What defines a single instance of blocking?
Asked by Superphreak 6 years ago
If I have Goldenglow Moth enchanted with Entangler, and I block 3 creatures with Goldenglow Moth, does its ability proc once, or three times?
Epochalyptik says... #2
For comparison, here's a creature with an ability that would trigger once for each creature it blocks: AEther Membrane.
509.4b An ability that reads "Whenever [this 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 22, 2017 11:45 a.m.
If, however, it was phrased "Whenever Golden Glow Moth blocks a creature, you may gain 4 life." it would trigger 3 times, once for each time it blocked a creature. As written, Epochalyptik's answer is correct, as the event of blocking only happened once.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
First, "proc" is not a Magic term. It stands for Programmed Random OCcurrence, and is used to refer to things that have a defined chance of happening, but are not guaranteed. For example, critical hits in games like League of Legends are random because they only have a chance of happening (the chance is your critical hit chance).
Triggered abilities in Magic are not random. They happen every time the trigger condition is met.
With that out of the way, an ability that triggers when something attacks or blocks triggers when it is declared as an attacker or blocker. Goldenglow Moth's ability will trigger only once, regardless of how many creatures it blocks.
509.4a An ability that reads "Whenever [this 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.
April 22, 2017 11:40 a.m.