Dice Masters Keyword Clarification

[dmrulesteam]

Dice Masters fans!

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep card wording and interactions streamlined, we’re issuing a number of clarifications regarding keywords. First, there is no change to how these cards work on their own – we’re simply trying to make things more understandable.

For example, Overcrush didn’t exist as a keyword when Doctor Octopus: Fully Armed and Horn of the Unicorn: Basic Action Card were originally printed. It’s easier for players to know that rules questions involving those cards should work exactly the same as cards with Overcrush since it’s the same effect.

It’s true that some other cards may interact a little differently with these cards as a result, but those interactions are few and far between compared to the help this gives to players getting started out in Dice Masters.

If you scroll down you’ll see the cards this applies to, what set they’re from, and what their new text is. This new text completely replace the old text. We'll edit this post if there are typos or addenda.

Until next time, keep on rolling!

Card - Doctor Octopus: Fully Armed Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Overcrush
Clarified Text:
Overcrush

Card - Hawkeye: Robin Hood Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Fast
Clarified Text:
Fast

Card - Thing: Ever-Lovin' Blue Eyed Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - Thing is unblockable and takes no damage while blocking.

Card - Thing: Grim Ben Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - At the beginning of the Attack Step, Thing gets +3A and +3D (until end of turn).

Card - Thing: Idol of Millions Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - When fielded, draw and roll 3 dice (place them in your Reserve Pool).

Card - Thrown Car: Basic Action Card Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Overcrush
Clarified Text:
Up to two target character dice in your Field Zone get +1A and Overcrush until end of turn.

Card - Vibranium Shield: Irreplaceable Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Attach this to target opposing character die. While attached, opposing characters that match that die's energy type(s) cannot attack or block. At the end of your opponent's turn, move this die to the Used Pile.

Global: Pay (Shield) to prevent 1 damage to a character or player.

Card - Vibranium Shield: Cap's Protection Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Attach this to target character die you control. You may send this die to the Used Pile at any time to prevent all damage to that die for the rest of the turn.

Global: Pay (Shield) to prevent 1 damage to a character or player.

Card - Cerebro: Cybernetic Intelligence Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place Cerebro an (X-Men) character card you control (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). When you field a die from that card, Cerebro KOs target opposing character die.

Card - Cerebro: Supercomputer Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place Cerebro an opposing character card (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). Your opponent's dice from that card cost a minimum of 2 energy to field. This cost can't be reduced.

Card - Cerebro: Mutant Hunter Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place Cerebro on a card (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). At the start of your turn, you may move Cerebro to your Used Pile to search your bag for a die from that card and roll it. (It remains there during the Clear and Draw Step.)

Card - Magik: Illyana Rasputina Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Regenerate
Clarified Text:
Regenerate

Card - Juggernaut: Cain Marko Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When Juggernaut takes damage, you may sacrifice any number of your Sidekick character dice. Prevent up to 3 damage to Juggernaut per Sidekick sacrificed.

Card - Juggernaut: Unstoppable Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
While Juggernaut is active, once per turn, you may sacrifice a Sidekick character die you control to give target Juggernaut character die +4A and +4D.

Card - Juggernaut: Archvillain Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When fielded, if your opponent has no active (Villain) character dice, you may sacrifice a Sidekick character die you control to deal 1 damage to your opponent and gain 1 life.

Card - Falcon: Air Strike Marvel Dice Masters: Uncanny X-Men
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When fielded, you may sacrifice a Sidekick die you control. If you do, deal 2 damage to target opposing character die.

Card - Celtic Guardian: Silverblade Slash Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Fast
Clarified Text:
Fast

Card - Blade Knight: Solo Act Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Overcrush
Clarified Text:
When you attack with only one copy of this monster and no other dice, it gains Overcrush.

Card - Horn of the Unicorn: Basic Action Card Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Overcrush
Clarified Text:
Up to two target monsters you control get +1A and +1D.
*/** Also, those monsters gain Overcrush.

Global: Pay (Bolt). Target monster gets +1A.

Card - Injection Fairy Lily: Fairy Nurse Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When this monster attacks, you may sacrifice one of your monsters, if you do, this die is unblockable.

