Hey guys! Maybe it's just me but I'm having trouble with the phrasing on Pia's Revolution particularly the part "...return that card to your hand unless target opponent has Pia's Revolution deal 3 damage to him or her." To which part of the sentence does the "unless" apply to? The card return, the 3 damage or both? I feel a bit silly asking this but I would appreciate any clarification.
Your opponent has two options : either they let the artifact card return to your hand, or they get dealt 3 damage in order for the card to stay in your graveyard. "A unless B" means "A happens if you don't have B happen".
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
It means "...target opponent may have Pia's Revolution deal 3 damage to him or her. If he or she doesn't, return that card to your hand" (C.R. 117.12a). It's not phrased as though it meant the following: "Unless target opponent has Pia's Revolution, return that card to your hand. Deal 3 damage to him or her." By the way, this is the same confusion with the card Book Burning, as printed in Judgment.
Cheers.