Ensoul Artifact + Darksteel Citadel vs Return to Nature
Asked by Argy 4 years ago
If I attack with an Ensouled Darksteel Citadel , can my opponent play Return to Nature (to get rid of the Aura) during the damage step to stop any damage?
If not, when is the latest step when they can stop 5 damage hitting them?
dragonstryke58 says... #2
On a related note, just because someone finishes declaring blockers does not mean that the game automatically moves to the combat damage step. After blockers are declared, there is a round of priority when players can cast spells or activate abilities before the combat damage step. This is the end of the declare blockers step that Raging_Squiggle is referencing. Even if no blockers are declared, you must check if there are no plays before entering the combat damage step.
November 17, 2019 5 p.m.
Yeah I always do that.
I announce every step I take.
Untap, upkeep, draw.
What land am I playing. What spells I am casting and their costs.
I always wait for my Opponent to respond before moving to the next step.
And I ALWAYS say "moving to combat" and wait for their OK before I announce my attackers.
Then if they try to make a play "before combat", with the knowledge of what I will do in their head, I remind them that we are no longer in the before combat stage.
They don't make that mistake twice.
Thanks for the answers, people.
Appreciate them.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #1
When the combat damage step begins. There are two turn-based actions that happen: The attacking and defending player(s) each assign their combat damage, and then the damage is dealt simultaneously. These don’t use the stack and can’t be responded to.
If your opponent waits for this step, it will be too late. The very latest they can destroy your Ensoul Artifact would be at the end of the declare blockers step.
November 17, 2019 12:47 p.m.