A Delay card sits in the battle area and you trash it later to fire the effect, never on the turn you played it. Your opponent sees it coming, so the payoff has to be worth playing around, or the card needs to do something useful while it waits. Building with Delay means planning the turn you cash it in, not just the turn you play it.
16-17-1. <Delay> is a keyword effect. While a card with this effect is in the battle area, by trashing that card, the effect specified in <Delay> will activate. 16-17-2. The processing from <Delay> is optional. (For details, refer to 15-7 "Optional Processing Conditions") 16-17-3. <Delay> can't be activated the same turn the card with the effect is placed in the battle area.
Comprehensive Rules §16-17 — official rules page
From Bandai's card rulings. Each links to the card it was asked about.
Can I use this card's ＜Delay＞ effect to link a card that doesn't have ＜Link Keyword＞?
No, you can't.
Ruled Apr 4, 2025 · asked about App Link (BT21-097)
Can I use this card's ＜Delay＞ effect to play a red Digimon card with 2000 DP or less from my trash without returning a Digimon card from my trash to the top of the deck?
No, you can't. You must perform "return 1 red Digimon card from your trash to the top of the deck" whenever possible.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Red Scramble (LM-027)
Can I activate this card's ＜Delay＞ effect if I don't have any yellow Digimon cards in my trash?
Yes, you can.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Yellow Scramble (LM-029)
Can I activate this card's ＜Delay＞ effect if I don't have any blue Digimon cards in my trash?
Yes, you can.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Blue Scramble (LM-028)
Can I use this card's ＜Delay＞ effect to play a yellow Digimon card with 2000 DP or less from my trash without returning a Digimon card from my trash to the top of the deck?
No, you can't. You must perform "return 1 yellow Digimon card from your trash to the top of the deck" whenever possible.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Yellow Scramble (LM-029)
Can I activate this card's ＜Delay＞ effect if I don't have any red Digimon cards in my trash?
Yes, you can.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Red Scramble (LM-027)
Can I use this card's ＜Delay＞ effect to play a blue Digimon card with 2000 DP or less from my trash without returning a Digimon card from my trash to the top of the deck?
No, you can't. You must perform "return 1 blue Digimon card from your trash to the top of the deck" whenever possible.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Blue Scramble (LM-028)
Can I activate this card's ＜Delay＞ effect if I don't have any green Digimon cards in my trash?
Yes, you can.
Ruled Dec 13, 2024 · asked about Green Scramble (LM-030)
Public lines whose key cards carry this keyword, step by step.
141 cards carry this keyword; the first 30:
Rule text © Bandai, quoted from the official Comprehensive Rules for reference. Combalo is not affiliated with Bandai.
