Plot Screw

Plot Hex Machina.

A Plot Screw is when an UnTrash is played without any (clear) explanation to why it must put the Main Cast at a disadvantage. UnTrashes considered Plot Screws are Blocker Train and Hex Machina. Many Plot Screws can also be named Eye Roll UnTrashes.

A Plot Screw is a type of Plot Saver that, instead of helping the characters, harms them by throwing an inconvenient enemy or roadblock in their way, like a dragon that keeps them from reaching Grand Prize as they're Mere Moments Away from getting their hands on it. Even though it's negative, a Plot Screw is still a Plot Saver because it keeps the story's conflict from being solved too quickly and easily by the Main Cast. Plot Screws make characters delay their plans or maybe even be enough to force them to postpone or cancel those plans. Essentially, Plot Screws prevent early wins from happening, always giving the Good Guys something to do other than loll around.