If i have a blinding mage on the battle field and my opponent has a creature and declares an attack, can I pay one mana, tap blinding mage and tap my opponents creature, stopping the attack?
Im assuming then that this would apply to all creatures with a that allows you to target opponents and their creatures
Assuming the Blinding Mage is not summoning sick, yes.
Activated abilities can be activated at anytime you have priority (in other words: when you could play an instant) unless they state otherwise.
Do be aware that you have to tap the creature BEFORE it is declared as an attacker. The Beginning of Combat Step being your last chance to do this, your opponent also has to give you a chance to do this before declaring attackers.
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Yes, you may. You need to technically do it before it's declared an attack (during combat begins step or phase or whatever, I'm sure someone else can tell what it's called). Once it's tapped and attacking it's too late (really matters mostly in mtgo).
I constantly argue with my friends about this. Sometimes, we wait to tap each others' creatures until after they declare it as an attacker. For example, "I'm attacking with my Ezuri's Brigade." "No, I'm tapping it with my Tumble Magnet." Forgive me if I should start a new thread with this question, but it seems appropriate: how do we settle the argument? What about when someone declares, "You declared attackers too quickly and didn't give me enough time to decide which creatures to tap?"
EDIT: Ah, it appears that Hendrik may have answered this question for me. Thank you for your clairvoyance!
What about when someone declares, "You declared attackers too quickly and didn't give me enough time to decide which creatures to tap?"
Then you back up and give them a chance to decide which creatures to tap. You can't "rush" to Declare Attackers and then tell your opponents "Sorry, too late."
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so based on using a tap ability before combat if you're in a multiplayer game (not teams/free for all) can another player thats not attacking use one of their creatures tap abilities to boost the attacking players creatures before or after attackers/blockers are declared?
so based on using a tap ability before combat if you're in a multiplayer game (not teams/free for all) can another player thats not attacking use one of their creatures tap abilities to boost the attacking players creatures before or after attackers/blockers are declared?
Yep. If they have an ability that would do so, there is nothing stopping them (aside from Summoning Sickness, targeting, the usual). Unless you are playing with Area of Effect.
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Everyone knows that good luck and good game are such insincere terms that any man who does not connect his right hook with the offender's jaw on the very utterance of such a phrase is no man I would consider as such.
even if its a +X/+X ability? just making sure as that also means that you can deal additional damage to a player with creatures that get past their defenses and in a duel you have to do so before the combat phase.
However, you're mistaken on that; unless an ability explicitly states that it may only be activated before you declare attackers, or some other timing restriction, you can activate it whenever you can pay the costs.
For example, I can activate my Auriok Bladewarden at any time I have priority, even after attackers/blockers have been declared. What made you think otherwise?
That's very much incorrect. Here's how combat breaks down: The phase itself is comprised of several steps. There's the Beginning of Combat Step, the Declare Attackers Step, the Declare Blockers Step, the Combat Damage Step, and the End of Combat Step.
During the Declare Attackers and Declare Blockers step, the turn-based action of declaring attackers/blockers [respectively] happens before anything else, and in the Combat Damage step, damage is assigned and dealt before you do anything else. After those actions, BOTH players [starting with the Active Player] will get priority, and be able to activate abilities and cast Instants/cards with Flash. The Active Player also gets priority right away in the Beginning and End of Combat steps.
There is no rule preventing you from casting spells/activating abilities before combat [that's why things like Giant Growth are called 'combat tricks'. You attack with what they think is a small creature, and pump it after they declare no blocks]
as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering_rules it states that all spells and abilities are to used before attackers/blockers are declared although its a grey area for the combat damage step as it doesn't state if you can or can't use spells or abilities.
Wikipedia is incorrect there. You may cast Instants/spells with Flash, or activate abilities at any time you have priority. NOT just before combat. For one, "before declare attackers/blockers" is very vague.
Trust me; the rules are very clear on this. Nowhere in the rules does it imply that you may not cast spells or activate abilities during combat.
Quote from MCR »
116.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time he or she has priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty.
Quote from MCR »
116.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time he or she has priority
Im assuming then that this would apply to all creatures with a that allows you to target opponents and their creatures
Activated abilities can be activated at anytime you have priority (in other words: when you could play an instant) unless they state otherwise.
Do be aware that you have to tap the creature BEFORE it is declared as an attacker. The Beginning of Combat Step being your last chance to do this, your opponent also has to give you a chance to do this before declaring attackers.
Ever wanted to know what guidelines Judges use to make rulings? Find out at the DCI Document Center.
You can also find the latest Comprehensive Rules here.
EDIT: Ah, it appears that Hendrik may have answered this question for me. Thank you for your clairvoyance!
Thanks to GR @ Yavin IV Studios for the signature!
Then you back up and give them a chance to decide which creatures to tap. You can't "rush" to Declare Attackers and then tell your opponents "Sorry, too late."
Advanced Tournament Organizer
I protect the Legacy with my life if necessary, for its purpose is far more important than my own.
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.
Yep. If they have an ability that would do so, there is nothing stopping them (aside from Summoning Sickness, targeting, the usual). Unless you are playing with Area of Effect.
- To my youngest sister when she was 6.
However, you're mistaken on that; unless an ability explicitly states that it may only be activated before you declare attackers, or some other timing restriction, you can activate it whenever you can pay the costs.
For example, I can activate my Auriok Bladewarden at any time I have priority, even after attackers/blockers have been declared. What made you think otherwise?
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.
unless you're the defender.
Double-post merged. -Carsten
During the Declare Attackers and Declare Blockers step, the turn-based action of declaring attackers/blockers [respectively] happens before anything else, and in the Combat Damage step, damage is assigned and dealt before you do anything else. After those actions, BOTH players [starting with the Active Player] will get priority, and be able to activate abilities and cast Instants/cards with Flash. The Active Player also gets priority right away in the Beginning and End of Combat steps.
There is no rule preventing you from casting spells/activating abilities before combat [that's why things like Giant Growth are called 'combat tricks'. You attack with what they think is a small creature, and pump it after they declare no blocks]
Does that make sense?
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.
Trust me; the rules are very clear on this. Nowhere in the rules does it imply that you may not cast spells or activate abilities during combat.
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.