Activation & Reactivation
Two distinct events that trigger the activation sequence — knowing the difference is essential for advanced play.
Activation
A card activates when it enters the board for the first time in a given instance. This happens in three cases:
- A card is played from hand (active, face-up) — it enters the activation sequence immediately.
- A card was covered (face-down) and is now revealed — it activates on the turn it is flipped face-up.
- A card is revived from the graveyard via Resurrection — it activates when placed on the target cell.
Activation is the entry event. The card was not on the board as a face-up piece before this moment.
Reactivation
A card reactivates when it is already on the board as a face-up piece and something causes it to go through the activation sequence again. This happens when:
- One of your own face-up cards changes grid cell during your turn (moved by an ability such as Swap, Magnetism, or Shockwave).
- An opponent card is both moved to a new cell and flipped toward you.
- An opponent card is flipped and subsequently moved.
Reactivation does not grant a new free card play. It is purely the activation sequence (abilities + conflicts + flips) triggered again by a position change on an already-active card.
Why It Matters
Certain rules refer specifically to activation or reactivation:
- Swap — the active card does not reactivate as a result of performing a Swap. It may still be reactivated by other effects later.
- Resurrection — revived cards activate, not reactivate. They arrive from outside the board.
When chains form, both activations and reactivations stack and resolve in the same way. See Chaining.