Power Spray - Why can't it?

[afstandopleren]

Team Galactic's Invention - Power Spray

You may play this card during your opponent's turn when your opponent's Pokemon uses any Poke-Power. Prevent all effects of that Poke-Power. (This counts as using that Power) If you have 2 or less Pokemon SP in play, you can't play this card.


Now my take on Powers Spray is this; It's a Trainer that has the option to be played on your opponents turn.

Why do I think that? It's still a Trainer and the way it's written, it strikes to me that it can be played during any one's turn.

I don't know if there is a limitation on the time a Trainer can be played as the only thing that is stuck in my head about playing Trainers is that you can play as many as you like during your turn.
Therefor, if my assumption is correct, you could use it for Powers such as Power Cancel, Ectoplasm and others that are during your turn.

These are all the reasons I have to make me not get the ruling currently given about it only be playable during your opponents turn.

I know that many people think you only have 2 options with it:
1. Use it during your opponents turn and stop a Power.
2. Opt not to use it during your opponents turn and not stop a Power.

The way I see it, it gives you a third option: 3. Play it during your turn when your opponent uses Ectoplasm or Power Cancel.

 

[DarthPika]

Why on earth would you think that? It can be played on your opponents turn, and only your opponents turn. If it was meant to be played on your turn to, then it would say so. :/

 

[selerky]

So you're saying that when it says, "You may play this card during your opponent's turn", it really means,
"As an alternative to playing this card during your turn, you may play this card during your opponent's turn."
I see your point, but I think that when a card says, "You may play this card when _____", you can only play the card when _____. Poke Drawer+, Poke Blower+, and Poke Blower+ all give instructions on what to do when you play it outside of the conditions.

 

[Krusiv]

Also, which of your opponent's Poke-Powers (which they can only activate during their turn anyway) would you need to stop during your turn?

 

[butlerforhire]

The text "You may play..." means that you can only play it under the circumstances that are explained in the rest of the text that follows. It is a general rule that has been in effect in this game since its inception.

Therefore, you can never use Power Spray during your turn. It is a card exclusively meant to be played during the opponent's turn.

 

[Chairman Kaga]

Also, which of your opponent's Poke-Powers (which they can only activate during their turn anyway) would you need to stop during your turn?

There are several now that activate during the opponent's turn -- Ectoplasm (Dusknoir LV.X), Fainting Spell (Gengar SF), and Power Cancel (Alakazam) are the main ones in competitive play.

Anyway, the card is not adding to the normal rules, it is changing them. "You may play this card during your opponent's turn" means you may only play it then. The Japanese card seems to be more clear on this, using a phrasing that I read more like "When it is your opponent's turn...you may play this card".

OP's argument has failed.

 

[Mystery Thing]

I think the big difference is that the card says you "may," not you "can." I read "may" as restrictive and "can" as inclusive.

Really, they should have worded it "You may only play this card..."

 

[afstandopleren]

That's what I'm saying, if it's only allowed to be played, they should have worded it different. The way it's written made me confused about this issue because I strongly feel that the text, and it being a Trainer, should allow you to stop Fainting Spell and such. Or are they deliberatly not trying to stop annoying Powers like Fainting Spell?

 

[SPARTA]

They didn't word it differently, but they gave an explanation for how it works, ONLY ON YOUR OPPONENT'S TURN. It should be worded like Alakazam MT is, but it isn't. You can accept it or you can be wrong.

 

[Regis_Neo]

There are several now that activate during the opponent's turn -- Ectoplasm (Dusknoir LV.X), Fainting Spell (Gengar SF), and Power Cancel (Alakazam) are the main ones in competitive play.

Anyway, the card is not adding to the normal rules, it is changing them. "You may play this card during your opponent's turn" means you may only play it then. The Japanese card seems to be more clear on this, using a phrasing that I read more like "When it is your opponent's turn...you may play this card".

OP's argument has failed.

Ok, I'm a bit confused about this as well now. The text does state "You may play this card during your opponent's turn" instead of "You can only play only during your opponent's turn" or some variation thereof. May =/= can only , so is there really a restriction that prevents this card from being used on your opponent's turn?

Though of course, if it is the translation's fault, darn you translating staff >.>

 

[BJJ763]

It does not state anything about stopping your Opponent's POWER on your turn though - the first sentence states you may play the card on your opponent's turn when they use a Poké-POWER. The second sentence states you cancel the usage of that POWER. Says nothing about stopping your opponent's use of a POWER on your turn.

 

[afstandopleren]

^The way it is written implies to me that you should be able to be used during your turn as well. It is and stays a Trainer but with the current wording, one that can also be played during your opponents turn.

 

[Prof Clay]

I guess in the long run it is not going to matter how you interpret the card meaning, it will be the tournament judge who will decide.

I mean, you can argue semantics all day long, but the intent is very clear on the card.

 

[Everwind]

I agree that in the way it is worded that it allows you to play it during your and your opponent's turn. I see nothing on this card that prevents you from playing a trainer on your turn, and since you are allowed to play a trainer on your turn that is already covered and thus would be allowed. If the intent of the card was for it to only be used during your opponent's turn than it should have said so specificaly, and it does not. Thus it is a trainer and trainers can be played on your turn as long as you meet the condition of having 2 sp pokemon on your bench and your opponent is using a poke power that can be canceled. The term "may" means it is an option implying there is more than one way to play the card. If the game designers wished to restrict the card to only during the opponent's turn than they should have used the language "can only" .

 

[Vegeta ss4]

My question is silly!

Say I go 2nd, my opponent draws a card, blah blah blah, then drops an uxie. If I have 3 G Pokemon on my side, can I play Power Cancel? Or, is the ruling NO trainers can be played 1st turn by either player?

 

[yoyofsho16]

Why argue it? You know the intent, it just seems like you are arguing for the sake of argument. It is very clear, and even if it wasn't they would errata it that way.

The "may" applies to the fact that you can choose to block the Power.

 

[selerky]

^What? The card says, "Prevent all effects of that PokePower." It doesn't say,"You may prevent all effects of that PokePower." The "may" applies to the fact that you can choose to play the card. Whether or not it means you can play the card during your turn and is merely offering you te option to play it during your opponent's turn remains to be seen.

I think afstandopleren's question is a reasonable one & we'll have to wait for official ruling.

Vegeta ss4: As far as I know, the ruling is that if you go first, you can't play any trainers on your turn. I think you should be able to play Power Spray.

 

[Prof Clay]

My question is silly!

Say I go 2nd, my opponent draws a card, blah blah blah, then drops an uxie. If I have 3 G Pokemon on my side, can I play Power Cancel? Or, is the ruling NO trainers can be played 1st turn by either player?

You cannot play trainers on your turn if you go 1st. On your opponents turn it is no longer your 1st turn. Of course you could play power spray....in my judgement.

 

[SPARTA]

The Japanese card only allows for it to be used on your opponents turn, and the English card hints at this as well with its wording. I mean seriously people, let it go.

 

[Vegeta ss4]

You cannot play trainers on your turn if you go 1st. On your opponents turn it is no longer your 1st turn. Of course you could play power spray....in my judgement.

This is what I thought, thx.