Flickering Blockers and Damage

Asked by Tinselteeth 13 years ago

With AVR coming out and bringing Flicker back, I'm probably gonna run into this at least once tonight. If I declare blockers, then Flicker my blocker before the combat damage step, but after assigning damage, will the damage take place? I've looked through the Comp. Rules and can't find the relevant passage. If someone could help me out here, that would be awesome.

Good luck, all, at your various Prereleases, and may the odds be EVER in your favor!

rckclimber777 says... Accepted answer #1

Damage resolves immediately. So you may not play spells between assigning damage and damage resolving. So if you allow lethal damage to resolve it will die before you have the chance to flicker it.

You may declare it as a blocker however, then immediately following the declare blocker step you may go ahead and flicker it. You would save it from damage, but whatever it blocked would also survive, albeit it would have dealt no damage to you unless it had trample.

Note also that the mechanic is slightly different then Flicker. Cloudshift returns a permanent you control to your control not owner's control. So if they took control of your creature and then Cloudshifted it they would keep it permanently.

April 27, 2012 9:06 p.m.

mafteechr says... #2

Relevant passage from the Comprehensive Rules:

510. Combat Damage Step

510.1. First, the active player announces how each attacking creature assigns its combat damage, then the defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns its combat damage. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.

510.2. Second, all combat damage that's been assigned is dealt simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. No player has the chance to cast spells or activate abilities between the time combat damage is assigned and the time it's dealt. This is a change from previous rules.

510.3. Third, any abilities that triggered on damage being assigned or dealt go on the stack.

510.4. Fourth, the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities.

rckclimber777 is spot on.

April 28, 2012 8:14 a.m.

crush2200 says... #3

Back around 12 years ago this trick would've worked as you could use abilities and instants after damage was assigned. Combat was around 6 steps or so, and each step you could perform all kinds of funky stuff. My guess is that to make things slightly more simplified that changed it to the current system.

April 29, 2012 2:22 p.m.