Really tough question: Ith high arcanist and Stonehewer giant

Asked by Thatfatmummy 10 years ago

Ith, High Arcanist Stonehewer Giant Sword of Fire and Ice

If I attack with Stonehewer Giant And then use Ith, High Arcanist to untap himThen use Stonehewer Giant 's ability to search for Sword of Fire and Ice ...Would Sword of Fire and Ice 's ability still trigger?

I know that untapping/tapping him doesn't remove him from combat, so he's still considered attacking. But does Sword of Fire and Ice only trigger when I first declare attackers? Or can it work any time during the attack?

Epochalyptik says... #1

Sword of Fire and Ice 's ability says "Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player." This ability can't trigger until that event happens, and combat damage is not dealt in the declare attackers step. As long as you have Sword of Fire and Ice equipped to the creature before the combat damage step, you're good.

April 6, 2014 7:08 p.m.

Thatfatmummy says... #2

You're right, I chose the wrong equipment for this example.But let's say if I put an equipment on him that says "when equipped creature attacks..." (I can't think of any exact examples right now), what then?

April 6, 2014 7:11 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #3

It wouldn't do anything this combat step. The ability would exist only after the trigger event occurs; the ability can't trigger retroactively, so it won't trigger at all.

April 6, 2014 7:13 p.m.

nighthawk101 says... #4

Two notes: one, Sword of Fire and Ice triggers off of damage. Ith, High Arcanist prevents the damage that Stonehewer Giant would deal. Two, Stonehewer Giant has vigilance, so you don't need to untap it, unless you want to do it twice.

April 6, 2014 9:44 p.m.

EddCrawley says... #5

What you could do is declare the start of your combat phase, then tap the Giant in order to retrieve the Equipment you were looking for, say a Trepanation Blade then use the untap ability of Ith, High Arcanist then declare Stonehewer Giant as an attacker, get the trigger from the Trepanation Blade for mill purposes, but he would produce no damage due to Ith's ability still in effect.

April 7, 2014 10:02 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #6

@EddCrawley: That won't work. Ith, High Arcanist 's ability can only target attacking creatures. You can't use it to untap a creature before that creature attacks.

April 7, 2014 11:13 a.m.