How does Goblin Chirurgeon interact with Goblin Sappers?
Asked by masampson 5 years ago
During combat, if a creature was made unblockable by Goblin Sappers, would you be able to negate the end of combat destruction of the attacking creature by regenerating it with Goblin Chirurgeon? My understanding of regeneration is that you would be able to, because the attacking, blocks and damage would be dealt, then when the Goblin Sappers destruction trigger occurs, it would then be regenerated after combat damage resolved? The basis for the question game-wise is essentially to pump up a large creature, then attack with it as an unblockable creature but negate the creature's destruction.
Additionally, when would be the latest you could trigger the regeneration? Would it have be before combat or can you do it at instant speed after blockers are declared? Thanks!
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #2
Yes, you can use Regeneration to stop that target of Golbin Sappers' ability from being destroyed.
The exact wording on Regeneration is, "the next time[permanent] would be destroyed this turn, instead remove all damage marked on it and tap it. If it’s an attacking or blocking creature, remove it from combat." (614.8) So, when your creature would be destroyed, it is instead tapped, all damage is removed from it, and is removed from combat as a replacement or it's destruction. Fortunately, none of these will affect anything since your creature has already dealt damage and probably doesn't have damage marked on it. It is also likely tapped (unless it has Vigilance).
As for the last point that you might be able to regenerate it. After damage has been dealt from combat, there is an End of Combat step. Normally, nothing happens here, and you proceed to your second main. However, there is still a pass of priority and things can trigger here, like the delayed trigger from Goblin Sappers. Note that Sappers uses the phrase "at the end of combat" meaning it has a triggered ability. You have an opportunity to respond to the trigger in the End of Combat step.
Hope this helps!!
May 26, 2020 10:36 a.m.
Yes this all helps! I tried to do a bit of research before asking the question and had thought the answer was yes, but wanted some more experienced minds to make some final sense of it for me! Thank you very much for the help and next time I'll be sure to Goblin Sappers my cards for ease of answering!
May 26, 2020 11:09 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
masampson: If you feel like you've gotten a satisfactory answer to your question, you can use the "Mark as Answer" button on the response that best answered your question to move this topic out of the list of unanswered questions and mark it as resolved.
Rhadamanthus says... #1
You can use double square brackets around a card's name to create a reference link. It's the easiest way to make sure everyone understands what's going on in your question: Goblin Sappers, Goblin Chirurgeon
Yes, that works. When you regenerate something you create a sort of "shield" that says "the next time this would be destroyed this turn, instead remove all damage from it, tap it, and remove it from combat". The regeneration shield only kicks in at the time the destruction would actually happen, so in your example you can activate Goblin Chirurgeon any time before the Sappers' ability would destroy the creature. The latest moment you could wait to do it is at the beginning of the End of Combat step, in response to the "at end of combat" delayed trigger from the Sappers going onto the stack.
May 26, 2020 10:31 a.m.