Classifying "Block" Procs

Asked by TehGrief 2 years ago

I am just wanting to ensure that a card does what I want it to. I have a janky deck set up that forces a lot of blocks.

Both Battle Strain and Heat of Battle trigger on the opponents creature blocking - these are very straightforward and make sense.

Close Quarters, however, triggers when a creature you control gets blocked.

I guess what I am asking is whether the state of "Blocked" is dichotomous; when a creature is blocked by any number of creatures, does it only count as being blocked? Or is the creature "blocked" by each creature blocking it?

The reason I ask is because Infiltration Lens triggers for each creature that is blocking the equipped creature, but the wording is ever-so-slightly different for Close Quarters.

Chaospyke says... Accepted answer #1

A creature becomes blocked when any number of creatures are declared as blocking it at the start of declare blockers step.

Scenario: You have Close Quarters, Battle Strain, and Infiltration Lens all on the battle field and Infiltration Lens is equipped to your creature. You attack and your opponent blocks with two creatures.

Close Quarters triggers once, Battle Strain triggers twice, Infiltration Lens triggers twice.

Close Quarters only cares that your creature becomes blocked, it doesn't care how many blocked it. Battle Strain cares for each creature that blocked, hence its text 'a creature'. Infiltration lens has odd wording, but has the words 'blocked by a creature', so it will trigger per creature that is declared as a blocker.

November 15, 2021 1:34 p.m.