Sakashima's Student Question
General forum
Posted on Dec. 20, 2013, 11:28 a.m. by MangoPunch
I've read the rulings on gatherer and can't figure this one out: if Sakashima's Student ninjutsus into the battlefield as a copy of a creature with "when attacks" effects (Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran , or Artisan of Kozilek ) do those "when attacks" effects trigger? If the answer is yes, then can the effects trigger twice in the same phase, once when the original creature attacks and once when Sakashima's Student enters the battlefield attacking?
MangoPunch says... #3
Thanks JWiley. And sorry about the incorrect post location.
December 20, 2013 11:50 a.m.
This should be in the Q & A, but regardless. No. Triggered Effects based on attacking occur during the "Declare Attackers" step. Ninjutsu can't be used until after blockers have been declared, so the opportunity has passed.
508.2a Abilities that trigger on a creature attacking trigger only at the point the creature is declared as an attacker. They will not trigger if a creature attacks and then that creature's characteristics change to match the ability's trigger condition.
December 20, 2013 11:54 a.m.
Triforce-Finder says... #6
@ Dracoson
Ninjutsu can be activated before blockers are declared. You probably meant that it can't be activated until after attackers have been declared.
December 20, 2013 2:05 p.m.
No, I stated it accurately. It is after blockers have been declared during the declare blockers step. (key words, "unblocked attacker". An attacker isn't unblocked until blockers have been declared)
702.48c A ninjutsu ability may be activated only while a creature on the battlefield is unblocked (see rule 509.1h). The creature with ninjutsu is put onto the battlefield unblocked. It will be attacking the same player or planeswalker as the creature that was returned to its owners hand.
509.1h An attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers for it becomes a blocked creature; one with no creatures declared as blockers for it becomes an unblocked creature. This remains unchanged until the creature is removed from combat, an effect says that it becomes blocked or unblocked, or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. A creature remains blocked even if all the creatures blocking it are removed from combat.
JWiley129 says... #2
First off this should be in the MTG Q&A, which is dedicated for rules questions such as this.
I don't think that Sakashima's Student would get the buff from "when it attacks" triggers because Sakashima's Student wasn't declared as an attacker. Those triggered abilities occur during the Declare Attackers step of combat and Sakashima's Student , if Ninjustu'd into play, wasn't declared as an attacker.
December 20, 2013 11:48 a.m.