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Missing the Timing
"Missing the Timing" is a term used to describe what happens when an optional "Trigger Effect" card is trying to activate its effect at a moment where it cannot. An optional effect can only be activated "when" a condition happens. In this case, you are only allowed to activate that effect "when" that card's activation conditions have been met, and only when those condtions are the last thing to happen at that moment. "Missing the Timing" usually occurs mostly with "Trigger Effect" monsters with optional effects like "Elemental HERO Stratos" and "Lightpulsar Dragon", but can also occure with Spell & Trap Cards as well. The following are example scenarios of those cards and how they can "miss their timing".
"Elemental HERO Stratos" is an optional "Trigger Effect" monster. When it is successfully Summoned (either Normal or Special), it can add 1 HERO monster from the Deck to the hand, or destroy Spell or Trap Cards on the field. Becuase of this, its Summon must be the last action/event to take place in order to activate and reslove its effect.
So let's take a look at a few scenarios.
In this scenario, Player A has an "Elemental HERO Stratos" in their Graveyard, and controls a face-down "Call of the Haunted". During that turn Player A chooses to activate their set "Call of the Haunted" and chooses "Elemental HERO Stratos" as the target for "Call of the Haunted".
In this normal scenario, "Call of the Haunted" is activated as "Chain Link 1". If there is no response to the activation of "Call of the Haunted", then "Call of the Haunted" will resolve as normal and Special Summon "Elemental HERO Stratos". If Summoning "Elemental HERO Stratos" was successful and was the last action to be performed, then "Elemental HERO Stratos"'s effect will activate, and in turn start a new chain.
But what happens if Summoning "Elemental HERO Stratos" was not the last thing to happen?
Let's take a look at a more different scenario:
The same situation as before. Player A has an "Elemental HERO Stratos" in their Graveyard, and controls a face-down "Call of the Haunted". But in this particular scenario, it is Player B's turn. Player B activates "Heavy Storm" which is placed as "Chain Link 1". Player A decides to respond by chaining their "Call of the Haunted" targeting their "Elemental HERO Stratos", which will be placed as "Chain Link 2".
If there are no more cards or effects being added to the chain, then all chain effects will resolve in reverse order, with the last card activated in that chain and resolving first, in this case, "Call of the Haunted" by Special Summoning "Elemental HERO Stratos", since "Heavy Storm" has not yet resolved. When "Elemental HERO Statos" is Special Summoned, "Heavy Storm" will then resolve in that chain, destroying all Spell and Trap Cards. "Call of the Haunted" will be destroyed, and so will "Elemental HERO Stratos" because of "Call of the Haunted"'s effect.
When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can activate 1 of these effects.
● You can destroy Spell/Trap Cards on the field, up to the number of "HERO" monsters you control, except this card.
● Add 1 "HERO" monster from your Deck to your hand.
Heavy Storm is activated and placed in Chain Link 1.
Call of the Haunted is actvated in respponse, and placed as Chain Link 2
In this scenario, "Elemental HERO Stratos" was successfully Summoned, however, because it happened through the resolution of "Call of the Haunted" in that chain, and other effects are stll in play, in this case, "Heavy Storm", new effects CANNOT be activated, nor added to the existing chain in progress of resolving.
*Note: It is important to know the difference in text between "Trigger Effect" monsters, when the words "When" and "If" are written.
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"When" effects are mandatory, and will always activate after all other effects or action have resolved/taken place, and cannot be ignored. Even if it's known that a mandatory effect cannot reslove properly, unless restricted from activating all together, it will always activate as Chain Lnk 1.
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"If" effects will vary when it comes to timing, or what moment during the duel can the player activate or use that card's effect, however, they will never miss their timing, because "If" implies should that event take place, can the card be activated, as supposed to "When" that implies it definitely will happen, even if the precise timing is unknown.
Always read each card effect carefully to determine which kind of "Trigger Effect" monster you are playng, so is not to confuse yourself. Knowing the difference helps when building the perfect strategy, and knowing when to play effects against your opponent, for the right timing is everything, and well...you don't want to miss is it.