PREFACE: This situation came up on the Magic Duels app.
I haven't played in a pretty long time and am using Magic Duels to learn the new rules and abilities, but I thought this would work:
I am attacking with Syndicate Trafficker, I have three 1/1 artifact tokens with summoning sickness and a tapped Charcoal Diamond on my side of the board.
I attack and a blocker is declared (generic 2/2 flyer). After blocking is declared and before damage is applied, can I use my Traffickers ability to pump him up? Magic Duels says no but I want to ask you guys.
Yes, you can. After blockers have been declared during the declare blockers turn based action, players get priority to do stuff still in the declare blockers step before the game moves on to the combat damage step.
There could be a variety of reasons for why the program didn't let you activate your ability. First, it could be how the game is programmed, but I think, the newer versions of Magic Duels are quite accurate to reflect the actual rules of Magic (it's still simplified, though). Second, a preset setting could be that you pass priority after blockers have been declared as default, in which case if the opponent also doesn't do anything, the game moves on. Third, you may just have lacked the mana to pay for te ability?
Yes, you can. After blockers have been declared during the declare blockers turn based action, players get priority to do stuff still in the declare blockers step before the game moves on to the combat damage step.
There could be a variety of reasons for why the program didn't let you activate your ability. First, it could be how the game is programmed, but I think, the newer versions of Magic Duels are quite accurate to reflect the actual rules of Magic (it's still simplified, though). Second, a preset setting could be that you pass priority after blockers have been declared as default, in which case if the opponent also doesn't do anything, the game moves on. Third, you may just have lacked the mana to pay for te ability?
Thank you for the fast response.
I haven't played since the Fourth Edition/Ice Age so I had to make sure. I had the mana available and paused the timer but still couldn't use the ability. Just a glitch I guess?
I had the mana available and paused the timer but still couldn't use the ability. Just a glitch I guess?
I doubt it, it's more likely something you missed about the interface (don't know that program, so I can't tell you what exactly). Being able to cast instants or activate abilities after blocks and before combat damage is too important in Magic for the game to not allow it.
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.
Your first problem is using Magic Duels to try to learn the rules. Magic Duels operates differently than paper Magic for ease of programming and interface. It operates kind of closely, but one of my big gripes with Duels is exactly what you described.
I don't have a Syndicate Trafficker in Duels yet to test, but I have had the AI use it against me, including activating the ability after blocks were declared. I suspect you missed the timing on it, since Duels uses a mixing of real-time and priority for casting spells and activating abilities. There is a pause timer button (with the Xbox controls, it's X, for example) to pause that priority timer to give you extra time to select the spells/abilities you intend to use. Against the AI, you can pause indefinitely. Against real players, there's a separate timer that runs down throughout your turn as you pause things to prevent players from just pausing forever and making their opponent wait.
Your first problem is using Magic Duels to try to learn the rules. Magic Duels operates differently than paper Magic for ease of programming and interface. It operates kind of closely, but one of my big gripes with Duels is exactly what you described.
What do you mean? You can use abilities and tricks after blocks in Magic Duels.
Then they must have updated it. I haven't played it since m15 since it made me mad, lol.
Your first problem is using Magic Duels to try to learn the rules. Magic Duels operates differently than paper Magic for ease of programming and interface. It operates kind of closely, but one of my big gripes with Duels is exactly what you described.
What do you mean? You can use abilities and tricks after blocks in Magic Duels.
Then they must have updated it. I haven't played it since m15 since it made me mad, lol.
Magic Duels did not exist with M15. It started with Magic Origins.
I haven't played in a pretty long time and am using Magic Duels to learn the new rules and abilities, but I thought this would work:
I am attacking with Syndicate Trafficker, I have three 1/1 artifact tokens with summoning sickness and a tapped Charcoal Diamond on my side of the board.
I attack and a blocker is declared (generic 2/2 flyer). After blocking is declared and before damage is applied, can I use my Traffickers ability to pump him up? Magic Duels says no but I want to ask you guys.
There could be a variety of reasons for why the program didn't let you activate your ability. First, it could be how the game is programmed, but I think, the newer versions of Magic Duels are quite accurate to reflect the actual rules of Magic (it's still simplified, though). Second, a preset setting could be that you pass priority after blockers have been declared as default, in which case if the opponent also doesn't do anything, the game moves on. Third, you may just have lacked the mana to pay for te ability?
Former Rules Advisor
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Thank you for the fast response.
I haven't played since the Fourth Edition/Ice Age so I had to make sure. I had the mana available and paused the timer but still couldn't use the ability. Just a glitch I guess?
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=11439737#post11439737
Reality is only what man allows it to be. Few shape it so that many may accept it.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Then they must have updated it. I haven't played it since m15 since it made me mad, lol.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=11439737#post11439737
Reality is only what man allows it to be. Few shape it so that many may accept it.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)