Step F and order of operations with Sky Return

[JohnnyBlaze]

Pop to make things easier for you turn to Page 19 of the BREAKTHROUGH rulebook Step F states:

F> Apply any effects that happen before damage, then place damage counters, and then do all other effects.

Sky Return states 30 damage Return this and all cards attached to it to your hand.

Scenario:

Player A only has Shaymin EX as their Pokemon in play with a DCE and Muscle Band attached
Player B only has Combee active and no other Pokemon in play.

According to Step F, Player A should win before Shaymin EX is returned to hand.

F> Apply any effects that happen before damage. (Muscle band does +20 damage) then place damage counters (50 damage is done knocking out Combee) before Return this and all cards attached to it to your hand.

Why there are 2 effects step in the same sentence on Step F ? This is really confusing and is causing much debate at our League!!

Why would Shaymin-EX return to your hand before damage is placed? Shouldnt Shaymin-Ex return to your hand after damage is placed? But once the ko occurs then the game ends before Shaymin ex is returned?

Thanks

 

[PokePop]

The damage is placed before Shaymin EX returns to your hand.
But you're putting a step in there that is not there.

I don't see any step yet about checking for KO'd Pokemon.
And you won't find it in the Details of Attacking, because you don't check for a KO until after you have totally completed all things that need to be done for the attack.
So, while Shaymin EX doesn't go back into the deck until after the damage is done to Combee, KOs (and Game State) are not checked for until you have completed all actions from and triggered by the attack.

By the time you do that, you have one player with no Pokemon remaining and the other that has given up 6 Prizes.