Short answer. Not through a formal reply. Section 10 of Rule 6 says new matters in the answer are deemed controverted automatically; a reply is only proper if the defendant attached an actionable document to the answer, in which case the reply denies or explains matters relating to that document.
What the law says
All new matters alleged in the answer are deemed controverted.
Rule 6, Section 10 — Reply. Read the full provision →
What the law says
A reply is a pleading, the office or function of which is to deny, or allege facts in denial or avoidance of new matters alleged in, or relating to, said actionable document.
Rule 6, Section 10 — Reply. Read the full provision →
New matters are automatically controverted
Section 10 establishes a default that saves plaintiffs from having to formally respond to every new matter a defendant raises: all new matters alleged in the answer are deemed controverted. This means the plaintiff does not need to file anything to be treated as disputing whatever new facts or defenses the defendant introduced — the law does that automatically, without requiring an additional pleading, sparing the plaintiff the burden of responding to every new fact or argument raised. This default keeps the pleadings from multiplying unnecessarily every time a defendant raises something new in defense.
When a reply is actually needed
The plaintiff may still want to raise their own claims arising out of those new matters — and for that, Section 10 says such claims shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental complaint, not a reply. A reply itself is reserved for a narrower purpose: it is available only if the defending party attaches an actionable document to their answer, echoing the same trigger set out in Section 2 of the same Rule, and keeping a party from assuming a reply is always the right vehicle for responding. This trigger binds the plaintiff considering whether to reply; it does not bind the defendant, who is not required to attach an actionable document to the answer at all, and simply forgoes triggering a reply if none is attached.
What a reply actually does, and the rejoinder that can follow
Where an actionable document is attached to the answer, the reply's function is to deny, or allege facts in denial or avoidance of new matters alleged in, or relating to, that actionable document — it is narrowly tied to that document. Section 10 goes one step further: if an actionable document is attached to the reply itself, the defendant may then file a rejoinder, but only if that rejoinder is based solely on the actionable document attached to the reply, keeping this whole chain of pleadings tightly focused. A rejoinder that strays beyond the actionable document attached to the reply would exceed what this section actually permits.