Does Master of Cruelties combo with Ninjutsu?
Asked by NobodyPicksBulbasaur 12 years ago
If I attack alone with a master of cruelties and he isn't blocked, his ability will go on the stack, correct? In response to that ability, can I swap in a Ninjutsu creature (let's say Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni ) for an insta-kill?
AGunWithLegs says... #2
Would you have to play the ninja at the beginning of the damage phase then? Or if you played it during the declare blockers phase could someone then say ,"i will block that" and then does the master's ability still resolve?
So confusing.
April 30, 2013 9:57 a.m.
Absinthman says... #3
It's actually not confusing at all. You only need to know exactly, how combat phase works.
1. step: Beginning of Combat - "At the beginning of combat" abilities trigger, then players receive priority to cast spells and activate abilities.
2. step: Declare Attackers - First, the active player declares which creatures attack, if any. After that, no additional creatures can be declared as attackers. This is final. Then, "when X attacks" abilities trigger and go onto the stack, then players receive priority to cast spells and activate abilities.
3. step: Declare Blockers - First, the defending player declares which creatures block and how. This declaration is final and no additional creatures can be declared as blockers once the defending player announces his or her blocks. The attacking player chooses the order in which damage will be dealt to blocking creatures if multiple creatures are blocking a single attacker. Likewise, the defending player chooses the order of how his blocking creatures deal damage in case one creature blocks multiple attackers (Guardian of the Gateless
as an example). Then, "when blocks", "when becomes blocked", "when attacks and isn't blocked" abilities go onto the stack (Master of Cruelties triggers here). Then players receive priority to cast spells or abilities (your first chance to use ninjutsu, will not affect the ability because it is already on the stack). After the Master's ability resolves, you again get priority, so you have another chance to use ninjutsu (will not affect the ability as it has already resolved.
4. step: Combat Damage - Creatures deal damage to each other and to the defending player or a planeswalker they attacked. If you swapped the Master with ninjutsu, the defending player's life total has been reduced to 1 during the Declare Blockers step. The ability does nothing to the damage that the creature put onto the battlefield with ninjutsu deals, so you are able to deal that final damage needed to kill your opponent.
5. step: End of Combat: "At end of combat" abilities trigger, "until end of combat" effects end.
April 30, 2013 10:09 a.m.
Absinthman says... #4
Summary: When your opponent anounces his or her blocks, he or she doesn't get another chance to assign additional blockers or change the way he or she decided to block.
April 30, 2013 10:11 a.m.
AGunWithLegs says... #6
Ahh, thank you for summing that up, Absinthman, it is all very clear now. And might I say, what a douche move this combo would be.
April 30, 2013 12:32 p.m.
About the only way to get around things would be to use a card like Curtain of Light to make the unblocked ninja blocked. Master of Cruelties 's abiltity would have still resolved, though, so it would be important to try to get your life total back up as quickly as possible. Also I haven't seen anything like Curtain of Light in Standard, so depending on the format, there may not be any answers at all.
Absinthman says... Accepted answer #1
Yes it works the way you think it does. master of cruelties 's ability triggeres during the declare blockers step if he is attacking and no creatures are declares as blocking him. Then, you indeed can use ninjutsu to swap him for something else. The ability is already on the stacks (or resolved vased on when you use ninjutsu), so this play is legal.
April 30, 2013 9:15 a.m.