In most card games, like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering, effects are activated from the hand or the field, but not always directly on the field.
Here's a breakdown:
Activating from the Hand:
* Most effects that are activated from the hand have specific conditions for doing so. These are usually spelled out in the card text, such as:
* "You can activate this card from your hand..."
* "Activate this card from your hand during your Main Phase..."
* "Activate this card from your hand by paying 1000 Life Points."
Activating from the Field:
* Some effects can be activated from the field, but they are not always directly activated on the field. For example:
* A monster on the field might have an effect that triggers when another card is played. This effect is not activated directly on the field, but it is activated by an event happening on the field.
* A field spell might have a continuous effect that is active as long as it's on the field. This effect is not activated, but it's constantly in effect.
* Some cards might have an effect that can be activated from the field, such as:
* "You can activate this effect from your field..."
* "You can activate this card's effect when it is on the field."
* "Activate this card's effect from the field by paying 1000 Life Points."
Activating Directly on the Field:
* This is less common, but some cards might allow you to activate an effect by directly interacting with the card on the field. This would be a specific case and clearly indicated in the card text.
It's important to remember:
* Read the card text carefully. The card's text will always specify how and when you can activate its effect.
* Be aware of the game's rules. Each game has its own specific rules and mechanics for activating card effects.
* If you are unsure, ask a judge or an experienced player.
Example:
In Yu-Gi-Oh!, a card like "Monster Reborn" can be activated from the hand to bring a monster from the graveyard back to the field. However, a monster card like "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" might have an effect that activates when it is destroyed by battle.
Let me know if you have a specific card or game in mind, and I can provide more detailed information!