying 1000 LP is a cost.
- Skill Drain negates the effects of face-up Effect Monsters on the field, but does not negate effects that activate in the GY, such as Witch of the Black Forest, Sangan, Mystic Tomato, Giant Rat, Exiled Force, Sinister Serpent, and Vampire Lord.
- If your Dark Flare Knight is sent to the GY while Skill Drain is applying, its effect activates in the GY so you can Special Summon Mirage Knight (but Mirage Knight's effects will be negated once it is in play).
- If your Neko Mane King is sent to the GY by your opponent's card effect while Skill Drain is applying, its effect is activated.
- If your Twin-Headed Behemoth is destroyed and sent to the GY while Skill Drain is applying, its effect activates and it is Special Summoned.
- "Skill Drain" will not negate an Ignition Effect or Trigger Effect if the Effect Monster is not face-up on the field when the effect resolves.
- Skill Drain does not stop you from activating Ignition Effects, but it does negate their effects as long as the Effect Monster remains on the field. If you Tribute Cannon Soldier to itself while Skill Drain is applying, Cannon Soldier's effect is not negated because Cannon Soldier is in the GY, but if you Tribute a different monster for Cannon Soldier's effect, then the effect is negated and your opponent takes no damage. Likewise, if you activate Winged Minion's effect while Skill Drain is applying, Winged Minion is no longer on the field and its effect resolves. If you activate Exiled Force's effect while Skill Drain is applying, Exiled Force is no longer on the field and you can select and destroy 1 monster on the field. If you Tribute Paladin of White Dragon to activate its effect while Skill Drain is applying, it is no longer on the field and you can Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon. (Search for Skill Drain 2 to continue reading (if you dare...))
Rulings data courtesy of Format Library — formatlibrary.com. Spotted an inaccuracy? Flag it in the Goat forum — sourced change requests get reviewed.