Chain Resolution — Step by Step

A chain is the stack of card effects activated in response to one another. Chains resolve in reverse order (last in, first out / LIFO).

Building the chain

1. Player A activates Card X — this becomes Chain Link 1 (CL1).
2. Either player may respond with a fast effect (Spell Speed 2 or 3). That becomes CL2.
3. Continue until both players pass priority.

Resolving the chain

1. Resolve the highest chain link first (last activated).
2. Work down to CL1.
3. After CL1 resolves, the chain ends and SEGOC (Simultaneous Effects Go On a Chain) checks for new triggered effects.

Spell Speeds

• Speed 1 — Normal Spells, Ignition Effects, most monster effects. Cannot chain to anything else.
• Speed 2 — Quick-Play Spells, most Trap Cards, Quick Effects. Can chain to Speed 1 or 2.
• Speed 3 — Counter Traps. Can only be chained to by other Speed 3.

Worked example

Board: Player A controls Pot of Greed face-down, Player B controls Solemn Judgment set.

1. A activates Pot of Greed → CL1 (Speed 1).
2. B activates Solemn Judgment in response → CL2 (Speed 3, pays half LP).
3. Chain resolves backwards: CL2 negates Pot. CL1's effect does nothing.

Common gotchas

• A "When … you can" effect that misses the timing if it is not the last thing to happen, cannot activate.
• A Trigger Effect whose condition is met during Chain resolution does not become a new Chain Link inside the resolving Chain. Finish resolving the whole Chain first; then build the next Chain with the legal triggers using SEGOC.
• A "When … " (without "you can") trigger is mandatory, but mandatory still means "activate at the next legal trigger window," not "interrupt the middle of resolution."
• Replays: changing the attack target may force re-declaration if a monster enters/leaves the zone the attacker chose.

Sources

• Konami, Official Rulebook (current edition PDF, "Chains and Spell Speed" section) — defines how a chain is built from Chain Links, that a chain resolves in reverse order (the most recently activated link resolves first), and the three Spell Speeds and what each can chain to.
• Konami, "Fast Effect Timing" — official explanation that "fast effects" are activations/effects of Spell Speed 2 or higher, and the priority procedure for responding within a chain.
• Konami, "Understanding Card Text, Part 7: Conjunction Functions" — official explanation of "then" sequencing and what counts as "the last thing that happened," the mechanism underlying missing-the-timing rulings.