Ra w Deal FAQ

(Note: The following is an official Comic Images FAQ for use in tournaments and other sanctioned games. While the formatting has been altered, the content has not.)

GENERAL FAQ v5 5/20/02

The WWF Raw Deal FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) has been broken up into multiple FAQs. This general FAQ answers questions on general rulings, provides information on general rules like timing issues, chain of effects and the golden rule. It also gives you errata, banned notices, promo card information, general multiplayer questions, etc.

This FAQ will not tell you what a card does - read the appropriate card/spoiler list. Exception: promo card information will be found here.

The remaining FAQs are broken up by set. If you have a question on a card from a specific set, look in that FAQ for answers. NOTE: if you are looking for answers to the interaction of more than one card or to a specific Superstar, always look in the FAQ of the set in which the most recent card came in. EXAMPLE: Want to know how Clean Break interacts with Half Hour Suplex? Look in the Backlash FAQ cause that's where Half Hour Suplex premiered.

Any changes to a FAQ will be noted in a different color. Also, check the dates to compare FAQs - new FAQs supercede older FAQs. I have reddened some changes from the last FAQ since this new FAQ came quickly on the toes of the other.

Always refer to the rulebook first to learn how to play and to get answers to very common questions. You can also download the rules from our website. Then read this FAQ. If you still have questions, then send them to the Commissioner at commissioner@comicimages.com. We got a lot of email asking questions that are found in the rulebook and FAQ. Please take the time to read these sources of information - their purpose is to give you the answers you need in most cases.

Also, we are not going to list every case scenario in an answer. You can assume that if two or more cards have the same wording, they work the same way.

Thanks for your support!

The Raw Deal Commissioner


CARD PROBLEMS:

Q: When opening up my packs, I found a blank card. What do I do with it?
A: This is a misprint. Send it back to us for a replacement card. Usually you will get a rare card. If the blank card has foils around the edges then you will get an Ultra Rare card (unless of course the card came from a starter deck). Send the card with a note where you got it from (booster/starter and what set) to:

Comic Images
280 Midland Ave.
Building L
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

This applies to cards with other defects such as miscuts, scratches, etc.


RULING REVERSALS:

These are reversals to rulings given out on the net to individual questions or from previous FAQs. You might see this answers in their respective FAQs, but they are collected here for convenience.

1. Superstar abilities do not break chains. For example, Undertaker can hit with a Samoan Drop then use his ability to search for a High Risk maneuver that needs to be played after a 4D or greater maneuver.

2. From The Top Rope will allow you to play any High Risk maneuver that has a requirement followed by a "Can only be played after...". This means you can Springboard Dropkick after a From The Top Rope. FYI, the new card from Backlash, No, Jeff, Don’t Do It, acts in the same way as a From The Top Rope. However, cards like Superplex and Big Splash In The Corner cannot be played after Top Rope, because they say they MUST be played after a certain card rather than saying they CAN be played after a certain card.

3. You may now use Shoulder Block and other such cards that say they can reverse any maneuver played after an Irish Whip to reverse ANY maneuver played after an Irish Whip. Ok, confused? In previous FAQs, we listed that only Strikes were legal to reverse with Shoulder Block, et al., but now a Shoulder Block, for example, can reverse a 3D played after an Irish Whip. Note, this does not mean you can reverse an irreversible move.

4. Clean Break will now force a discard when reversing such cards a Clutch Onto Opponent and Half Hour Suplex. Just replace the words Jockeying For Position on the Clean Break card and use it like that: Clean Break will only work when played from the hand and it will require your opponent to discard 4 cards if he or she can. Plus you get to draw one card.

5. Not really a ruling reversal, but a clarification. Some Superstars have been updated to change the use of the word "play" in their Superstar abilities. Some Superstars were restricted in what they could play: the wording now constitutes what they can have in the Arsenals and Backlash decks. See the FAQs for further indication and look under RTC, APA and Big Show for examples.

BANNED CARDS:

There are no banned cards at this time.


PLATINUM RULE:

If card text specifically breaks a rule, that card text takes precedence.

