CommentStreams:2f29611e026e70462ac859505fc3daca

Yes, Retribution goes first on a players card. But only on the Card's attack phase. Therefore Retribution is one of the Artifacts that gives the possibility of a free hit. (similar to Fireball and Lightning) This does not help nearly as much in the Boss fights, but it is very helpful in the Missions it is one of the artifacts that gives a weaker deck a chance of defeating a much stronger set of cards in the Missions, especially in Phase 3 of the events where for me in the later missions the opponent Decks power is 4K to 6K greater than mine.

And of course you want them to come out in the second set of cards and preferably in the first position so that you effectively have 3 chances for a free shot!

I have never notice it not do damage though. Except in the case of the opposing card having the artifact that stops an opponents card artifact from affecting it, that is the only exception that I can recollect seeing it not do damage. Even when an opponent has a shield up that blocks one blow, it does not affect this artifact damage. Even a sleeping card gets to do its retribution blow, etc..