Attacking/Defending/Instants
Asked by MatthewHwang 12 years ago
Take for example of an ordinary attack:
A person attacks using a 3/3 creatureThe defending player states that he will defend with a 4/4 creatureAfter the defending player declares what he will defend with, the attacking player uses an instant that gives +2/+2 until the end of the turn.
Is it legal to use an instant after the defending person has already declared what creature he will block, and what he will block with?
Yes, there are several phases to combat. Every phase change priority is transferred. Each player is given a chance to play something at instant speed before the Combat Damage phase after defenders are declared.
November 15, 2012 11:22 a.m.
Once blockers are declared, but before combat damage, players have a chance to react with Instants and abilities. Combat tricks such as the infamous Giant Growth are well known for turning the tide of combat after blockers are declared.
November 15, 2012 11:23 a.m.
Breakdown of the combat step in regards to playing instants/activating abilities.
Instants and abilities can be played/activated before you enter combat step.
Instants and abilities can be played/activated after attackers are declared and before blockers are declared.
Instants and abilities can be played/activated after blockers are declared and before damage resolves.
Instants and abilities can be played/activated after damage and before the combat step ends (at this point, you can activate things like Maze of Ith on a creature that already attacked and dealt damage so it just untaps. This is because it is still considered an attacking creature until the combat phase ends. The damage is still dealt because it had already been dealt, so there is nothing more to prevent).
Sam_I_am says... #1
yes it is legal to use the instant after blockers are declared, and the defending player can't change blockers.
if you made your 3/3 a 5/5 it would kill the 4/4, but not die.
This king of "combat trick" is very common.
November 15, 2012 11:21 a.m.