Talk:Penetrate/@comment-26916515-20150909224621/@comment-13526439-20150910105207

Hate to break it to ya David, but Spectral Strike and Penetrate is actually Different.

Penetrate is a Keyword, Spectral Strike isn't, Hence they activate at different times Let us Look at the flow of Battle yeah?

Source: BDF Detailed Rulings

3. Determination of battle (This is right after the One-Counter Timing for the Battle Phase.)

3.2 [Penetrate] and [Counterattack] activates.

3.2.1. When the attack hits a monster in the opponent’s center area, and if the attacking monster has the [Penetrate] ability, deal the opponent fighter the same amount of damage as that monster’s critical. If the attack is a link attack, all the cards which took part in the link attack will each have their [Penetrate] abilities activate once.

3.2.2. When cards with [Counterattack] have been attacked and are left on the field, if the attacking monster’s defense is less than the power of the monster under attack with [Counterattack], choose that attacking monster and destroy it.

3,3 From this point on the attacking card no longer considered “attacking“ and “in battle”.

3. Play timing

3.4 Play timing occurs. Abilities which activate during “deals damage” and “destroys” will be resolved here as well. Abilities which activate during “end of battle” and “end of attack” will be resolved here as well.

The monster is your center is actually destroyed BEFORE Penetrate activates, however,

Penetrate, being a Keyword, means you cannot cast a Counter in response to it activating, you must cast a damage reduction spell in response to an action that will indirectly cause you to take Penetrate damage to reduce it.

(Note: Only Applicable to card that are not Black Dragon Shield due to its condition, For example, Chillax!)

Spectral Strike, being just a mere AUTO ability, activates AFTER the battle, which has a new playtiming, so if your center monster got destroyed by a Spectral Strike Monster, and you actually used a Counter in that battle, you can still usse Black Dragon Shield against it.