If I have a Toolcraft Exemplar and an artifact and say "go to combat" and my opponent says "sure", I short-cutted to declare attackers. If I now attack and my opponent doesn't block, does me saying "take 3 damage" recognition that the trigger resolved for the Toolcraft? Or is it only 1 damage? Did I have to announce that trigger as I announce I'm going to beginning of combat?
Is this the same as announcing a trigger only when it's relevant?
I know if Monastery Swiftspear if you cast an instant, then attacked and they didn't block, by you saying "take two", that was recognition the trigger resolved. You didn't have to announce it till it was relevant. Is Toolcraft the same, and if not then why?
In sanctioned tournaments, a triggered ability is forgotten only if its controller has "taken an action past the point where the triggered ability would have an observable impact on the game" (M.T.R. 4.5). Toolcraft Exemplar's ability would generally have an observable impact, at the earliest, as the combat damage step begins, because at that moment, you must determine whether Toolcraft Exemplar has first strike and, therefore, whether this is a "first strike" combat damage step (C.R. 510.4; see also C.R. 702.7b). In general, you don't have to acknowledge the triggered ability until then.
The first sentence also applies to prowess (C.R. 702.108a), which generally has an observable impact as combat damage is assigned and a creature with prowess is attacking or blocking, because at that moment, the appropriate player must determine how much combat damage is assigned by and to that creature (C.R. 510.1a-d).
EDIT (Jan. 16, 2018; Feb. 4, Feb. 8, 2018): Correctness edits.
EDIT (Jul. 14, 2018): One rule was renumbered with Core Set 2019.
EDIT (Sep. 20, 2019): Edited.
EDIT (Apr. 27, 2022): Edited.
I know this is a necro but I think it is stupid how it works. Say they control a toolcraft and Bomat. if they go “go to combat” and swing with a tool craft, I assume it is a 1/1 because they didn’t mention that the trigger went on the stack to make the toolcraft a 3/2. Had it went on the stack I would have a response, but I would rather my opponent make the first move and not give away the fact that I have removal. It “doesn’t check until it is relevant” is bull because it should be relevant at all times. If I tell my opponent I have a response at the beginning of combat that changes how they play. Taking 1 and 3 is a large difference in a match. How is a trigger than changes power and toughness not relevant at all stages of play? How is it not a beneficial trigger than can be missed because attacking for 2 more or less is not beneficial at all during a game?
I know this is a necro but I think it is stupid how it works. Say they control a toolcraft and Bomat. if they go “go to combat” and swing with a tool craft, I assume it is a 1/1 because they didn’t mention that the trigger went on the stack to make the toolcraft a 3/2. Had it went on the stack I would have a response, but I would rather my opponent make the first move and not give away the fact that I have removal. It “doesn’t check until it is relevant” is bull because it should be relevant at all times. If I tell my opponent I have a response at the beginning of combat that changes how they play. Taking 1 and 3 is a large difference in a match. How is a trigger than changes power and toughness not relevant at all stages of play? How is it not a beneficial trigger than can be missed because attacking for 2 more or less is not beneficial at all during a game?
In the scenario in comment 1, Toolcraft Exemplar's power and toughness are 3/2 when its ability resolves (C.R. 613.1) — Toolcraft Exemplar's ability isn't optional (C.R. 603.5), so no player directly decides whether that ability applies or not (and therefore, what impact it has on Toolcraft Exemplar's power and toughness or its abilities), either when that ability triggers or when it resolves. In sanctioned tournaments—
that ability would generally have an observable impact, at the earliest, as the combat damage step begins (but whether an ability has an "observable impact" matters only for the purpose of players being "expected to remember their own triggered abilities" [which, without more, I assume means triggered abilities they control] [M.T.R. 4.5]), and
the Magic Tournament Rules say that a "player should have an advantage due to ... greater awareness of the interactions in the current game state" (M.T.R. 4.1), but they don't forbid players from asking questions about the power or toughness of any creature at any time during the game.
EDIT (Jul. 14, 2018): One rule was renumbered with Core Set 2019.
Is this the same as announcing a trigger only when it's relevant?
I know if Monastery Swiftspear if you cast an instant, then attacked and they didn't block, by you saying "take two", that was recognition the trigger resolved. You didn't have to announce it till it was relevant. Is Toolcraft the same, and if not then why?
The first sentence also applies to prowess (C.R. 702.108a), which generally has an observable impact as combat damage is assigned and a creature with prowess is attacking or blocking, because at that moment, the appropriate player must determine how much combat damage is assigned by and to that creature (C.R. 510.1a-d).
EDIT (Jan. 16, 2018; Feb. 4, Feb. 8, 2018): Correctness edits.
EDIT (Jul. 14, 2018): One rule was renumbered with Core Set 2019.
EDIT (Sep. 20, 2019): Edited.
EDIT (Apr. 27, 2022): Edited.
EDIT (Jul. 14, 2018): One rule was renumbered with Core Set 2019.