Spincrusher blocking multiple creatures

Asked by kryophyre 4 years ago

Say I have Spincrusher and Brave the Sands in play. If Spincrusher blocks 2 attacking creatures does it get two +1/+1 counters or just one +1/+1 counter?

Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1

It will get just one +1/+1 counter.

Due to the wording of Spincrusher's ability, it doesn't matter how many creatures it blocks, only that it is declared as a blocker or becomes a blocker via an effect. If its ability instead read "Whenever Spincrusher blocks a creature," then it would count each individual creature it blocked as a separate trigger condition.

Relevant rules:

• 509.5a An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] blocks, . . .” generally triggers only once each combat for that creature, even if it blocks multiple creatures. It triggers if the creature is declared as a blocker. It will also trigger if that creature becomes a blocker as the result of an effect, but only if it wasn’t a blocking creature at that time. (See rule 509.1g.) It won’t trigger if the creature is put onto the battlefield blocking.
• 509.5b An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] blocks a creature, . . .” triggers once for each attacking creature the creature with the ability blocks. It triggers if the creature is declared as a blocker. It will also trigger if an effect causes that creature to block an attacking creature, but only if it wasn’t already blocking that attacking creature at that time. It won’t trigger if the creature is put onto the battlefield blocking.

April 11, 2020 9:07 p.m.