Xantid Swarm, countering it?

Asked by joeyb11223 8 years ago

Quick question, when you're at the declaring attackers stage and you decide to attack with and thus tap Xantid Swarm, can the opponent cast an instant at this stage, as in going on the stack before Xantid's ability, thus say killing Xantid (albeit they'd still not be able to cast any spells during declare blockers, main phase 2 etc)?

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1

Yes. The ability is a triggered ability, so it uses the stack. You can respond to the ability, although the ability itself will still resolve unless it's countered.

You can also kill Xantid Swarm before it attacks (during the beginning of combat step at the latest), thus preventing the ability from triggering.

December 11, 2015 8:43 p.m.

Raging_Squiggle says... #2

Yes they can. The very last moment the defending can cast a spell in this instance is while the triggered ability is on the stack. Since it hasn't resolved yet, the defending player can respond by killing Xantid Swarm.

Note: killing the Swarm won't stop the ability from resolving. The ability is independent of its source at this point.

In your question you asked if the defending player could cast an instant before the ability goes on the stack but after the Swarm is declared as an attacker. The player cannot do this because the triggered ability is immediately put on the stack. They either cast the spell before you declare attackers, or while the ability is on the stack already.

December 11, 2015 8:48 p.m.

joeyb11223 says... #3

Sorry squiggle phrased it wrong but question seems to be answered. What I mean was in response to Xantid being declared as attacking (and thus it's now tapped), can they play an instant to say kill it, which they can, but the no spells ability resolves after, so Xantid is dead, but they can't cast anything in any other phases of the turn.

December 11, 2015 9:38 p.m.

Raging_Squiggle says... #4

Correct. Although becoming tapped has nothing to do with the ability triggering. It would still trigger if the creature had vigilance. Anyway, yes, the defending player can, in response to the Xantid Swarm's ability being put on to the stack, cast a Doom Blade and destroy the Swarm. Once the ability resolves, the defending player will not be able to further cast any spells.

December 11, 2015 9:46 p.m.