Is there any point during the first few steps of the combat phase that it is too late to turn a land into a creature to block?
Asked by padraic 14 years ago
Is there any point during the first few steps of the combat phase that it is too late to turn a land into a creature to block? Can it be done in response to the Declare Attackers Step or only during the Beginning of Combat Step?
Unless otherwise stated on the card (i.e. it says "activate only as a sorcery), activated abilities all happen at instant speed. So yes, you can animate your lands in the declare attackers step and block with them in the declare blockers step as long as they become creatures BEFORE the declare blockers step comes around. Once the stage where you can cast spells and activate abilities in the declare blockers step comes around it is too late to declare additional blockers.
March 30, 2011 1:10 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
It can be done at any point before Declare Blockers, but is usually done as part of the post-declare-attackers instants while you have priority. So wait until your opponent swings, then decide whether you want to make your land a creature BEFORE you begin naming your blockers. Once the stack is empty from Declare Attackers and you begin assigning defenders, it is officially too late for you to activate any abilities or cast instants that could let you turn a land into a blocker.
March 30, 2011 3:16 a.m.
I'm sorry if I'm just not reading this properly, it's 5:49 AM here, but say I was declaring blockers and realized I didn't have enough, or didn't want to declare a creature I still have (i.e Soul Warden ) would I be able to do it then?
March 30, 2011 5:51 a.m.
You need to turn it into a creature before the actual Declare Blockers step. So if your opponent has declared their attackers but you haven't declared any blockers yet, you still have a chance to animate your land, then when the time comes to declare blockers it will be legal.
March 30, 2011 6:03 a.m.
Here is what happens during the declare blockers step:
509.1. First, the defending player declares blockers. This turn-based action doesnt use the stack.
509.2. Second, for each attacking creature thats become blocked, the active player announces that creatures damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that players choice.
509.3. Third, for each blocking creature, the defending player announces that creatures damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures its blocking in an order of that players choice.
509.4. Fourth, any abilities that triggered on blockers being declared go on the stack.
509.5. Fifth, the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities.
As you can see, you do not get to activate any abilities until well after blockers are declared. Thus, you must activate your land's ability during the declare attackers step at the latest if you want it to block.
sanixon94 says... #1
Activated abilities of a card can be used anytime, so I'm fairly sure that as long as you have priority and it is either before and/or during the declare blockers step you could use the ability and block with it when the time comes.
March 30, 2011 1:02 a.m.