GOLDEN RULES:

1. Cards that say they cannot (or may not) be reversed or have an effect making them irreversible (like a Diversion) cannot be reversed at all unless the card trying to reverse it specifically says it can reverse irreversible cards, like When You Thought You Had All The Answers. Other examples: Tree Of Woe cannot be reversed by a Where Are Your Medals. A Diversion + Kick cannot be reversed by Manager Interferes.
   Other cards list cards that can specifically reverse it; only those cards can reverse it. Example: Clutch Onto Opponent can only be reversed by a Clean Break. No other card can reverse it.
   Superstar abilities override all reversal restrictions EXCEPT for cards that say they cannot be reversed (or have an effect like Diversion or Turn The Tide making a card irreversible). Chyna cannot reverse a Leaping Knee To The Face using her ability, but she can reverse a Superplex by discarding a High Risk maneuver.

2. Cards that are removed from the Ring no longer have an effect on the game unless specifically stating otherwise. So an Inferno Match that is removed from the Ring will no longer cause players to overturn a card whenever they place one in the Ring. Shane O'Mac, Enter The Stratus-Phere, Busted Wide Open, JR Style Slobberknocker, are but a few more examples.
   Some cards can be voluntarily removed from the Ring to trigger an effect. Lita To The Xtreme is an example of such a card. However, if Lita is removed because of a Drop Toe Hold, the Lita card text does NOT get triggered.
   Don't over think this rule.

3. Superstars whose personas have been updated/changed are treated as their original Superstar with regards to effects stated in the text of cards. This does not mean they can use the original Superstar’s foil specific cards: if the new persona’s logo is not on such a card he or she cannot use that card. For example: Undertaker’s new persona in Survivor Series is Deadman, Inc. Deadman Inc. can draw a card for playing American Bad Ass, can play No Sell Maneuver, cannot play Over Sell maneuver, etc. However, Deadman cannot play Undertaker Sits Up, Undertaker’s Flying Clothesline, Rest In Peace, etc.
   The only other updated Superstar to appear in Survivor Series is Cactus Jack, who is affected by Mankind cards (but he still cannot use Mankind foils unless his logo is on the card too). Cactus Jack may use an older version of the card Get Hardcore.
   In a tag team situation, no team may have two versions of a Superstar.
   Finally, in a tournament situation, if at all possible, two versions of a Superstar should not face each others in the finals. Determine the highest ranked player of either version in order to determine advancement. (To find out more about tournament rules, see the Tournament Rules document elsewhere on this website).

4. What constitutes playing a card? This has become a very important question as more expansions are released. The definition of playing a card is a card that is played either from the hand or Backlash deck. Overturning a card or "using" from one from the Ring does not constitute playing a card and thus does not trigger effects that affect the playing of a card. If a player plays Censorship Match and calls for Step Aside not to be played, you can still overturn a Step Aside, but you could not play it from the hand. You can use a Pre-match card as a Mid-match card and still trigger the Pump Kick's effect, since that use does not constitute playing a card. All Talk, No Action will not reverse a Pre-match used as a Mid-match since that is not playing a card. Using a card from the Ring can still break chains where appropriate and those rulings can be found in the FAQs.

TIMING SEQUENCE:

In the beginning, a timing sequence was not needed, but as more cards are added to the pool, and therefore more "rules" broken, a timing sequence will help answer some questions.

Here is the timing sequence for playing a card from your hand:

If a player has two or more effects that can be generated simultaneously, that player may decide what order those effects will take place: For example: Player A has Brahma Bull and Defensive Cover in play. Player B plays Samoan Drop. Player A may choose to have Brahma Bull kick in first causing the Drop to do 1D, then use Defensive Cover to further reduce it to 0D.


CHAIN OF EFFECTS

Any card that requires something to be played beforehand, must have been played immediately beforehand. You cannot play other cards in between then play the card. For example: An Irish Whip needs to be played before a 3D. You cannot play the Whip, then a Kick, Roll Out Of The Ring, then play the 3D.

Most High Risk moves need a certain amount of damage to be inflicted in order to play the HR card. For example, Matt's Moonsault needs a 4D maneuver to have been played immediately beforehand. You can't have played other things in between the 4D or greater maneuver and expect to get the Moonsault off.

