Narset, Enlightened Master + Umezawa's Jitte vs a 6-power blocker
Asked by Arvail 9 years ago
Playing EDH, the following situation presented itself between two of my friends and I'd like to get some clarification on it:
Player one is piloting Narset, Enlightened Master with an equipped Umezawa's Jitte. He attacks into player 2 who is using Sydri, Galvanic Genius.
Narset's ability is resolved and nothing worth noting happens. We move onto the declare blockers step. In response, player 2 uses Sydri to animate a Mycosynth Lattice. He declares the 6/6 artifact as a blocker. Both players pass.
Here's the bit that caused head scratching. First strike damage is dealt. Player one claims Umezawa's Jitte's first ability lands two counters on the equipment. Before moving onto regular combat, he says he may remove those two counters to give Narset, Enlightened Master +4/+4 until end of turn. This makes her 7/6 first strike. He claims this +4/+4 is applied as damage to the blocker during first strike combat since damage hasn't resolved yet. In essence, he's saying the Mycosynth Lattice blocking Narset moves to the graveyard at the end of first strike damage.
I'm honestly not sure how the Jitte interacts with first strike. Please explain.
Gidgetimer says... #2
Dealing firststrike damage would put the counters on and he could remove them to give Narset +4/+4. However since the counters don't go on until after the damage is done, the damage is already done.
Damage doesn't go on the stack any more so there is no "resolving" of damage and even if there were Jitte triggers on damage being dealt.
January 30, 2015 9:12 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #4
@GreatSword: This play isn't valid under the old rules either. If Jitte is triggering, that means damage has been dealt. The opponent is trying to go back and "re-deal" damage that's already been dealt (which obviously isn't a thing).
GreatSword says... Accepted answer #1
Your friend is using out-dated rules, when combat damage used the stack. This is no longer the case.
Combat damage by today's rules is a turn-based action done in the combat damage step. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to.
Player 1's Narset, Enlightened Master would deal her 3 damage in the first strike combat damage step which would trigger Umezawa's Jitte. The counters would go on, and players would receive priority as normal. Then the regular combat damage step would occur and the animated Mycosynth Lattice could deal its damage, assuming it is still alive.
January 30, 2015 9:12 p.m.