Tamashii: Chronicle of Ascend · Board game rules
When can I play Hacks and Repels on Enemy cards?
Quick answer
Hacks and Repels on Enemy cards can only be played during the Launch step of the Action phase.
Details
Hacks and Repels are types of Patterns tied to the Top Enemy. They are resolved by launching the corresponding Pattern during the Launch step of the Action phase (page 14). This is explicitly stated in the rulebook:
- "Patterns may be launched in the Action phase, during the Launch step. This is the only time during a Turn that a Pattern may be launched within the basic rules" [p.7 — Launching Patterns].
- "During the Launch step, players may launch any number of Patterns... including Hacks (🔒) or Repels (🔁) from the Top Enemy" [p.14 — Action phase].
Key conditions:
- Top Enemy only: Players can only launch Patterns from their Top Enemy (the rightmost card in their attached Enemy stack) [p.12 — Attached Enemies].
- Action phase restriction: Hacks and Repels cannot be used during the Combat phase or other phases, even if the Enemy is present [p.12 — NOTE—Patterns are launched only during the Launch step, never during Combat phase!].
Watch out:
If you defeat or discard your Top Enemy during the Launch step, the next Enemy in your stack becomes the new Top Enemy, and you may launch Patterns from it in the same step if you haven’t exhausted your Launch actions. However, you cannot chain multiple Top Enemy changes indefinitely—each Pattern launch requires a separate action.