<p><strong>No.</strong> You do not <em>have</em> to use your assist cards. They are optional. The text on the cards is what happens if you <em>choose</em> to use them, not rules that enter play once the card is drawn. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T12:08:12.620Z
2016-09-28T12:08:12.620Z
Alastair Campbell
<p>Most assists are worded as if they are required to be performed.  Do they <em>have</em> to be if at all possible?</p>

<p>For instance, the Backdoor card says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Cancel all abilities on one obstacle for the rest of the game</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If I then have only one obstacle left and it's description says that a runner gets 1 HP healed once it's defeated, does this have to be canceled?  The card doesn't say "You may cancel all abilities" but this seems like the sort of thing that would be a deck wide ruling, such as the runner not being required to apply all damage from the cards they play.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-06T12:56:31.580Z
If you provide an example of what situation you are asking about it would help answer the question.
Joe W
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-06T15:56:35.380Z
Updated the main question with an example
Joey
<shadowrun-crossfire>
Do you have to perform assist abilities?
Joey
# Do you have to perform assist abilities?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-06)

Most assists are worded as if they are required to be performed. Do they *have* to be if at all possible?

For instance, the Backdoor card says

> Cancel all abilities on one obstacle for the rest of the game

If I then have only one obstacle left and it's description says that a runner gets 1 HP healed once it's defeated, does this have to be canceled? The card doesn't say "You may cancel all abilities" but this seems like the sort of thing that would be a deck wide ruling, such as the runner not being required to apply all damage from the cards they play.

**Tags:** shadowrun-crossfire

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you provide an example of what situation you are asking about it would help answer the question.  
> **username_0**: Updated the main question with an example  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-28. Score: 1

**No.** You do not *have* to use your assist cards. They are optional. The text on the cards is what happens if you *choose* to use them, not rules that enter play once the card is drawn.


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