Every card effect has a Spell Speed of 1, 2 or 3. Spell Speed decides two things: whether you can use a card on your opponent’s turn, and whether it can respond to another card in a chain.
The rule in one line
You can only respond to an effect with something that’s Spell Speed 2 or higher and at least as fast as what you’re responding to.
Spell Speed 1 — the slowest
- Normal, Equip, Continuous, Field and Ritual Spells
- Monster Ignition Effects, Trigger Effects and Flip effects
Spell Speed 1 cards can’t be activated in response to anything. Normally they can only be Chain Link 1, unless several Spell Speed 1 effects trigger at the same time.
Spell Speed 2
- Normal and Continuous Traps
- Quick-Play Spells
- Monster Quick Effects
These can respond to Spell Speed 1 or 2 effects, and can typically be activated during any phase, including on your opponent’s turn (Traps and Set Quick-Plays still can’t be used the turn they were Set). Konami calls effects of Spell Speed 2 or higher fast effects.
Spell Speed 3 — the fastest
- Counter Traps
A Counter Trap can respond to anything. Only another Spell Speed 3 card can respond to it.
Quick Effects and hand traps
A monster’s Quick Effect is the exception among monster effects: all other monster effects are Spell Speed 1, but Quick Effects are Spell Speed 2. You’ll often see “(Quick Effect)” written on the card.
Some Quick Effects work from the hand, usually by discarding the card. Players call these hand traps, because they act like Traps your opponent can’t see coming. Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Effect Veiler are well-known examples. See What are hand traps?
Quick check
| You want to respond to… | You can use |
|---|---|
| A Normal Spell or Ignition Effect (Speed 1) | Speed 2 or 3 |
| A Trap, Quick-Play or Quick Effect (Speed 2) | Speed 2 or 3 |
| A Counter Trap (Speed 3) | Speed 3 only |
Next: What are hand traps?