If someone attacks my team in 2HG, are they attacking me or can they choose to be attacking my teammate?

Asked by Catzador 4 years ago

I was playing 2HG and I had Stalking Leonin out, with one of the two players on the other team selected. They attacked my teammate, and said that since they were attacking him, I couldn't use his ability. I don't remember the outcome but I remember thinking that was really unintuitive

Is this how it works? Or would I be able to use Stalking Leonin's ability regardless. I'm confused by it because effects saying that I can't be attacked unless ___ still apply for both of us

Kogarashi says... Accepted answer #1

Your opponents were correct.

Even though in 2HG, your opponents attack as a unit and you and your teammate defend as a unit, "attacking players" and "defending players" are still separate. When your opponents attack your team, they determine which of the two of you each creature is attacking specifically (or your planeswalkers, if relevant).

When you reveal the player you chose, you can only exile a creature that's attacking you directly, not your teammate (or any of your planeswalkers, per the Leonin's own ruling).

Your opponents' creatures were not attacking you, they were attacking your teammate, so Stalking Leonin's ability doesn't work on the attackers.

• 805.10b As the declare attackers step begins, the active team declares attackers. For each attacking creature, the attacking team announces which defending player or planeswalker that creature is attacking. The active team has one combined attack, and that set of attacking creatures must be legal as a whole. See rule 508.1. (emphasis added)

January 25, 2020 5:26 p.m.