Grimgrin, Corpse-Born's third ability

Asked by Arekusu1 12 years ago

Can someone explain how Grimgrin, Corpse-Born 's ability works? I want to say that he attacks and destroys any target creature (that can be targeted), gains a counter, then deals damage. However, by that standard he can destroy any creature that blocks him then gains a +1/+1 counter before calculating damage.

I only ask because the card seems too powerful to be legal and I want to ensure I'm using it correctly. Thank you.

TridenT says... Accepted answer #1

The thing with Grimgrin's third ability is that it triggers after you have declared him as an attacker. As we all remember, the combat phase begins with:

  • Declare Combat Phase
  • Declare Attackers
  • Declare Blockers

And each of those steps has room for triggered abilities, activated abilities, instants, and so on. So when you declare Grimgrin, Corpse-Born as an attacker, you then put the triggered ability on the stack, targeting a creature that the defending player controls. Once abilities resolve (in case anything else was cast/activated/etc) you'll move on to the Declare Blockers step, the defending player will be one possible defender fewer in number and Grimgrin will have a +1/+1 counter he didn't previously.

May 23, 2013 11:53 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #2

Grimgrin, Corpse-Born 's third ability triggers during the declare attackers step. It will be put onto the stack and resolve before the game progresses to the declare blockers step. Therefore, the creature will be dead and Grimgrin, Corpse-Born will have a +1/+1 counter as the game transitions to the declare blockers step.

May 23, 2013 11:53 p.m.

DukeNicky says... #3

Grimgrin, Corpse-Born 's last ability states that whenever he attacks. So you go to the declare attackers step, declare Grimgrin an attacker and his ability goes on the stack destroying any creature (that can be legally targeted) and gains a +1/+1 counter BEFORE Blockers are declared. Note that if the creature doesn't die due to say regeneration it still gains the counter. Likewise if the defending player has no creatures, the ability fizzles and does nothing.

May 23, 2013 11:54 p.m.

DukeNicky says... #4

Ninja'd lol

May 23, 2013 11:54 p.m.

Arekusu1 says... #5

Awesome! Thanks to everyone for clearing that up.

May 23, 2013 11:58 p.m.

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