Tengu format ruling
Staunch Defender
Card effect (current official text)You can only activate this card when your opponent declares an attack. Select 1 face-up monster on your side of the field. During this turn, your opponent can only designate the selected monster as an attack target and your opponent must attack the selected monster with all face-up monsters.
Rulings
- This card only affects face-up Attack Position monsters on your opponent's side of the field that can attack.
- Activating the card causes a replay.
- Monsters Special Summoned during the Battle Phase after activation of Staunch Defender must also attack the monster selected by Staunch Defender.
- If your monster selected with Staunch Defender is destroyed, your opponent's remaining monsters cannot attack.
- When your opponent chains Ring of Destruction to your Staunch Defender to destroy the selected monster, the effect of Staunch Defender is negated and battle is conducted normally.
- While Staunch Defender is active, your opponent must still pay costs to attack with Dark Elf, etc., if he/she attacks with that monster.
- You cannot select Guardian Kay'est or The Legendary Fisherman for Staunch Defender if they cannot be attacked.
- You can activate Staunch Defender when a monster affected by Diffusion Wave Motion declares an attack. The monster affected by Diffusion Wave Motion will then attack your selected monster once (and only once).
- When you select Spirit Reaper or The Reaper on the Nightmare as the target of Staunch Defender, resolve the chain, and after the effect of Staunch Defender resolves, the selected monster is destroyed. A replay will occur, but the opponent can no longer attack because the selected monster is gone.
- If two Staunch Defenders are activated during the same turn, the last one to resolve will be the one that applies.
- If Absolute End and Staunch Defender are both activated during the same turn, the last one to resolve will be the one that applies.
Rulings data courtesy of Format Library — formatlibrary.com. Spotted an inaccuracy? Flag it in the Tengu forum — sourced change requests get reviewed.