My opponent was attacking, I used an instant to add counters to my creature. My question is, when does delirium happen? I had another card that would have activated delirium and blocked an attacking creature, but my opponent didn't think that it had delirium yet. What should have happened?
W may only be paid with white mana. U may only be paid with blue mana. B may only be paid with black mana. R may only be paid with red mana. G may only be paid with green mana. C may only be paid with colorless mana. 1 may be paid with white, blue, black, red, green, or clolorless mana.
An instant goes to the graveyard as the last step of it resolving. In other words, when an instant is resolving, your perform its instructions fully, and then you put the card in the graveyard.
Delirium is not something that "happens". Delirium is an ability word and has no rules meaning (just like reminder text, it is written in itallics for this reason); it is more like a tag that indicates abilities and effects that come after it cares about the same thing. So you need to read the ability on that "card that would block" to know the answer. What is its name?
We could answer you better if you could name the Delirium card in question, but I'll try to cover most bases. The word "Delirium" in itself has no rules meaning, it's what's called an ability word. It's just there to link different cards together thematically, the cards could have the same text without the word "Delirium" and they would work the same. But in general, what one would mean by "having Delirium" is if the controller of the spell or ability that cares, currently has 4 or more card types in their graveyard. That's true as soon as it's true, as simple as that. For a static ability like on Gnarlwood Dryad, it works the very moment that there are 4 or more types in the graveyard, there's no delay. For a resolving spell or ability which effect is modified by that, the effect happens as modified if there 4 or more types in the graveyard as the spell or ability is resolving. For an activated ability that you may activate only once you have 4 or more types in the graveyard, you can activate it as soon as the condition is fulfilled and you have priority.
The card with a Delirium ability which seems most likely to fit your scenario would be Moorland Drifter to block a creature with flying. In that case, if Instant is the 4th type you need, as long as you cast your instant before declaring blockers (during the declare attackers step, after attackers have been declared, at the latest), then the Drifter has flying in time to be declared as blocking a flier.
Well it would have had +2/+2 and not been destroyed
Gnarlwood Dryad it is then. As long as your Instant is cast before the combat damage step, the Dryad will be bigger in time for the combat damage exchange.
I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
No. It has to be before declaring blockers, or after. You can't cast instants "while" declaring blockers.
Doing it before or after may be relevant if the creature's power or toughness defines if it can block or not (for example, if the attacking creature has Skulk, you certainly will want to first declare blockers, then cast the instant)
Grim Flayer's "delirium" ability is a static ability with a continuous effect. It continuously checks for the number of card types in your graveyard. As soon as that number is 4 or more, Grim Flayer instantly and immediately gets the +2/+2. So as long as you're casting that instant in the Declare Attackers Step or the Declare Blockers Step, your Grim Flayer will have the +2/+2 by the time the Combat Damage Step begins and the damage is dealt.
Thank you. Once again, I was right! haha but seriously this forum has been extremely helpful for this newbie and friends learning the rules to the game. THANKS!
Delirium is basically an on/off switch that is constantly checked during a game. As soon as you have the requirements, it is turned on
Delirium is not something that "happens". Delirium is an ability word and has no rules meaning (just like reminder text, it is written in itallics for this reason); it is more like a tag that indicates abilities and effects that come after it cares about the same thing. So you need to read the ability on that "card that would block" to know the answer. What is its name?
The card with a Delirium ability which seems most likely to fit your scenario would be Moorland Drifter to block a creature with flying. In that case, if Instant is the 4th type you need, as long as you cast your instant before declaring blockers (during the declare attackers step, after attackers have been declared, at the latest), then the Drifter has flying in time to be declared as blocking a flier.
EDIT : Gnarlwood Dryad it is then. As long as your Instant is cast before the combat damage step, the Dryad will be bigger in time for the combat damage exchange.
It would most likely survive. But again, a card name would help greatly.
Also, at what Step of the Combat Phase are you casting the instant, exactly?
No. It has to be before declaring blockers, or after. You can't cast instants "while" declaring blockers.
Doing it before or after may be relevant if the creature's power or toughness defines if it can block or not (for example, if the attacking creature has Skulk, you certainly will want to first declare blockers, then cast the instant)
Grim Flayer's "delirium" ability is a static ability with a continuous effect. It continuously checks for the number of card types in your graveyard. As soon as that number is 4 or more, Grim Flayer instantly and immediately gets the +2/+2. So as long as you're casting that instant in the Declare Attackers Step or the Declare Blockers Step, your Grim Flayer will have the +2/+2 by the time the Combat Damage Step begins and the damage is dealt.