If, during the combat phase, a player declares no attackers, does the opponent still get priority?
Asked by jimmyrayuk 8 years ago
I've been looking into this, but the rules only state that if no attackers are declared, then the blockers and combat passes are skipped. It would be assumed that the priority after the declare attackers step remains.
For example:
AP ( attacking player) enters the combat phase and both AP and NAP (non attacking player) pass for the first priority.
AP declares he is not attacking with any creatures.
NAP wants to cast Eerie interlude in response to this, during the APs combat phase.
This would man the NAP could flicker his creature and have it return during that end step and thus be playable for his turn.
jimmyrayuk says... #2
My apologies, still picking things up (only been playing for 3 weeks or so).
Actually, thinking of it Eerie Interlude could still be cast during the second main phase, thus still returning creatures in that end step.
June 28, 2016 5:32 a.m.
That is correct - casting Eerie Interlude in any phase/step between and including upkeep to second main phase will work for that purpose.
June 28, 2016 5:38 a.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #4
If there are no attackers declared, the only difference is that no declare blockers or combat damage steps happen. Otherwise the game progresses as usual.
You can also do silliness like Eerie Interlude after the first combat damage step if there are first strike or double strike creatures involved in combat, because like other steps/phases, there's a round of priority before the next step/phase. That lets you use it to dodge retaliation unexpectedly. :)
June 28, 2016 9:18 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
Just for clarity and I'm sure it was just a typo. Beginning of combat step is the step before declare attackers. By the time attackers are declared beginning of combat is done. The steps of the combat phase are
Beginning of combat
Declare attackers
Declare blockers
Combat damage
End of combat
If no attackers are declared then the declare blockers and combat damage steps are skipped. There is still a priority pass at the end of the declare attackers step as well as the end of combat step.
June 28, 2016 9:32 a.m.
Thanks Gidgetimer, in the first post "beggining of combat step" should indeed be just "combat"!
Boza says... Accepted answer #1
Declaring Attackers is the first part of the Declare Attackers step. While the active player is declaring attackers, no player has priority and nothing can be added to the stack.
After that, the beginning of combat step continues as any normal phase or step - until all play players pass priority on an empty stack. It is then that Eerie Interlude, remember to link your cards, can be cast, if you want to specifically cast it during that step.
Remember, just because no attacks are declared, that does not mean there is no combat step.
Also, AP and NAP mean active player and non-active player, respectively.
June 28, 2016 5:17 a.m. Edited.