The exception to this rule is those cards that state they cancel the "Can only be play…" requirement. (From The Top Rope, etc.)

Superstar abilities are another exception to this rule: you may use Superstar abilities in between a 4D maneuver and a High Risk card, for example.

Another exception is cards that carry over to the next turn: Irish Whip for example. If you reverse an opponent's Whip with your own Whip, you can play a card that requires the playing of an Irish Whip right beforehand (as long as that is the first card you play on your turn). This also applies to Jockeying For Position and Throw Opponent Into The Corner Turnbuckle.


ERRATA - CARD CORRECTIONS/CHANGES

Ego Boost: should read "Your next card played this turn is -5F."

Not Yet: should read "You must take a card in your hand, shuffle it into your Arsenal, then draw 2 cards."

Undertaker's Tombstone Piledriver: should read "As an action, you may discard this card to draw 1 card. Doing this will not cause any damage to opponent and the Fortitude Value for this action is considered 0F."

Superkick: delete the words "When successfully played".

Diversion: should read "If your next card played this turn is a maneuver it cannot be reversed."

Drop Toe Hold: It's a Grapple.

Let's Make Some Noise: delete the word "must" so now it reads: "When this card is in your Ring area, whenever you discard a card from your hand; you must discard, but you may then draw 1 card for each card discarded."

Over Sell Maneuver: should read "Cannot be played by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Undertaker, Kane, or Tazz. If played from your hand, play after an opponent's successful maneuver; opponent's maneuver stays in his Ring area; but ignore any of the maneuver's other effects, overturn the appropriate amount of damage ignoring any reversals. You may then draw up to 2 cards, and end opponent's turn."

Beer, Cards, And More Beer: "The maneuver has to be successful in order to trigger the looking at opponent’s hand or drawing up to 2 cards."


GENERAL QUESTIONS:

Q: Do I have to show what cards I bring to and from my Arsenal and hand?
A: No. Your hand and Arsenal, in contrast to the Ringside pile, is not "open" to your opponent. So any effect that takes cards to and from your Arsenal and your hand is hidden from your opponent.
NOTE: Unless it says differently on the card and unless you are asked to retrieve a certain card. (And this is in contrast to the Ringside pile which is open and anyone can see what you retrieve or put in.)

Q: Ok, what is the difference between "must" and nothing else on a card when it tells you to do something?
A: When a card says you "must" do something, then you have to do it otherwise the card cannot be played or the effect does not go off. Anything other than "must" means that you do what you can to meet the cost. For example, Spit At Opponent simply says, "You discard 1 card. Your opponent discards 4 cards. Since it does not use "must" then you only discard a card if you have one. Your opponent will discard how many he or she can up to 4 cards. To make things even clearer, if Spit is the only card in your hand, you can still play the card. However, if you want to play a Kick, which says you "must" overturn a card, and you have no cards in your Arsenal, then you cannot play the card. Another card that does not use "must" and works if it is the only card in your hand is Comeback.

Q: What does it mean when a card says it adds +8F to a reversal?
A: It means that whatever the Fortitude Value of the reversal you want to play, add 8F to it. So if I want to play an Escape Move, which costs 0F, it now costs 8F and if I have a Fortitude Rating of 7F or less, I won't be able to play the Escape Move. By the way, we call this adding of Fortitude "Fortitude plunging".

Q: If I play a card with a Stun Value that does, say, 5D, do I get to draw a card if my opponent's 5th card overturned is a reversal?
A: No, because Stun Value only allows you to draw if your opponent did not take the full damage required. In this case the opponent did take the 5D required so the Stun Value effect does not kick in. Also, for your rule lawyer-types, you don't get stun value for a maneuver reversed from the hand. Yes your opponent did not take the full damage value, but then again, you didn't hit him, so how can you stun your opponent?

Q: Let's cut to the chase. How do you win this game?
A: Any time your opponent must overturn a card from the Arsenal and cannot, a Pin occurs immediately. Note the word "immediately". Count Outs happen at the end of turn in which you have no cards in the Arsenal, but as soon as you have to overturn a card and cannot, you lose by Pin.

