No. In order to save the Sliver, its controller has to activate the ability in the declare blockr step after blockers have been declared. He cannot wait until combat damage has been deal, because that is the very first thing that happens during the combat damage step, and it is followed by a check of state based actions, that would destroy the lethally damaged sliver. All before a player gets priority during that step for the first time.
The Vanguard will still be blocked though, which means without trample it will simply not deal any combat damage as there is no creature to deal it to.
Would like to quote an archive question that is similar to my question: here
[Question]
I've tried reading the rules, but I still do not understand blocking with two or more creatures that well.
From what I've read it goes like this,
player A declares attackers
player B declares blockers
player A (if more than two blockers) decides how much damage to deal to each blocker with the total being the power
My first question, well I've already kind of asked this question before, but can player A choose to deal 0 damage to one creature and all the damage to the other?
My second question is, if player A has a 4/4 and player B has two 2/2's, but player B bounces back his 2/2's because he is using two hibernation slivers, does player A's 4/4 die? And player B would lose 4 life?
thanks
[/Question]
[Answer]
1. Yes.
2. A definite maybe...
To elaborate, here's a quick summary of the relevant parts of the combat:
- Once blockers have been declared, players may play spells and abilities before combat damage is assigned.
- Once combat damage has been assigned, players may play spells and abilities before combat damage is dealt.
- Once a creature is blocked, it doesn't deal damage to the defending player/planeswalker unless it has trample. Assume for the sake of this question that player A's 4/4 does not have trample.
- Once a creature assigns damage, the damage will be dealt regardless of what happens to said creature.
So, there are two possible times for player B to play his slivers' abilities:
1. After blockers are declared, but before damage is assigned.
2. After damage is assigned, but before damage is dealt.
If, in your situation, (1) is the case, then the 4/4 lives. That's because no damage has been assigned to it, so no damage will be dealt to it. It will deal no damage to the player B, because it is a blocked creature that doesn't have trample.
If, on the other hand, (2) is the case, then the 4/4 dies. That's because 4 damage was assigned to it, and that 4 damage will be dealt regardless of what happens to the source of the damage (i.e. regardless of the fact that the Slivers are no longer in play).
And to answer your third question, of course player B would lose 4 life. That's the cost of returning the slivers to his hand. Teach Grin
[/Answer]
That archive answer is waaaay outdated. Nowadays (since 2009 with the M10 rules changes in fact) combat damage happens immediately after it has been assigned. No player can do anything in between. so only 2.1. is possible today.
The Vanguard will still be blocked though, which means without trample it will simply not deal any combat damage as there is no creature to deal it to.
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
[Question]
I've tried reading the rules, but I still do not understand blocking with two or more creatures that well.
From what I've read it goes like this,
player A declares attackers
player B declares blockers
player A (if more than two blockers) decides how much damage to deal to each blocker with the total being the power
My first question, well I've already kind of asked this question before, but can player A choose to deal 0 damage to one creature and all the damage to the other?
My second question is, if player A has a 4/4 and player B has two 2/2's, but player B bounces back his 2/2's because he is using two hibernation slivers, does player A's 4/4 die? And player B would lose 4 life?
thanks
[/Question]
[Answer]
1. Yes.
2. A definite maybe...
To elaborate, here's a quick summary of the relevant parts of the combat:
- Once blockers have been declared, players may play spells and abilities before combat damage is assigned.
- Once combat damage has been assigned, players may play spells and abilities before combat damage is dealt.
- Once a creature is blocked, it doesn't deal damage to the defending player/planeswalker unless it has trample. Assume for the sake of this question that player A's 4/4 does not have trample.
- Once a creature assigns damage, the damage will be dealt regardless of what happens to said creature.
So, there are two possible times for player B to play his slivers' abilities:
1. After blockers are declared, but before damage is assigned.
2. After damage is assigned, but before damage is dealt.
If, in your situation, (1) is the case, then the 4/4 lives. That's because no damage has been assigned to it, so no damage will be dealt to it. It will deal no damage to the player B, because it is a blocked creature that doesn't have trample.
If, on the other hand, (2) is the case, then the 4/4 dies. That's because 4 damage was assigned to it, and that 4 damage will be dealt regardless of what happens to the source of the damage (i.e. regardless of the fact that the Slivers are no longer in play).
And to answer your third question, of course player B would lose 4 life. That's the cost of returning the slivers to his hand. Teach Grin
[/Answer]
Does (2) actually cause the attacker to die?
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)