Card - Breaker the Magical Warrior: Mystical Magus Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - When summoned, draw and roll a die.

Card - Flame Swordsman: Flaming Sword of Battle Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - At the beginning of the Attack Step, this monster gets +2A and +2D.

Card - Goblin Attack Force: Goblin Squad Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Vengeance
Clarified Text:
Vengeance - KO this monster.
Goblin Attack Force cannot block.

Global: Pay (Fist). Target monster must block this turn.

Card - Goblin Attack Force: Unruly Throng Yu-Gi-Oh! Dice Masters: Series 1
Keyword - Vengeance
Clarified Text:
Vengeance - KO this monster.
Goblin Attack Force must attack.

Global: Pay (Fist). Target monster must block this turn.

Card - Beholder: Apprentice Abberation Dice Masters: Battle for Faerûn
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When fielded, you may sacrifice up to 2 of your NPC character dice. For each one sacrificed, you may purchase a basic action die at no cost.

Global: Pay (1). Move a die showing an action face from your reserve to your prep area. Do not roll it next turn.

Card - Invisible Stalker: Greater Elemental Dice Masters: Battle for Faerûn
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
While Invisible Stalker is active, you may sacrifice this die to prevent all damage to you from one character die (either ability damage or combat damage, but not both).

Card - Drow Assassin: Minion Humanoid Dice Masters: Battle for Faerûn OP
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
Once per turn you may sacrifice a Drow Assassin character die to deal 2 damage to target opposing character die.

Card - Lex Luthor: Former President DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice League
Keyword - Boomerang
Clarified Text:
While Lex Luthor is active, your Basic Action dice gain Boomerang.

Card - Cheetah: Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice League
Keyword - Fast
Clarified Text:
Fast

Card - Cyborg: Mentor DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice League
Keyword - Underdog
Clarified Text:
Underdog - When Cyborg attacks, deal 1 damage to target opposing player.

Card - Shazam!: Trinity War DC Comics Dice Masters: Trinity War OP
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
Impulse - Prep this die.

Card - Big Entrance: Basic Action Card DC Comics Dice Masters: War of Light
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
Impulse - You may add this die to your bag.
Dice purchased this turn cost 1 less than their printed cost (no matter how many Big Entrance dice are used, minimum 1), and gain Impulse - You may add this die to your bag.

Card - Bleez: Winged Fury DC Comics Dice Masters: War of Light
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
If you have a (Bolt) in your Reserve Pool, Bleeze gains Impulse - Add this die to your bag.

Card - Black Lantern Wonder Woman: Undead Warrior DC Comics Dice Masters: War of Light
Keyword - Sacrifice
Clarified Text:
When fielded, KO all Wonder Woman dice.

At the beginning of each player's turn, that player chooses one of their non-(Black Lantern) character dice and sacrifices it. If they cannot, they lose 2 life.

Card - Loki's Scepter: Magic Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die into your Field Zone. You may send it to the Used Pile whenever you could use a Global Ability to deal 3 damage to a character that was fielded that turn. At the end of your opponent's turn, if this die is still in your Field Zone, send it to the Used Pile.

*/** Deal 4 damage instead.

Card - Loki's Scepter: Piercing Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die into your Field Zone. If an opposing character die deals combat damage to you, you may send this die to the Used Pile to KO that die and prevent the damage. At the end of your opponent's turn, if this die is still in your Field Zone, send it to the Used Pile.

*/** If you have Loki active, instead of sending this die to the Used Pile, Prep it.

Card - S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier: Odyssey Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die into the Field Zone. After blockers are declared, you may send this die to the Used Pile to give +5D to target blocking character die you control. At the end of your opponent's turn, if this die is still in your Field Zone, send it to the Used Pile.

* Also give that blocker the {Avengers} affiliation (until end of turn).

** If you have Nick Fury active, instead of sending this die to the Used Pile, Prep it.

Card - Superwoman: Amazonian DC Comics Dice Masters: World's Finest
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
If you spend at least (Bolt Bolt Bolt) to purchase this die, Superwoman gains Impulse - You may roll this die and place it in your Reserve Pool.
Global: Pay (1). You may convert any amount of your energy to (Bolt) this turn.

