"creatures able to block it this turn do so" vs. "can't block creatures you control"
Asked by likasumbody 12 years ago
Hi,
I'm still new to magic and I am struggling to understand what takes precedence when it comes to certain abilities that contradict each other.
If i have a scenario where I have Champion of Lambholt on the field with +3/3 counters on it and I also have a Gladecover Scout and its my turn. And if my opponent has, for example, a Geist of Saint Traft out and I draw a miracle and it's Revenge of the Haunted and cast it on Gladecover Scout, what happens if i attack with both creatures? Does the Geist of Saint Traft have to block the Gladecover Scout? or does Champion of Lambholt's ability take precedence over Revenge of the Haunted and both of my attackers go through without being able to get blocked?
Any information would be helpful.
Thanks so much!
It's one of the Golden Rules of Magic:
101.2. When a rule or effect allows or directs something to happen, and another effect states that it can't happen, the "can't" effect takes precedence.
June 4, 2012 5:35 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
The key element in this situation is really the "creatures able to block" in Revenge of the Hunted 's rules text. If Champion of Lambholt 's ability is making it so that a creature can't block, then it won't be affected by that part of Revenge of the Hunted's text.
June 4, 2012 12:40 p.m.
AradonTemplar says... #4
If I can tag on a question that I frequently forget how to resolve:
What about things like 'can't unless you pay 1'? For example, a creature that must attack every turn if able, and the other player has Norn's Annex out, requesting either white or 2 life for attacking. My understanding is that, even if you have an untapped plains, you can use this to opt out of the forced attack. Is this correct? And if there are three other players, and only one controls an annex, I must attack one of the others (or attack the annex player and pay W), since I'm obligated to fulfill as many requirements as I can?
June 4, 2012 1:03 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #5
You're interpreting it correctly. If you don't pay the cost for card:Norn's Annex, then the creature can't attack that player or his planeswalkers (just like the card says). If that's your only opponent, the "must attack" creature gets to stay home. If you have other opponents, then it has to go to one of them.
BrokenZygoma says... Accepted answer #1
"Cant" abilities usually if not always take precedence over "must" abilities. So if your Champion of Lambholt s power is above all of your opponents creatures, none of your creatures are legal targets to block. Revenge of the Hunted says all creatures must block "If able" and if the creature cant be blocked by another effect, then no creatures are able to block it.
June 4, 2012 3:55 a.m.