Q: Can a game end in a draw?
A: Yes. It is possible for both players to end a turn with no cards in either of their Arsenals and a Pin did not occur. In this case, it is a draw and neither player is considered a winner.


MUTLIPLAYER RULES:

Q: If I hit a guy with a 4D or greater maneuver, can I play a High Risk maneuver on another player?
A: No.

Q: If I Maintain Hold on Player A, can Player C hit us? Can we reverse it? Does the Hold break?
A: Player C will have a free shot on any of you, though you can overturn a reversal to the hit. Chyna could use her ability. The Hold is maintained. It has to be broken by the player being held in the normal way.


PROMO CARD WORDINGS AND INFORMATION:

Many promo cards are not listed on the spoiler lists. They are usually gotten through Inquest or Scrye Magazines, but you can also get some in store demos and conventions where sanctioned Raw Deal events take place.

Non-foil versions of ultra-rares are considered foils for game purposes.

Promos with different backs may be used in tournaments as long as they and the other cards in the Arsenal are in the same opaque sleeves.


PILEDRIVER
Grapple
When successfully played, opponent must discard 1 card.
F: 17  D: 12  SV: 1     (Reprinted in It's All About The Game.)

FLYING BODY PRESS
High Risk
Can only be played after a 5D or greater maneuver.
If this maneuver is reversed from your opponent's hand, you must discard 3 cards.
F: 7  D: 12

CRITICAL INJURY!
Action
Can only be played after a 5D or greater maneuver.
While this card is in your Ring Area, your opponent's Superstar Ability is considered to read as blank text.
(Arsenal construction is not effected in any manner by this card.)
F: 35  D: 0     (Reprinted in It's All About The Game, with slight wording modification.)

Q: If Critical Injury does not affect Arsenal construction, then can you put 3 Critical Injurys in an Arsenal to get 63 cards?
A: No. Critical Injury only cancels Superstar abilities that do not affect Arsenal construction.


The People's Elbow - wording is wrong on this promo. It is considered to have the wording on the foil version.

Stone Cold Stunner
Stone Cold Superstar Card - Hand size is wrong. Use the Hand Size found in the foil version.
Rock Superstar Card
Angle Superstar Card
Crippler Crossface
3D
Edge & Christian Superstar Card
Edge Superstar Card

REALLY GOING FOR THE CHEAP POP
Action
Discard up to 3 cards from your hand, then draw the same number of cards you discarded.
If played in Columbus, OH at Origins you may discard up to 4 cards instead of 3 cards.
F: 0  D: 0     (Origins 2001 special promo)

...WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?
Action
Your opponent and you may each draw up to 3 cards.
If played in Milwaukee, WI at GENCON you may each draw up to 4 cards, instead of 3 cards.
F: 0  D: 0     (Gencon 2001 special promo)

Backlash


Other cards are not promos but special all-foil cards found in the Rock/Austin 2 player game and tin and the Jericho/Triple H tin.

Austin's Patented Kick To The Gut (two player game and Fully Loaded) Yes, it is not Unique.
Rock's Patented Foot Stomp (two player game and Fully Loaded) Yes, it is not Unique.
Do You Smell What the Rock is Cookin'? (tin)
Rattlesnake Rulz (tin)
Jerichoholics (tin)
'Cause I Am…That…Damn…Good! (tin)

DO YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKIN'?
Action
Your next CARD cannot be reversed. Draw 1 card.
Unique.
F: 7  D: 0

RATTLESNAKE RULZ
Action
Your next CARD cannot be reversed. Draw 1 card.
Unique.
F: 7  D: 0

JERICHOLICS
Action
Draw 1 card.
When this card is in your Ring area and an opponent forces you to discard a card, you may instead place this card back into your hand instead of discarding.
Unique.
F: 15  D: 0

Q: What if I am forced to discard more than 1 card? Does Jerichoholics reduce the number discarded by one or does it cancel the whole effect?
A: It cancels the whole effect.


'CAUSE I AM...THAT...DAMN GOOD!
Reversal:  Special
Reverses any Strike, Grapple, Submission, or High Risk maneuver and ends your opponent's turn.
If played from your hand you may draw up to 3 cards.
Unique.
F: 10  D: 0