Double-faced Cards
Last updated
Last updated
In Grand Archive, some cards exist that have two faces, or two sides, each with separate characteristics as opposed to a single side of information and rules text with an information-less card back. Double-faced cards have no card back and instead have another full card face with characteristics and rules text. The default side of the card is modified such that the reserve or memory cost icon reflects which side of the side is being examined, in addition to an embossed upward-pointing arrow in the bottom left of the card. To flip a card to the flip side during a game, the rules text will typically tell a player to "transform" the card as a player action. Transform is the player action that means to flip a card to the other side. The flip side is denoted by the embossed downward-pointing arrow in the reserve or memory cost bubble in addition to a solid downward-point arrow on the bottom left of its text box. There is only one type of double-faced card in Grand Archive, currently.
Double-faced cards must be played on their default side initially. This side is represented by the typical reserve and memory cost icons found on regular, non-double-faced cards. The side with the modified symbol (shown by an embossed arrow on "Fatebound" or "Fatestone"-subtyped cards printed in Abyssal Heaven) can't be played. If a card is currently on the flip side on the field, it is considered "transformed" (and has the transformed property).
Only the characteristics (rules text, abilities, stats, name, type, etc.) on the face-up side are considered for game actions and evaluating the game state. While not on the field, only the default face of the card is considered for characteristics in all other zones.
If a transformed double-faced card is moved from the field to any other zone, it must be physically flipped back to the default side. Last-known information will still consider any characteristics of the transformed side, if applicable.
If a transformed double-face card has a different type than the type on the default side that would change the rules about which zone it would be moved to, it would move to the zone corresponding with the appropriate rules applied to the default side of the card.
If a player has knowledge permissions associated with a double-faced card (i.e., that card is either public or private to that player) they may examine either side of the card by flipping it.
Flipping it in this way will not be considered a transformation.
If a double-faced card is copied, only the characteristics of the present side are copied.
If a card copies the characteristics of a transformed card, the copy will share the characteristics of that card in its transformed state.
Copies of transformed cards cannot themselves transform. If a player attempts to transform a copy of a card that is either transformed or can be transformed, nothing will happen, and the action is skipped. Any costs paid will not be "refunded."
E.g. If a player banishes a Clockwork Amalgam that has copied Suzaku, a transformed ally, and opts to pay for the On Banish ability, Clockwork Amalgam will stay banished as it is not itself a double-faced card and can't transform.
Double-faced cards can still be considered "face-down." In this situation, a placeholder card with a default Grand Archive card back should be used to represent the card. A face-down double-faced card will not be considered transformed, will have no characteristics other than being a card, and should be treated as a non-double-faced Grand Archive card. The use of opaque sleeves are suitable for hiding the back of a double-faced card, and the opaque card back may be used to treat the card as "face-down."
Transforming a double-faced card does not cause it to become a new object, however, any static abilities that are now active as a result of the transformation will receive a new timestamp.
Any continuous effects that previously applied to the default side, will continue to apply to the transformed card, if applicable.
When choosing a card name for any effects, the name of the transformed card may be used. Only cards with the chosen name will have that effect applied to them, regardless of the name on the other side of the card.