Replay A Replay ( Japanese : きし " Makimodoshi " ) is an event during the Battle Step in which the attacking player chooses an attack target again after an attack has been declare d . Mechanics . Cause . A replay occurs if any of the following scenarios occurs during the Battle Step while an attack is occurring . If the conditions for a replay are met during a Chain , the replay will occur once the game reaches an open game state ( per the rules of fast effect timing ) . Replays will never occur during the Damage Step , even if any of the above scenarios occur . For information on what happens if the attacking monster leaves the field or is otherwise unable to continue its attack during the Damage Step , see the attack article . Function . When a replay occurs , the attacking player must do one of the following . With these options in mind , a replay will still technically occur even if the relevant player is forced to commit to only 1 option in a given scenario , with no other legal options . If an attack target is chosen again because of a replay , the already - attacking monster is not considered to be " declaring an attack " again , so cards / effects that activate in response to an attack declaration ( such as " Mirror Force " ) cannot be activated . However , cards and effects that activate in response to a monster being targeted for an attack ( such as " Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth " ) can be activated . If an attack is canceled because of a replay , the attacking monster is considered to have " declared an attack " that turn . In that case , for the rest of that turn , it cannot declare another attack or change its battle position " manually " , and the turn player cannot activate cards or effects that require them or their monster ( s ) to not attack during the turn they are activated . However , for the purposes of cards such as " Combination Attack " , it is not considered to have " attacked " . History . Prior to May 2006 in the " TCG " , if a replay occurred and a new attack target was not selected immediately , the monster that attacked could still declare an attack at another point during that Battle Phase . This is no longer the case , so if a new attack target is not selected during a replay , the monster that attacked cannot attack for the rest of that Battle Phase . Examples . Example 1 . Player 1 controls no monsters . Since a monster was placed on Player 1 ' s side of the field , a replay occurs . " Dark Magician " can no longer attack Player 1 directly , so Player 2 must either choose an attack target again ( any " Sheep Token " ) or stop their attack . Example 2 . Since a monster was placed on Player 2 ' s side of the field , a replay occurs . Player 1 must either choose an attack target again ( " 7 Colored Fish " or " Nanobreaker " ) or stop their attack . Example 3 . Player 1 controls a " Warrior Dai Grepher " . Player 2 controls a " The Six Samurai - Yaichi " and a Set " Cunning of the Six Samurai " . Even though the number of monsters on Player 2 ' s side of the field has not changed overall , since a monster was placed on Player 2 ' s side of the field and a monster left their side of the field , a replay occurs . Player 1 must either choose an attack target again ( " The Six Samurai - Zanji " ) or stop their attack . Example 4 . Player 1 controls a " Red Archery Girl " and a Set " Call of the Haunted " . Player 2 controls an Attack Position " Celtic Guardian " . Player 1 has activated " Absolute End " this turn . Since a monster was placed on Player 1 ' s side of the field , a replay occurs , even though their monsters cannot be attacked due to " Absolute End " . Player 2 must either choose an attack target again ( their opponent : Player 1 ) or stop their attack . Example 5 . Player 1 controls " Ghostrick Mansion " and a face - down Defense Position monster . Player 2 controls " Star Eater " . Since " Star Eater " can no longer attack directly , a replay occurs . When choosing an attack target again during a replay , " Star Eater " is still unaffected by other card effects , so it can target face - down Defense Position monsters , but cannot attack directly . Player 2 must either choose an attack target again ( the face - down Defense Position monster ) or stop their attack .