War's Toll and Caverns of Despair interaction
Asked by SurpriZe 6 years ago
If I have the enchantments War's Toll and Caverns of Despair out at the same time, and an opponent decides to attack while having more than two creatures capable of attacking, does that player get to choose which two creatures will attack, or is there a set pattern or rule that determines what two creatures are attacking in this situation?
If they have more than two untapped creatures that have been under their control since the start of their turn they will be unable to attack. This is because attacking with 0 creatures violates neither requirements nor restrictions. Attacking with 3 or more creatures violates a restriction (which is a big no-no) and attacking with only 1 or 2 creatures violates a restriction. Attacking with 0 creatures is the most legal attack and therefore the only one they are allowed to declare.
October 12, 2017 6:16 p.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #3
"Must attack if able" is not a restriction.
508.1c The active player checks each creature he or she controls to see whether its affected by any restrictions (effects that say a creature cant attack, or that it cant attack unless some condition is met). If any restrictions are being disobeyed, the declaration of attackers is illegal.
This is the rule on restrictions, they only apply to not being able to attack, not to being made to attack if able.
October 12, 2017 6:29 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #4
@Neotrup: If you meant to say "attacking with only 1 or 2 creatures violates a requirement", that's not how it works. You're supposed to maximize the number of requirements being fulfilled without violating any restrictions. That maximum could be anywhere between 0 and the total number of requirements. You just have to find it. If the opponent wants to attack with any creatures at all in this example then the legal number is 2, since it doesn't violate the Caverns of Despair restriction and maximizes the requirements from War's Toll.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #1
Your opponent gets to pick which two of their creatures attack, but they must attack with exactly two, or none at all.
This is because War's Toll requires each of their creatures to attack "if able", and Caverns of Despair makes any creatures beyond two unable.
October 12, 2017 2:51 p.m.