Priority between attacking and blocking
Asked by BolasFucks 4 years ago
Sorry in advance if this is a somewhat stupid question, I'm overdue for a full recap of basic rules, especially in combat.
My opponent attacks me with Queen Marchesa (long may she reign). I then activate Vivien's Arkbow and from the cards I see choose to place Polukranos, World Eater onto the battlefield. I declare Polukranos as a blocker. My opponent then decides to use Swords to Plowshares targeting my Polukranos.
I reminded him that since it was already declared as a blocker, Marchesa would still be blocked and I would just gain life from Swords. So he asks me if he could have used Swords at any point after Polukranos entered but before he was declared as a blocker. I honestly wasn't sure. Was there a way this could have worked out so Marchesa got combat damage through?
Yes, but your opponent would have had to use Swords to Plowshares before the Declare Blockers step.
In order for each step of combat to move on to the next step (Beginning, Attackers, Blockers, Damage, End), all players must pass an empty stack.
What happened in your scenario is that your opponent declared Queen Marchesa an attacker (Declare Attackers step). When they passed priority to you in order to move on to Declare Blockers, you used Vivien's Arkbow . However, in order to move on to declaring blockers so that you could actually block Marchesa, both you and your opponent will have to pass an empty stack. Your opponent can, instead, choose to cast Swords to Plowshares here, before he knows if you're actually blocking. If that's the case, then Marchesa would remain unblocked unless you had another trick up your sleeve or another creature on the field.
If your opponent waits until you've declared blockers to use Swords on your blocker, then Marchesa remains blocked as you said.
November 6, 2019 12:45 p.m.
BolasFucks says... #3
Caerwyn & Kogarashi Thank you both for your replies. It sounds like our error mostly boils down to playing too fast without considering when each step begins and ends.
Just one more question based off the responses though. Would I have been able to use Arkbow at the beginning of the declare blockers step? If so, would they still have had a chance to respond with something like Swords?... Or is the first thing that has to happen at the beginning of that step actually blockers being declared?
November 6, 2019 3:12 p.m.
No. The very first thing that happens in the Declare Attackers, Declare Blockers, and Combat Damage steps is the thing they're named after. They are turn-based actions that don't use the stack, much like your card draw at the start of the Draw step or untapping things during the Untap step. They happen before anyone receives priority to cast spells or activate abilities.
In order to use the Arkbow to get a creature for blocking, the latest you can use it is during the Declare Attackers step when you have priority, and it can be responded to.
Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1
Your opponent should have used Swords to Plowshares after your Pulukranos ETBed, but before moving to the Declare Blockers Step.
Here's a brief outline of how it works out.
During the Declare Attackers Step, your opponent will first declare Marchesa as an attacker. After going through the steps to declare her as an attacker (R. 508.1 and subparts), your opponent, as the active player, gets priority (R. 508.2).
Your opponent did nothing and passed priority to you. You activate Vivien's Arkbow . You pass priority back to your opponent, who passes, so the ability will resolve. Polukranos, World Eater is put onto the battlefield.
Because an ability just resolved, priority passes back to the active player--in this case your opponent. They would now have the option to cast Swords to Plowshares , targeting your Polukranos. At this time, we are still in the Declare Attackers step--nothing has been declared as a blocker.
Once all players have passed priority and the stack is empty, you will move onto the Declare Blockers step. If Polukranos has been removed, you will not be able to declare it as a blocker; if Polukranos has not been removed, it is too late to cast a removal spell before blockers are declared.
In your case, Polukranos was not removed, so could be declared as a blocker. After being declared as a blocker, the Declare Blockers Step has a round of priority--this is when your opponent cast their Swords to Plowshares . At that point, your Polukranos was removed, but it did not change the fact that Marchesa was already blocked.
November 6, 2019 12:43 p.m.