Remove Brainwashing?

[skey23]

Ok, I feel stoopid for asking this, but....

Does "Remove Brainwashing" affect face-down cards?

The rulings talk about "Creature Swap", and I understand them completely, but nothing states face-up or face-down in regards to "Creature Swap".

I've also checked the List, and the Netrepâ„¢ files, but can't find any references to face-up vs. face-down when talking about "Remove Brainwashing".


Thanks.

 

[anthonyj]

I have nothing "official" to go from but my best guess would be "no". The Reasoning being that the face-down card is an unknown until it is flipped. But I could see it going either way.

 

[Digital Jedi]

The last I remember, Remove Brainwashing was an effect that looked at the original owner of cards, not at the Game Mechanincs of control issues. It merely erased control issues and effects. I think it would return no matter what.

 

[daivahataka]

I'd have to side with anthonyj since the card is an unknown while face down, it's just a monster, otherwise would the monster not returned to the original controller when flipped face down while Snatch Steal was euipped to it?

 

[Digital Jedi]

Remove Brainwashing is nothing like Snatch Steal. There is nothng about it to indicate that it can only affect face-ups. The confusion we're running into regarding Snatch Steal is that is an Equip Card and by its nature it can only affect face-ups.

Control is an unknown, but ownership is never an issue. The Game always knows and remember who's cards belonged to whom originally. This is why a card will never, ever go your opponent's Graveyard. Because it never forgets who's card that is.

Remove Brainwashing shouldn't be any different. All it would look for is the "owner" of a monster. Not the orientation of the monster. Snatch Steal's ruling is a bad ruling to try to apply to this bcause where dealing more with the mechanics behind an Equip Card then we are with the issues of control and ownership.

 

[John Danker]

I'm inclinded to go along with Digital Jedi on this one. Ownership IS always known and can never change.

It IS a good question as it isn't clearly defined in the rulings for Remove Brainwashing. I experimented with this card when it was popular to be running a couple of Creature Swaps along with Snatch Steal and I was using some pretty powerful monsters, hated having them taken from me and slapped up side the head with them!

When you look at the second ruling for Remove Brainwashing you see that when it talks about Remove Brainwashing vs Creature Swap it doesn't make any references or differentiation between a monster swapped that is face up or face down (not that we'd expect them to be that specific, they haven't in the past)

I'm afraid this is the type of question that usually gets put on the back burner unless (in their eyes) it's a cut and dry question in their eyes. Any card they don't see as being "popular" usually gets put way down on the priority list as far as talking with Konami about it's specifics.

 

[skey23]

I wish the Judge's List had a 'sent items' sections so I could see what questions I have asked them.

I don't remember if I sent this to them already or not. I don't think I did..lol.


I ruled that face-down cards were still affected BECAUSE of that "Creature Swap" ruling. More times than not, players tend to like to give a face-down card to their opponent instead of take one, at least from what I've seen.

But I still would like to try to get the 'correct' answer if possible, so I'll ask the List and see what happens.

 

[daivahataka]

Certainly can't hurt and would be far from the most basic question they get asked.