EQ

This Special grants a character a bonus (+1, +2, etc.) for certain actions and penalizes (-1, -2, etc.) them for other actions. If played offensively, it may accompany another numeric Special or Power card attack. If played offensively with a numeric Special or Power card and that attack is successfully blocked or avoided, this Special is discarded if it penalizes the opponent. The Special is not discarded if it grants a bonus to the attacking character, even if it is blocked or the attack played with is negated. If played defensively, it must be played with a Power card against an attack. In no cases may this Special be played with a Universe card attack. A Universe card attack may follow on the next attack. The bonuses do not count toward Venture total.

Meta Rules
Meta #16 Bonuses only affect the attack/defend value of a Special - never any numbers that are included within the text of a Special (e.g., "Draw 3 cards").

Meta #34 Bonuses/penalties granted by Special cards are never counted towards damage or Venture Total unless specifically stated otherwise on the Special.

Meta #35 Specials which grant bonuses/abilities to the playing Character (or the playing Character's team) that can be played offensively can be played along with an attack. The attack may not be made with a Universe card of any kind (although the Special and attack may be made as a follow-up to an Ally attack). In the event that the attack is defended, the bonus/ability would be defended as well and would not take place. The attack may be defended by defendeding the numeric attack or the Special granting the bonus/ability.

Meta #37 Bonuses granted by Special cards do not affect any Character's power grids, but the value at which one determines the attack value/defense value of an action. The bonus/penalty only affects the value of cards with a number/icon in the upper left hand corner.

Meta #38 Bonuses/abilities granted by Special cards affect Universe cards played on subsequent turns. A Universe card may not be played in conjunction with a Special card unless the Special card or Universe card explicitly say so.

Meta #49 Whenever a Special allows you to draw during the course of a battle, if it does not indicate whether or not you can keep duplicates, then duplicates must be discarded.

Meta #54 Specials which grant bonuses/abilities/grid changes may only be played defensively if it is necessary to do so in order to defend.