Ilharg ability question: "enters attacking" and "attacks"

Asked by TypicalTimmy 4 years ago

I've asked this question before, but I completely forgot the answer so here I am asking it again lol.

Cards such as Ilharg, the Raze-Boar ask us to put a creature from our hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Various other cards do the same thing.

My question is, a few years ago I had been told that there is a distinct difference between an ability putting a creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking and actually declaring it as an attacker.

For example, if I use Ilharg, the Raze-Boar to put Savage Ventmaw onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, do I still gain the ?

What about creatures such as Aurelia, the Warleader? Do I still get the second combat phase?

What the premise of the argument / debate stems from is the simple question: "Does the act of declaring a creature as an attacker count as an activation of the ability?"

Some people claim that in order to reap the benefits of their abilities, the creature must be DECLARED as an attacker. It's something you must CHOOSE to do.

Other people will say that it doesn't matter - what matters is that the creature is attacking. Doesn't matter how or why, it only matters that it is.

So which is correct? Will I still get the mana / extra combat steps when I put them onto the field with Ilharg?

Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1

When a card says "Whenever ___ attacks..." it specifically means the action of declaring it as an attackers at the beginning of the Declare Attackers Step. If a creature is put onto the battlefield "tapped and attacking," it will not trigger those abilities.

The specific rule you want is part of the rules on the Declare Attackers Step:

  • 508.3a An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks, . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker. Similarly, “Whenever [a creature] attacks [a player or planeswalker], . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player or planeswalker. Such abilities won’t trigger if a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking.

It's referenced a few other places in the 508 section as well, but that's the specific complete clause that covers your question.

March 15, 2020 1:15 a.m.

Nope, sorry. Such triggers as those from Savage Ventmaw and Aurelia, the Warleader only trigger from the action of declaring those creatures as an attacker at the beginning of the declare attacker step.

When they’re put on the battlefield tapped and attacking from the boar’s ability, the point at which Aurelia and Ventmaw’s abilities would trigger has already passed and they do not retroactively trigger

March 15, 2020 1:17 a.m.

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