<p>As per the <a href="https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/b3/b7/b3b74cee-5ea1-44f7-a459-466c3d7edc81/l5c01-rules_reference-v101.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rules reference</a>, page 5, under "Dash (-)", the following bullet point is relevant (emphasis mine):</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>A character with a dash skill value <strong>cannot</strong> be a challenger or challengee in a duel of that skill type. (see D.2 on page 23)</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>So, no, the character you describe cannot participate in a military duel, either as the challengee or the challenger.</p>

<p>The bullet point immediately above it covers the case where such a character's skill value is needed by an effect and that value is a dash (which can happen), in which case the skill value will always be 0 at the time it is checked by the effect and cannot be modified.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-02T06:19:11.927Z
This rules reference is great. Contains way more info than the actual rulebook in the box...
Erik
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-02T12:24:41.890Z
You probably were referencing the How to Play manual (https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/74/46/7446c964-613e-4c01-8902-199257c5d4af/l5c01_learntoplay_web.pdf), which does teach how the game is played but doesn't cover all of the rules. I'd be surprised if the Rules Reference _wasn't_ in the box, though page 3 of the how to play manual would suggest just that.
KitsuneZeta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-02T02:10:43.687Z
2017-11-02T02:10:43.687Z
KitsuneZeta
<p>The rules on having a '-' attribute only say that they are not able to participate in conflicts of that type. However, if a card that has "Political 1, Military -" is in a Political conflict, can I challenge that card to a Military duel, or is it not a valid target?</p>

<p>And if it is a valid target, what is its Military skill in this situation? Can it add any modifiers it gets from being Honored or from attachments for the duel score?</p>

<legend-of-the-five-rings>
Can I challenge a character with a '-' ability to a duel?
Erik
# Can I challenge a character with a '-' ability to a duel?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-01)

The rules on having a '-' attribute only say that they are not able to participate in conflicts of that type. However, if a card that has "Political 1, Military -" is in a Political conflict, can I challenge that card to a Military duel, or is it not a valid target?

And if it is a valid target, what is its Military skill in this situation? Can it add any modifiers it gets from being Honored or from attachments for the duel score?

**Tags:** legend-of-the-five-rings


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

As per the [rules reference](https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/b3/b7/b3b74cee-5ea1-44f7-a459-466c3d7edc81/l5c01-rules_reference-v101.pdf), page 5, under "Dash (-)", the following bullet point is relevant (emphasis mine):

> * A character with a dash skill value **cannot** be a challenger or challengee in a duel of that skill type. (see D.2 on page 23)

So, no, the character you describe cannot participate in a military duel, either as the challengee or the challenger.

The bullet point immediately above it covers the case where such a character's skill value is needed by an effect and that value is a dash (which can happen), in which case the skill value will always be 0 at the time it is checked by the effect and cannot be modified.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This rules reference is great. Contains way more info than the actual rulebook in the box...  
> **username_1**: You probably were referencing the How to Play manual (https://images-cdn.fantasyflightgames.com/filer_public/74/46/7446c964-613e-4c01-8902-199257c5d4af/l5c01_learntoplay_web.pdf), which does teach how the game is played but doesn't cover all of the rules. I'd be surprised if the Rules Reference _wasn't_ in the box, though page 3 of the how to play manual would suggest just that.  

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