Card - Superwoman: Reign of Terror DC Comics Dice Masters: World's Finest
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
If you spend at least (Bolt Bolt Bolt) to purchase this die, Superwoman gains Impulse - You may Prep this die and deal 3 damage to all (villain) or (Batman Family) character dice (but not both).
Global: Pay (1). You may convert any amount of your energy to (Bolt) this turn.

Card - Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero DC Comics Dice Masters: World's Finest
Keyword - Intimidate
Clarified Text:
Intimidate

Card - Agent Venom: Eugene Marvel Dice Masters: The Amazing Spider-Man
Keyword - Fast
Clarified Text:
Underdog - Agent Venom gains Fast.

Card - Flying Car: Classic Model Marvel Dice Masters: Deadpool
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die on a character card you control (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). When you field a die from that card, all copies of that character get +2A (until end of turn)(for each copy of Flying Car).

Card - Superman: Truth and Justice DC Comics Dice Masters: Green Arrow and The Flash
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
Impulse - Prep this die.

Card - Superman: Up, Up, and Away! DC Comics Dice Masters: Green Arrow and The Flash
Keyword - Impulse
Clarified Text:
Impulse - Add this die to your bag.

While Superman is active, action dice you purchase cost (2) less (to a minimum of 1).

Card - Eye of Agamotto: The All-Seeing Marvel Dice Masters: Doctor Strange Team Pack
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die on a Basic Action Card (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). While Eye of Agamotto is on a Basic Action Card, it costs your opponents (1) more to purchase (for each copy of Eye of Agamotto).

Card - Eye of Agamotto: Mystical Conduit Marvel Dice Masters: Doctor Strange Team Pack
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die on a Basic Action Card (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). While Eye of Agamotto is on a Basic Action Card, whenever your opponent uses this Basic Action, each copy of Eye of Agamotto deals them 1 damage.

Global: Pay (1). The first action die you buy this turn is put into your bag (instead of the Used Pile).

Card - Eye of Agamotto: Reside Within the Amulet Marvel Dice Masters: Doctor Strange Team Pack
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Place this die on a Basic Action Card (it is still considered to be in the Field Zone). While Eye of Agamotto is on a Basic Action Card, whenever you use that Basic Action, all your active character dice get +1A (until end of turn)(for each copy of Eye of Agamotto).

Global: Pay (1). The first action die you buy this turn is put into your bag (instead of the Used Pile).

Card - Hawk: Agent of Chaos DC Comics Dice Masters: Batman
Keyword - Vengeance
Clarified Text:
Vengeance - Spin all Hawk dice you control to level 3.

Card - Nova Corps Uniform: One Mind, One Purpose Marvel Dice Masters: Guardians of the Galaxy
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Attach this die to target character die. While attached, that character die gets +2A and +2D (no matter how many copies of Nova Corps Uniform are attached). When the character die leaves the Field Zone, send this die to the Used Pile.

Card - Nova Corps Uniform: Stand for Something Greater Marvel Dice Masters: Guardians of the Galaxy
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Attach this die to target character die. While attached, that character die takes no damage from (Villains) character dice or Global Abilities (no matter how many copies of Nova Corps Uniform are attached). When the character die leaves the Field Zone, send this die to the Used Pile.

Card - Nova Corps Uniform: A Symbol of Order Marvel Dice Masters: Guardians of the Galaxy
Keyword - Continuous
Clarified Text:
Continuous: Attach this die to target character die. While attached, when that character die attacks, it deals 1 damage to all opposing character dice (no matter how many copies of Nova Corps Uniform are attached). When the character die leaves the Field Zone, send this die to the Used Pile.


April 2019 update:

Card - Angel: Soaring Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers vs. X-Men
Keyword: Obscure
Clarified Text:
Obscure

Card - Gamora: Assassin Marvel Dice Masters: Age of Ultron
Keyword - Deadly
Clarified Text:
Deadly

Card - The Atom: Less Than Nothing DC Comics Dice Masters: Justice Campaign Box
Keyword: Amplify
Clarified Text:
Amplify

Card - Poison Ivy: Home and Garden DC Comics Dice Masters: World's Finest
Keyword - Deadly
Clarified Text:
Deadly

Card - Yuan-Ti Pureblood: Lesser Humanoid D&D Dice Masters: Tomb of Annihilation
Keyword: Obscure
Clarified Text:
Attune
Obscure

Card - Dr. Strange: Strange Tales Marvel Dice Masters: Avengers Infinity Campaign Box
Keyword: Boomerang
Clarified Text:
When fielded, your Action Dice gain Boomerang (until end of turn).

