The damage step is the part of a battle where damage is calculated. It’s the most restricted window in the game: most cards can’t be used here at all.
The basic rule
According to the official rulebook, during the damage step you can only activate:
- Counter Traps, or
- Cards with effects that directly change a monster’s ATK or DEF,
and only up until the start of damage calculation.
Cards that specifically say they activate at a damage step timing (like “during damage calculation” or “when this card is destroyed by battle”) can activate at those moments too.
The five timings
Konami splits the damage step into five parts:
1. Start of the Damage Step
You declare that you’re entering the damage step. Effects that say “at the start of the Damage Step” activate here.
2. Before damage calculation
If the attacked monster is face-down, flip it face-up now. Cards that change ATK or DEF can be activated. A flipped monster’s Flip effect does not activate yet.
3. Damage calculation
Effects that activate “during damage calculation” activate and resolve first. Then ATK and DEF are compared and damage is dealt. If a monster is destroyed by battle, that’s decided now, but it doesn’t go to the Graveyard yet.
4. After damage calculation
Effects that care about the battle activate here: “when this card battles”, “when battle damage is inflicted”, “after damage calculation”, plus Flip effects from a monster that was flipped earlier in this battle. Monsters destroyed by battle are still on the field.
5. End of the Damage Step
Now monsters destroyed by battle are sent to the Graveyard, and effects like “when this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the GY” activate. Effects that last “until the end of the Damage Step” end. Then you go back to the Battle Step to declare your next attack, or move to the End Step.
Attacking a face-down monster
Flip it face-up before damage calculation, then compare your ATK to its DEF. If it has a Flip effect, the effect activates and resolves after damage calculation. If it needs a target, you can’t target a monster that was already destroyed in that damage calculation.
Common mistakes
- Using a hand trap or Quick Effect in the damage step. Unless it changes ATK/DEF, is a Counter Trap, or the card says it can, it can’t be used here. Use it in the Battle Step instead, before the damage step starts.
- Sending destroyed monsters to the GY too early. They stay on the field until the end of the damage step.
- Resolving a Flip effect immediately. Flip effects from an attacked monster wait until after damage calculation.
Back to the phases of a turn.