Understanding "Digivolve Ignoring Digivolution Requirements"
What gets ignored — and what never does
Cards like BT25-082 BlackGatomon and BT6-060 Deputymon that "digivolve ignoring the digivolution requirements" keep multiplying. What "ignoring" covers is surprisingly broad — but what it does NOT cover is just as clearly defined. Starting from Comprehensive Rules 8-1-2-2, here are the traps players actually fall into.
What "ignoring digivolution requirements" means (reading the rule)
Comprehensive Rules 8-1-2-2 says:
"If ignoring the digivolution requirements when digivolving, the digivolution will occur regardless of the digivolution requirements. Even if a card has digivolution requirements, they aren't referenced. If it doesn't have digivolution requirements, digivolution is still possible."
So "ignoring" doesn't just mean skipping the listed requirements — you can even digivolve into a Digimon card that has no digivolution requirements at all.
Think of it as skipping every Lv. / color / trait requirement the target card would normally demand.
"If ignoring the digivolution requirements when digivolving, the digivolution will occur regardless of the digivolution requirements. Even if a card has digivolution requirements, they aren't referenced. If it doesn't have digivolution requirements, digivolution is still possible."
So "ignoring" doesn't just mean skipping the listed requirements — you can even digivolve into a Digimon card that has no digivolution requirements at all.
Think of it as skipping every Lv. / color / trait requirement the target card would normally demand.
What exactly counts as a "digivolution requirement"
The requirements printed on a card are the following. While the effect applies, none of them are referenced:
- Level (Lv.3 / Lv.4, etc.)
- Color (red / blue / yellow, including multi-color requirements)
- Traits ([Three Musketeers], [TS], and other traits written in the requirements)
- Name requirements ([Beelstarmon] requirements, etc.)
Digivolution requirements normally specify the state of the card being digivolved from; "ignore" effects skip that entire specification.
- Level (Lv.3 / Lv.4, etc.)
- Color (red / blue / yellow, including multi-color requirements)
- Traits ([Three Musketeers], [TS], and other traits written in the requirements)
- Name requirements ([Beelstarmon] requirements, etc.)
Digivolution requirements normally specify the state of the card being digivolved from; "ignore" effects skip that entire specification.
IMPORTANT: The digivolution cost is specified, not ignored
Easy to mix up, but "digivolution cost" and "digivolution requirements" are different things.
BT25-082 BlackGatomon reads "may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait, ignoring its digivolution requirements, with a digivolution cost of 4" — the cost is not ignored; you pay the value the effect specifies (4).
- Digivolution requirements → never referenced (ignored)
- Digivolution cost → pay exactly what the effect specifies (not ignored)
Even if the card's printed cost is cheaper, you can only digivolve at the cost the effect names.
BT25-082 BlackGatomon reads "may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait, ignoring its digivolution requirements, with a digivolution cost of 4" — the cost is not ignored; you pay the value the effect specifies (4).
- Digivolution requirements → never referenced (ignored)
- Digivolution cost → pay exactly what the effect specifies (not ignored)
Even if the card's printed cost is cheaper, you can only digivolve at the cost the effect names.
When can you actually use it?
- Combine with a normal digivolution during your main phase (digivolving into a card from your hand)
- Works with Arts Digivolve too — digivolving from a face-up used dual card (BT25-082 Q6390)
- If the effect's timing is [All Turns], you can even digivolve during your opponent's counter timing (BT25-082 Q6391)
- It can also activate together with a "digivolving" effect like P-108 Wisdom Training. Persistent effects keep applying while their conditions are met, so they're referenced during the digivolution procedure (BT25-082 Q6392, 15-8-2-2).
- Works with Arts Digivolve too — digivolving from a face-up used dual card (BT25-082 Q6390)
- If the effect's timing is [All Turns], you can even digivolve during your opponent's counter timing (BT25-082 Q6391)
- It can also activate together with a "digivolving" effect like P-108 Wisdom Training. Persistent effects keep applying while their conditions are met, so they're referenced during the digivolution procedure (BT25-082 Q6392, 15-8-2-2).
Where "ignoring" stops
Even when digivolution requirements are ignored, every other rule still applies. The classic misunderstandings:
- **Location requirements written in the effect text are NOT ignored**
Example: BT6-060 Deputymon reads "this Digimon may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait **in your hand**, ignoring its digivolution requirements, with a digivolution cost of 6." Because of "in your hand," the target must be in your hand. A used Option card (dual cards included) is treated as not being in any area until its [Main] effect resolves (9-1-4 / 9-1-5) — it is not "in your hand." That's why in Q6236 you can't Arts-Digivolve-style target a used dual card with Deputymon: the "in your hand" requirement fails.
Meanwhile, BT25-082 BlackGatomon has no location requirement ("may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait..."), so it can digivolve into an Arts Digivolve target (Q6390). **Always check whether the effect text specifies a location like "in your hand" or "in the battle area."**
- The digivolution procedure itself (revealing the card you digivolve into, etc.) is never skipped (8-1-2-7).
- Restrictions on your own Digimon ("isn't affected by effects," "can't digivolve," and other granted effects) are judged by their own rules.
- **Location requirements written in the effect text are NOT ignored**
Example: BT6-060 Deputymon reads "this Digimon may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait **in your hand**, ignoring its digivolution requirements, with a digivolution cost of 6." Because of "in your hand," the target must be in your hand. A used Option card (dual cards included) is treated as not being in any area until its [Main] effect resolves (9-1-4 / 9-1-5) — it is not "in your hand." That's why in Q6236 you can't Arts-Digivolve-style target a used dual card with Deputymon: the "in your hand" requirement fails.
Meanwhile, BT25-082 BlackGatomon has no location requirement ("may digivolve into a Digimon card with the [Three Musketeers] trait..."), so it can digivolve into an Arts Digivolve target (Q6390). **Always check whether the effect text specifies a location like "in your hand" or "in the battle area."**
- The digivolution procedure itself (revealing the card you digivolve into, etc.) is never skipped (8-1-2-7).
- Restrictions on your own Digimon ("isn't affected by effects," "can't digivolve," and other granted effects) are judged by their own rules.
Relevant Comprehensive Rules sections
- 8-1-2-2 (digivolving while ignoring digivolution requirements)
- 8-1-2-1 (cards with multiple digivolution requirements)
- 8-1-2-7 (the digivolution procedure; returning the card if digivolution fails)
- 15-8-2-2 (persistent effect timing)
- 15-16-9 ([All Turns] effects)
- 9-1-4, 9-1-5 (used Option cards: area and trashing)
- 8-1-2-1 (cards with multiple digivolution requirements)
- 8-1-2-7 (the digivolution procedure; returning the card if digivolution fails)
- 15-8-2-2 (persistent effect timing)
- 15-16-9 ([All Turns] effects)
- 9-1-4, 9-1-5 (used Option cards: area and trashing)
Key point "Ignore the digivolution requirements" does not mean "digivolve into anything." Only the requirements are ignored — the digivolution cost, and any location wording like "in your hand" / "in the battle area," apply exactly as written. If the effect says "in your hand," only cards in your hand qualify. Read for that phrase first and you'll rarely go wrong.