Yata-no-Kagami

Yata-no-Kagami (ヤタノカガミ) is a keyword introduced in CB25. The keyword is worded as follows:
* Yata-no-KagamiWhen this Spirit would become the target of an opposing Spirit/Nexus effect, this Spirit is unaffected by that effect. After that effect resolves, you can return an opposing Spirit to the deckbottom.
The effect is currently exclusive to Akatsuki［Oowashi Equipped］ and Akatsuki［Shiranui Equipped］, representing the Anti-beam Defensive Reflection System with the same name used by the units in the show, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: SEED DESTINY. The name, Yata-no-Kagami (ヤタノカガミ), comes from 八咫鏡, a sacred bronze mirror that is part of the Imperial Regalia of Japan, and one of the "three sacred treasures" of the royal family said to be inherited from the heavens. In the show, the system, essentially the golden armor covering the unit and all its armaments, can protects against incoming beams by deflecting the beam fire, while tracking the enemies and automatically redirecting those beams back at them. It is represented by how a Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami would become unaffected by an effect that targets it, and can counter by returning the Spirit (unit) that launched such an attack (effect) to the deckbottom. As for its weakness, the armor doesn't provide protection for melee attacks, which is also reflected in the effect that it doesn't provide any protection against BP comparison under normal battle. 
Game-wise, it works like The SteelPaladin Stefanos's effect, and turns unaffected once being targeted. Together with its counter attack of returning spirits to deckbottom, it helps the Spirit remain on field easily, and makes the opponent think twice about effects that target every opposing Spirit, or removals that target the owner of Yata-no-Kagami. While being able to reflect even turn-lasting effects, the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami must be on field when such an effect is applied. It can't react to an already resolved effect and would hence be affected by such an effect if it is summoned after that effect applies. 
Since this is *not* changing targets, the "unaffected" part would still be vulnerable to "can't be prevented" effects, like Sazabi's effect when braved to "Char". And in that case, you can't return an opposing Spirit to the deckbottom as the Spirit itself is removed before proceeding to the "after this effect resolves" part of Yata-no-Kagami. 
== Official Q&A ==
No.	Question 	Answer
1 	What is Yata-no-Kagami? 	It is an effect where when a Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami becomes a target of an opposing Spirit/Nexus effect, the Spirit becomes unaffected to that effect, and after that effect resolves, subsequently returning an opposing Spirit to the bottom of the deck.
2 	When the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami is being targeted twice by an opposing Spirit/Nexus effect with two separate targeting timings, such as Rush, or those with the wordings "then" or "after this effect resolves", can two opposing Spirits be returned to the bottom of the deck with Yata-no-Kagami? 	No, only one Spirit can be returned to the bottom of the deck, as the "return to deck" effect only activates after all other effects resolve (due to the "after that effect resolves" wording). However, the "unaffected" part of the effect can activate twice.
3 	When the opponent activates a Spirit/Nexus effect that has a turn duration, such as "during this turn, give all opposing Spirits -1000 BP", can Yata-no-Kagami activate? 	Yes, it can. The duration of the "unaffected" effect depends on the duration of the effect which targets the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami, meaning the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami will remain unaffected to the opposing effect for the turn.
4 	The opponent has already activated a Spirit/Nexus effect with turn duration, such as "during this turn, give all opposing Spirits -1000 BP". While that effect is already active, can Yata-no-Kagami activate? 	No, Yata-no-Kagami cannot react against an effect that is already active.
5 	When the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami is targeted by the Dragonshot of the opposing The ShootingStardragonArcher Lykeios, and then Yata-no-Kagami activates, does the Spirit not get destroyed? 	No, the Spirit will be destroyed. While it can become unaffected against opposing effects, "unaffected" effects by rule can't defend against opposing "opposing effects cannot prevent" effects. Also, since the Spirit is destroyed, the "after this effect resolves" part of Yata-no-Kagami will not activate.
6 	When the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami is targeted by the "When Summoned/Advents" effect of the opposing Freedom Gundam, can Yata-no-Kagami activate? 	Yes, it can, as Yata-no-Kagami activates before Freedom Gundam's effect does. The Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami will become unaffected, and its effects unable to be negated.
7 	When an opposing Spirit/Nexus effect activates, originally the effect targets the Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami, but then the target is changed, for example via the effect of Forbidden Gundam. In this case, can Yata-no-Kagami activate? 	No, it cannot, as the target has moved onto another Spirit, and hence the condition of "when this Spirit would become the target" is never fulfilled.
8 	While an opposing Spirit braved to Suletta Mercury ［GUND-ARM, Inc.］is attacking, and the effect of "unless the opponent returns a LV1 Spirit they control to the Hand, they can't block" is active, can you return your LV1 Spirit with Yata-no-Kagami to hand and then choose another Spirit to block? 	Yes, you can do that. Yata-no-Kagami does not react against attacking effects which do not have activation duration specified. Effects with the wordings "during this battle" or "during this turn" are examples of effects with activation duration.
== Related Articles ==
* List of cards with Yata-no-Kagami
Category:Keywords