Spiteful returned + cipher
General forum
Posted on March 22, 2014, 12:56 p.m. by Vieno
So I was looking at some of the cipher cards I used to use like Shadow Slice , and then I noticed Spiteful Returned . This made me wonder, does the ability from Spiteful Returned count as combat damage? If so, how exactly would he interact with cipher?
Alright, thanks for helping. Woulda been such a good combo! :(
March 22, 2014 1:06 p.m.
yeah it can be confusing a little because damage to a player will cause life loss, but conversely just because someone lost life doesn't mean they took damage. Typically you'll see people refer to an ability that cause life loss and not damage, like the abilities of Spiteful Returned or Gray Merchant of Asphodel , as "drain" (I believe in reference to the older card Drain Life ).
Also as far as determining whether something is combat damage or not. The easiest way to explain that is... the combat phase is broken up into 5 steps, 1.Beginning of combat, 2. declare attackers, 3. declare blockers, 4. combat damage, and 5. end of combat. So only damage dealt by a creature during that 4th step (the combat damage step) is considered combat damage. Any damage dealt at any other time is just considered damage.
TheAmazingSalsa says... #2
This should be in the Q&A , but whatever...
No, combat damage is dealt through the creature's power, when it attacks only, plus, Spiteful Returned 's ability doesn't deal 2 damage to each opponent, it makes them lose 2 life, it's different.
you wouldn't be able to use cypher until you successfully attack an opponent.
March 22, 2014 1 p.m.