Attack if Able

Attack if Able 可能（かのう）であれば攻撃（アタック）する (Kanōdeareba Kōgeki Suru)

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Attack if Able is a demerit effect in which a creature is forced to attack if able.

Details

It commonly refers to the ability that forces a creature to attack each turn "if able". This "if able" condition requires the creature to not have summoning sickness and not to have been put into the battle zone during that turn, or being prevented from attacking by other effects such as Nariel, the Oracle.

This also sometimes calls a creature with this ability a "Mandatory Attacker". You aren't allowed to use a Tap Ability if they had one.

It is a demerit often found on creatures in the Fire Civilization, while the Darkness Civilization often grants the forced ability to attack to your opponent's creatures, and the Nature Civilization forcing them to attack your creatures.

List of Abilities

This creature attacks each turn if able

Creatures with this ability must attack each turn unless they can't attack by summoning sickness, etc.

1 Deadly Fighter Braid Claw
Fire / Creature Dragonoid
1000
■ This creature attacks each turn if able.

This creature attacks twice each turn if able

Essentially the same as above. However, the creature untaps itself and must attack twice.

5 Nidogiri Dragon
Fire / Creature Armored Dragon + Hunter
5000
■ Each turn, the first time this creature is tapped, untap it. ■ This creature attacks twice each turn if able.

Each of your other creatures must attack if able

Creatures with this ability force your other creatures to attack.

This excludes creatures that can't attack normally (such as Can't Attack) or that have summoning sickness. Creatures that can't attack the opponent are still only able to attack if your opponent has a tapped creature.

Even if a creature with this ability leaves the battle zone, the effect remains. (see Continuous Effect).

2 Honoo, the Brave Blow
Fire / Creature Human
1000+
■ Power attacker +5000 (While attacking, this creature gets +5000 power.) ■ Whenever this creature attacks, this turn, each of your other creatures must attack if able.

All your opponent's creatures attack if able

These cards give your opponents creatures the demerit of forcing them to attack, often leading to self-destruction.

Slime Veil, Forced Frenzy

1 Slime Veil
Darkness / Spell

■ During your opponent's next turn, each of his creatures attacks if able.

8 Balhols, Demonic Elemental
Light Darkness / Creature Angel Command + Demon Command
6000
■ (This creature is put into your mana zone tapped.) Blocker ■ Each of your opponent's creatures must attack if able. ■ This creature can't attack players. ■ Whenever this creature blocks, untap it after the battle.

5 Igars Dragoon
Fire / Creature Tyranno Drake
4000+
■ Power attacker +2000 (While attacking, this creature gets +2000 power.) ■ Double breaker ■ If this creature is tapped during your opponent's turn, each of his creatures attacks if able.

Your opponents creatures will attack ~ if able

This ability forces your opponent's creature to attack, as well as changing their attack target.

However, if the attack target is untapped, it can't be attacked.

5 Heavy, Dragon God
Darkness / Creature
5000+
■ When you put this creature into the battle zone, you may destroy one of your creatures. If you do, draw a card and your opponent chooses one of his creatures and destroys it. ■ God Link (Metal, Dragon God) or (Death, Destruction God) Left Side ■ While this creature is linked, each of your opponent's creatures must attack this creature if able.

6 Guerrilla Launcher, Super Beast Army
Nature / Evolution Creature
11000
■ Evolution—Put on one of your nature creatures. ■ Invasion—Nature command (When one of your nature commands attack, you may put this creature from your hand onto it.) ■ Double breaker ■ While this creature is tapped during your opponent's turn, if your opponent's creatures haven't attacked that turn, each of his creatures must attack it if able.

All creatures attack if able

All creatures (both yours and your opponents) must attack. It is a static ability that applies while the creature is in the battle zone.

4 Otokodama, the Explosive
Fire / Creature Flame Command
4000
■ All creatures attack if able.

Your opponents attacking creatures attack ~ if able

This creature limits the attack target of what your opponent attacks.

The text for this effect has changed occasionally. It is similar to the Guardman keyword.

5 Forbidding Totem
Nature / Creature Mystery Totem
4000
■ Your opponent's attacking creatures attack Mystery Totems if able.

2 Hihhi, Decoy Style
Nature / Creature Beast Folk Go
2000
■ If your opponent's creature's attack, they attack this creature if able.

8 Sanvuakka, Earth Attack
Nature / Creature Gaia Command
5000
Shield trigger (When this creature is put into your hand from your shield zone, you may summon it immediately for no cost.) ■ Guardman (When one of your other creatures is attacked, you may tap this creature. If you do, the attacking creature will attack this creature instead.) ■ When you put this creature into the battle zone, you may tap it. ■ Whenever your opponent's creatures attack, they must attack this creature if able.

7 Guerrillafugan, Beast Army X
Nature / Creature
7000
■ Double breaker ■ When you put this creature into the battle zone, you may tap this creature. ■ Whenever your opponent's creatures attack, they must attack this creature if able. ■ If you have 6 or more cards in your mana zone, this creature gets "Shield Trigger". ■ When this creature is destroyed, you may put a nature creature that costs 6 or less from your mana zone into the battle zone.

Rules

"Attacks if Able" and "Can't Attack"

Occasionally, it is believed that if you must attack "If able", then you have to attack, even if the creature is limited to.

"If able" only refers to the condition of already being able to attack (i.e. not having summoning sickness) or not being prevented from attack.

"Can't Attack" and "Attack if Able"

If "attacks if able" (forced) and "Can't attack" (prohibited) effects are both applied at the same time, the prohibition takes precedence. Even if you cast Forced Frenzy while Nariel, the Oracle was in the battle zone, creatures that have more than 3000 power can't attack.

"Attack Target"

Notice that "your opponent's creatures attack ~ if able" is written on an ability such as Forbidding Totem. This doesn't force your opponent to attack, only limiting what they attack. They are unable to attack the player or any non-Mystery Totem creature.

It differs from the effect that forces your opponent's creatures to attack, as well as creatures if able such as Heavy, Dragon God.

5 Forbidding Totem
Nature / Creature Mystery Totem
4000
■ Your opponent's attacking creatures attack Mystery Totems if able.

Other

A card such as Storium, Light Ray Doll can be used to prevent any of your other creatures from attacking.
This type of ability is affected even by creatures that have a Diamond State. The Diamond State would force any creatures that were previously unable to attack (in most cases, even if they had summoning sickness) to attack.

Duel Masters Gameplay — Glossary

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Card Usage, Abilities and Effects ● Additional Rules