Insolent Neonate special sacrifice ability

Asked by krunchyfrogg 7 years ago

With Insolent Neonate, when can you use the special ability that reads:

Discard a card, Sacrifice Insolent Neonate; draw a card.

?

Can I do it after I've attacked and calculated damage?

Can I do it after I've attacked and my opponent has declared two blockers?

Can I do it after declaring Insolent Neonate as a blocker?

Can I do it as an instant at the end of my opponents turn?

TY

Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1

Insolent Neonate's ability is an activated ability, which are always written as "Cost : Effect". Activated abilities can be activated pretty much whenever ("instant speed" is the most common way people describe it), but there are a few exceptions. To your specific questions:

• It depends on exactly what's going on. If Neonate has also been dealt damage by a blocking creature, then it's already dead before the game gives anyone priority to take an action and you can't activate the ability. If the Neonate has survived combat after damage has been dealt, then yes.
• Yes, as long as you're doing this before damage (as in the above answer).
• Yes, with similar details as the previous two answers. Also note that the creature you blocked will stay blocked, and can't deal you any combat damage unless it has trample.
• Yes, that's fine.

April 28, 2016 4:59 p.m.

krunchyfrogg says... #2

Thank you very much.

It seems to me, that in the following deck, my best time to use his special ability is when I'm attacking with all my weenies, if he's blocked.

This way, he'll take two of my opponents creatures out of this round, allowing my other creatures through.

I then sacrifice the Insolent Neonate so I can draw a card (when I would've died anyway).

Correct?

---

UR gonna get overrun

Standard* krunchyfrogg

SCORE: 2 | 8 COMMENTS | 737 VIEWS

---

April 28, 2016 8:06 p.m.

Rhadamanthus says... #3

Yes that's how it works.

April 29, 2016 12:52 p.m.