Ultimate Trigger (Uトリガー, Arutimetto torigā) or U-Trigger is a keyword introduced in SD19 and SD20. This keyword occurs on all colors of Ultimates, and Ultimates only. Ultimates with this effect have the following effect:
- Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
When Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
(Send a card from from the opposing deck to the Trash. If that card's cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it will hit.)
While the process of activating Ultimate Trigger is the same for every Ultimate with this keyword, the effects after hit can vary between each card. The gambling element in this keyword is also to ensure that the Ultimates wouldn't be overpowered during its time of release, where there were little to no effects to counter them. As the chance of hitting relates to the Ultimate's card cost, most Braves which can brave to Ultimates have the effect to treat the Braves themselves as Cost 0 during brave, in order to avoid adding more costs to the Ultimates for a higher chance of hitting.
The wording in which Ultimate Trigger uses to mill a card from the opposing deck is "send a card to the Trash" instead of "discard a card", meaning that any anti-deck destruction effects can't prevent Ultimate Trigger, nor can Ultimate Trigger be boosted by Blue Charge or similar effects.
It's important to note that if Trigger Counter is used to stop the Ultimate Trigger, it has to be declared and activate before the targets for the Ultimate Trigger effect are chosen. As such, the Ultimate player is required to confirm with their opponent for any effect declarations right after the trigger is confirmed hit and before the rest of the Ultimate Trigger effect resolves.
Some Ultimate Triggers also have an additional hit effect called Critical Hit, which only activates when the condition for Critical Hit specifically is fulfilled. The keyword Ultimate Trigger also has several other keywords derived from it, which all are listed below.
Double Ultimate Trigger[]
Double Ultimate Trigger (ＷＵトリガー, Daburu arutimetto torigā) or Ｗ-Trigger is a keyword introduced in SD25. It's a derivation of Ultimate Trigger, and the effect reads:
- Double Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
For each Ultimate Trigger hit, [additional effects].
*Double Hit*: Also, if the Ultimate Trigger hits twice, [additional effects].
(Double Ultimate Trigger: Send two cards from the opposing deck to the Trash. If each of those cards' cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Each Double Ultimate Trigger effect will always have the Double Hit keyword. It's also important to note that as Double Hit uses the wording "also", its resolve timing is the same as Double Ultimate Trigger after both cards are confirmed as hit.
When only one card is hit, it's considered as "one hit" instead of "guard". Therefore, any effects that activate upon guard don't activate. When the opposing deck only has one card to mill, Double Ultimate Trigger will still proceed, but with a definite maximum of one hit only.
Cross Ultimate Trigger[]
Cross Ultimate-Trigger (ＸＵトリガー, Kurosu arutimetto torigā) or XU-Trigger is a keyword introduced in SD28. It's part of Ultimate Trigger, and only exists within some of the Ultimate Trigger effects. The effect reads:
- Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
When Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
After Ultimate Trigger, also, if your Life is at three or less, proceed to Cross Ultimate Trigger.
Cross Ultimate Trigger: When Cross Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
(Ultimate Trigger/Cross Ultimate Trigger: Send a card from the opposing deck to the Trash. If that card's cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Cross Ultimate Trigger only activates after all effects triggered by Ultimate Trigger resolve first. However, any Burst declared via Ultimate Trigger will wait till Cross Ultimate Trigger resolves to activate. Even if Ultimate Trigger itself is guarded, Cross Ultimate Trigger can still proceed as long its condition is fulfilled. When Cross Ultimate Trigger activates, its procedure is the same as Ultimate Trigger, and can be countered by Trigger Counter, or trigger "when hit/guard" effects.
Triple Ultimate Trigger[]
Triple Ultimate Trigger (TUトリガー, Toripuru arutimetto torigā ) or TU-Trigger is a keyword and variant of Ultimate-Trigger introduced in BS38, possessed only by less than ten cards. The effect has two varying wordings:
- Triple Ultimate Trigger [LV] (When Attacks)
For each Ultimate Trigger hit, [additional effects].
*Double Hit*: If the Ultimate Trigger hits twice, [additional effects].
*Triple Hit*: If the Ultimate Trigger hits thrice, [additional effects].
(Triple Ultimate Trigger: Send three cards from the opposing deck to the Trash. If each of those cards' cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Or
- Triple Ultimate Trigger [LV] (When Attacks)
When Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
*Double Hit*: If the Ultimate Trigger hits twice, [additional effects].
*Triple Hit*: If the Ultimate Trigger hits thrice, [additional effects].
(Triple Ultimate Trigger: Send three cards from the opposing deck to the Trash. If each of those cards' cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Each Triple Ultimate Trigger will always also have both the Double Hit and Triple Hit keywords. While there are no apparent wordings, all effects In Triple Ultimate Trigger are resolved at the same time. Take the effects of The Hellsoil FourDemonLord Magnamiser as an example, which deals a life burn and discards the opposing Hand at the same time, the opponent is required to discard Reactive Barrier first before both the life burn and hand discard happen, and Magnamizer won't be able to choose Reactive Barrier as a target for hand discard. Similarly, Arche Gundam can only be summoned after the whole Triple Ultimate Trigger effect resolves, meaning if it's discarded by Magnamizer's hand discard, despite having a life burn at the same time, it can't be summoned.
