Can You Play Evenly Matched Turn 1 in Yu-Gi-Oh!? A Deep Dive
Yes, absolutely! You can play Evenly Matched on your first turn, specifically when going second. Its power lies in its ability to be activated at the end of the Battle Phase, forcing your opponent to banish cards face-down until they control the same number of cards as you. Since you can only conduct your Battle Phase when going second, this is when this powerful trap card shines. This makes it a strategic game-changer in many matchups.
Understanding Evenly Matched
Evenly Matched is a powerful Trap Card in Yu-Gi-Oh! It is not a hand trap in the conventional sense, despite being activatable from the hand under certain conditions. The key to understanding its usage is recognizing the Battle Phase trigger.
How it Works:
- You must be going second to enter the Battle Phase on Turn 1.
- At the end of the Battle Phase, if your opponent controls more cards than you, you can activate Evenly Matched from your hand by placing it face-up in your Spell & Trap Zone.
- Your opponent then must banish cards face-down from their field so that they control the same number of cards as you.
Why It’s Powerful:
- Field Wipe Potential: It can dramatically reduce your opponent’s resources.
- Banishing Face-Down: Banishment face-down is a very strong form of removal in Yu-Gi-Oh! as these cards are very hard to recover.
- Goes Second Advantage: It helps balance the scales when going second, giving you a chance to break established boards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Evenly Matched
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Evenly Matched, designed to clarify its mechanics and strategic applications:
FAQ 1: What exactly does Evenly Matched do?
Evenly Matched forces your opponent to banish cards face-down from their field until they control the same number of cards as you. You activate it from your hand at the end of the Battle Phase if your opponent controls more cards than you.
FAQ 2: Is Evenly Matched a hand trap?
Evenly Matched is often referred to as a hand trap, but technically it’s a Trap Card that can be activated from the hand under specific conditions. Normal hand traps are monster cards that banish from hand for an immediate effect.
FAQ 3: What cards can negate Evenly Matched?
Several cards can negate Evenly Matched. Solemn Judgment is a classic counter trap that can negate its activation. Artifact Lancea can prevent banishing effects for the entire turn.
FAQ 4: Does Evenly Matched affect the player activating it?
Yes, Evenly Matched does affect the player activating it. If you activate it from your hand while controlling no other cards, you will control one card (Evenly Matched itself) during the resolution. Your opponent needs to be left with one card to match.
FAQ 5: Does Evenly Matched count as a card on the field?
Yes, Evenly Matched counts as a card you control on the field once activated, influencing how many cards your opponent must banish.
FAQ 6: Can I activate Evenly Matched if I have other cards on my field?
Yes, you can activate Evenly Matched if you control other cards on your field. However, your opponent must banish enough cards to match your total number of cards.
FAQ 7: What’s the best way to counter Evenly Matched?
Artifact Lancea is considered a strong counter. Activating it during your opponent’s turn stops any banishing effects for the entire turn, making Evenly Matched useless. Other negates like Solemn Judgment or Dark Bribe can also prevent it from resolving.
FAQ 8: Can I use Evenly Matched multiple times in a turn?
Yes, Evenly Matched has no “once per turn” restriction. You can activate multiple copies in the same Battle Phase if the conditions are met each time (i.e., your opponent still controls more cards than you at the end of each subsequent Battle Phase).
FAQ 9: Does Imperial Iron Wall stop Evenly Matched?
Yes, Imperial Iron Wall completely stops Evenly Matched. While Imperial Iron Wall is active, neither player can banish cards, so Evenly Matched cannot resolve its effect.
FAQ 10: What if my opponent chains a card that removes Evenly Matched from the field?
If Evenly Matched is removed from the field before it resolves, its effect will not be applied. Your opponent will not have to banish any cards.
FAQ 11: Can I activate Evenly Matched if I have no monsters on my field?
Yes, you can activate Evenly Matched even if you have no monsters on your field. The only requirement is that your opponent controls more cards than you.
FAQ 12: Does Called by the Grave negate Evenly Matched?
Called by the Grave cannot negate Evenly Matched because Evenly Matched is a trap card, not a monster card. Called by the Grave only targets monster effects activated in the graveyard.
FAQ 13: What happens if my opponent activates Dimension Shifter, then I activate Artifact Lancea?
Artifact Lancea will negate Dimension Shifter for that turn, so cards will not be banished. If Artifact Lancea resolves before Dimension Shifter, cards cannot be banished that turn.
FAQ 14: Does evenly matched effect tokens?
Yes, tokens on the opponent’s field will be banished face-down if evenly matched is resolved and they need to banish cards to match your field.
FAQ 15: What are some other strong trap cards?
Some other strong trap cards besides Evenly Matched are Solemn Judgement, Infinite Impermanence, and Trap Trick.
Strategic Implications
Evenly Matched has significantly shaped the Yu-Gi-Oh! metagame. It rewards going second strategies and punishes over-extension, forcing players to think carefully about the number of cards they commit to the field. It also highlights the importance of side deck options to counter it, making it a crucial card to consider when building your deck. The strategic depth of Yu-Gi-Oh! is partly what makes it so engaging, and organizations such as the Games Learning Society or GamesLearningSociety.org explores these concepts.
Conclusion
Evenly Matched is a potent and versatile card in Yu-Gi-Oh! Understanding its mechanics and how to counter it is essential for competitive play. Its ability to be activated on the first turn when going second, alongside its potential to drastically alter the game state, makes it a staple in many side decks and a key element of modern Yu-Gi-Oh! strategy.