(Last updated April 15th 2019)

[dmrulesteam]

Separate from the above, we frequently get questions about specific Keywords. Here's a quick guide to their text and some existing rulings on them:

Ally: Character dice with the Ally ability count as Sidekick character dice while in the Field Zone in addition to their other designations. They don’t count as Sidekick Dice while in the bag, Prep Area, Used Pile, or anywhere else. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

Experience: A character die with the Experience keyword is considered an Adventurer. At the end of your turn, if you KO’d at least one opposing Monster (with the black Monster banner) during your turn, all Adventurers who were active during the KO and remain active at the end of the turn gain one Experience Token on their card. A card can only gain one Experience Token per turn from the Experience keyword (though other abilities may allow a card to gain more than one). An opposing player KOing their own Monster will not generate Experience Tokens, nor can you gain an Experience Token by KOing one of your own Monsters. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3, 4)

Fabricate X-Y: Characters with Fabricate will have 2 numbers (X-Y). If you KO exactly X character dice with a total combined purchase cost of Y or more, you can purchase the die with Fabricate X-Y for free. This can only be done when you could normally purchase a character die (generally during your own Main Step). Sidekick character dice are considered to have a purchase cost of 0. For further information, see these rulings: (1)

Iron Will: This character cannot be KO’d unless it was previously damaged this turn or if it is simultaneously damaged by two different sources. If this character was previously damaged this turn and

• it is damaged a second time and the total damage it received this turn equals or exceeds its D, or
• a game effect later in the same turn reduces this character’s defense such that the damage it previously received this turn is equal to or greater than its new D, or
• a later game effect this turn directs that the character be KO’d,

then KO this character. Also KO this character if it is simultaneously damaged by more than one source (for example, being blocked by more than one character die) and the total damage it receives from those sources equals or exceeds its D. Characters with Iron Will (that have not been damaged) may not be selected to pay a cost that requires you to KO a character. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3)

Immortal: When a character die with Immortal would go to the Used Pile (not being fielded at the end of the Main Step, attacking and being unblocked, being Sacrificed, etc.), instead add that character die to its owner’s bag. Character dice with Immortal that went Out of Play this turn go to the Bag at the end of the turn instead of the Used Pile. This does not apply to dice initially being purchased, dice being swapped, or dice being spent as energy. For further information, see these rulings: (1)

Range X: When one or more character dice with Range attack, each active character die with Range (on both sides) simultaneously deals damage equal to its Range value (X) to target opposing character die. Each character die with Range may choose a different target, and the defending player still resolves their Range damage even if the Range die was KO’d by the active player’s Range damage. All Range damage is dealt simultaneously; the active player chooses their targets and resolves the damage, immediately followed by the inactive player choosing their targets and resolving the damage. Range damage from a single character die cannot be split among multiple targets. For further information, see these rulings: (1)

Regenerate: If this character would be KO’d, roll it. If you roll a character face, return it to the field on the rolled face (but not the Attack Zone) and clear all damage from it. Otherwise, it is KO’d and moved to your Prep Area. If a character die successfully Regenerates, it does not trigger any “When KO’d” effects, and any applied modifiers (stat boosts, granted affiliations, etc.) remain. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Retaliation: If character you control with Retaliation is active, and character die you control that shares an affiliation with it is KO’d (including another copy of the die with Retaliation), deal 1 damage to an opposing player. A character die cannot trigger its own Retaliation since it is no longer active then. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Swarm: While a die with Swarm is active, and you draw another copy of that die from your bag during your Clear and Draw Step, draw an extra die from your bag and add it to your Roll and Reroll. This may trigger multiple times if you keep drawing multiple copies of dice with Swarm. For further information, see these rulings: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)