Same as Double Ultimate Trigger, for example when only one card is hit, it's considered as "one hit" instead of "guard". Therefore, any effects that activate upon guard don't activate. When the opposing deck only has two or less cards to mill, Triple Ultimate Trigger will still proceed, but with a definite maximum of two hits only.
Octa Ultimate Trigger[]
Octa Ultimate Trigger (OUトリガー, Okuta arutimetto torigā) is a keyword of Purple, possessed only by The DragonEvilMarquis Overwhelm. The effect reads:
- Octa Ultimate Trigger (When Summoned)
For each Trigger hit, send a core from any opposing Spirits/Ultimates to the Reserve.
(Octa Ultimate Trigger: Send eight cards from the opposing deck to the Trash. If each of those cards' cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Octa Ultimate Trigger is by far the Ultimate Trigger with most cards sent to the Trash, and hence it can be easily abused if done right, causing a lot of restrictions to be put on Overwhelm itself.
Same as Double Ultimate Trigger, for example when only one card is hit, it's considered as "one hit" instead of "guard". Therefore, any effects that activate upon guard don't activate. When the opposing deck only has seven or less cards to mill, Octa Ultimate Trigger will still proceed, but with a definite maximum of seven hits only.
Quadruple Ultimate Trigger[]
Quadruple Ultimate Trigger (QUトリガー, kuadorapuru arutimetto torigā) is a keyword introduced in BS57, possessed only by a few Ultimates. The effect reads:
- Quadruple Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
When Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
*Double Hit*: When it hits twice or more, [additional effects].
*Triple hit*: When it hits thrice or more, [additional effects].
*Quadruple Hit*: When it hits four times, [additional effects]
(Quadruple Ultimate Trigger: Send four cards from the opposing deck to the Trash. If each of those cards' cost is lower than this Ultimate's, it's a hit.)
Quadruple Ultimate Trigger may or may not come with Double Hit, Triple Hit, and Quadruple Hit keywords (It can skip any of the three). While there are no apparent wordings, all effects in Quadruple Ultimate Trigger are resolved at the same time, just like Triple Ultimate Trigger.
Same as Double Ultimate Trigger, for example when only one card is hit, it's considered as "one hit" instead of "guard". Therefore, any effects that activate upon guard don't activate. When the opposing deck only has three or less cards to mill, Quadruple Ultimate Trigger will still proceed, but with a definite maximum of three hits only.
Count Ultimate Trigger[]
Count Ultimate Trigger (CUトリガー, Kaunto arutimetto torigā) is a keyword introduced in SD65, possessed only by a few Ultimates. The effect reads:
- Count Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
When Count Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects].
(Count Ultimate Trigger: Send a card from the opposing decktop to the Trash. If that card's cost is lower than the number of your counters, it's a hit.)
Unlike any of the previous Ultimate Triggers, Count Ultimate Trigger compares the user's number of counters with the opposing discarded card's cost, allowing the effect to have more flexibility against high cost decks, such as those which focus on Advent. It also means that when the player reaches a high enough number of counters, the chance of hitting with Count Ultimate Trigger is also higher, and when reaching more than ten counters, the effect is more or less guaranteed a hit whenever it activates. On the other Hand, it means that the Trigger effect can't get a hit at all if the player can't stack enough counters, especially at the beginning of the game. In a way, it is something that works right the opposite to how normal Ultimate Trigger functions, as the owner of the effect can make good preparation for it, and the effect relies on the preparation instead of the opponent and luck.
Double Count Ultimate Trigger[]
Double Count Ultimate Trigger (WCUトリガー, Daburu Kaunto arutimetto torigā) is a keyword introduced in SD67, possessed only by a few Ultimates. The effect reads:
- Double Count Ultimate Trigger [LV] (Timing)
For each Count Ultimate Trigger hits, [additional effects]. Double Hit: When it hits twice, [additional effects].
(Double Count Ultimate Trigger: Send two cards from the opposing decktop to the Trash. If the cards' cost is lower than the number of your counters, it's a hit.)
It's basically a fusion of Double Ultimate Trigger and Count Ultimate Trigger, having all the merits and demerits of the two keywords.
Anime[]
Ultimate Trigger and some of its variants has been used in two anime series: Saikyo Ginga Ultimate Zero Battle Spirits and Battle Spirits Double Drive.
Ultimate Zero was the first anime to introduce the Ultimate card type. As such, Ultimate Trigger was also a key element of the show, and was used by most of the main characters in the series. When they activated Ultimate Trigger, they'd shout "Ultimate Trigger, lock on!", and after a few gymnastic movements, they'd point their index fingers at the opposing deck and shoot out a laser beam, flipping up the top card of the opposing deck.
In Double Drive, the only user was Kazuya Taiga. Interestingly, in episode 39, when the keyword was first shown in the series, Kazuya wrongly told his opponent to "reveal" the top card, when it should be "send to Trash".
Related Articles[]
- List of cards with Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Double Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Triple Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Quadruple Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Octa Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Cross Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Count Ultimate Trigger
- List of cards with Double Count Ultimate Trigger
