The updated text in the Master Keyword List covers that part. Even though it can be triggered by a shoot action, it’s not actually part of that action, and it’s not treated like a cannon, so essentially it bypasses/ignores ALL defensive abilities that would prevent shots and/or reduce damage.
I need to start reading that more. 😀 Thanks for the clarification, but as a follow-up…..
Aside from keeping your distance or taking out the scorpion before it can attack, the only ability that will help is a canceler that can disable the keyword before the blade swings.
Would Holy Water also prevent the blade from swinging? I’d imagine that the blade would be treated as a direct effect of an enemy ship.