I pay 1 to make Volrath, the Shapestealer a copy of Slither Blade, then attack with Volrath. Since my opponent can't block him, can I then choose to pay 1 more before combat damage to copy Blight Mamba and deal him 7 infect damage? I guess I'm wonderimg when the last opportunity is for me to use his ability before he actually deals his damage.
Thanks in advance!
Yes, that's possible due to Volrath's ability assuring, that Volrath keeps the ability even when becoming a copy. Usually such abilities are lost when the object becomes a copy of something else. So you make Volrath into a copy of Slither Blade some time before the declare blockers step, so in the declare attackers step at the latest. After blocker declaration, while still in the declare blockers step, players get priority to do stuff. And you can use Volrath's ability again at this point to turn him into a big Blight Mamba. This is also the last opportunity to do so before combat damage is dealt, since that is the very first thing that happens in the next step, and no one gets to do anything during that step prior to it.
(Of course, this scenario is only possible if both the Blade and the Mamba have some kind of counter on them.)
I pay 1 to make Volrath, the Shapestealer a copy of Slither Blade, then attack with Volrath. Since my opponent can't block him, can I then choose to pay 1 more before combat damage to copy Blight Mamba and deal him 7 infect damage? I guess I'm wonderimg when the last opportunity is for me to use his ability before he actually deals his damage.
Thanks in advance!
Your last opportunity is during the Declare Blockers Step, after your opponent has declared blockers (including the option "I don't block" here).
The Combat Phase is divided in steps: beginning of combat, declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, end of combat. Each step can only end after all players have passed priority in succession while the stack is empty. If the step has a specific turn-based action (declaring attackers or blockers, dealing combat damage), it happens before any player gets priority.
So:
- Beginning of Combat Step: you gain priority and activate Volrath's ability copying Slither Blade. You pass priority, all other players also pass. Ability resolves, Volrath is not a 7/5 copy of Slither Blade. You regain priority again and pass, all other players pass again. Step ends.
- Declare Attackers Step: you declare Volrath as an attacker. You gain priority again and pass, all other players pass. Step ends.
- Declare Blockers Step: opponent declares they are not blocking. You gain priority and activate Volrath's ability again, copying Blight Mamba. You pass priority, all other players also pass. Ability resolves, Volrath is not a 7/5 copy of Blight Mamba. You regain priority again and pass, all other players pass again. Step ends.
- Combat Damage Step: Volrath deals combat damage to the attacked player as a 7/5 with Infect. You gain priority again and...
Thanks in advance!
(Of course, this scenario is only possible if both the Blade and the Mamba have some kind of counter on them.)
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Your last opportunity is during the Declare Blockers Step, after your opponent has declared blockers (including the option "I don't block" here).
The Combat Phase is divided in steps: beginning of combat, declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, end of combat. Each step can only end after all players have passed priority in succession while the stack is empty. If the step has a specific turn-based action (declaring attackers or blockers, dealing combat damage), it happens before any player gets priority.
So:
- Beginning of Combat Step: you gain priority and activate Volrath's ability copying Slither Blade. You pass priority, all other players also pass. Ability resolves, Volrath is not a 7/5 copy of Slither Blade. You regain priority again and pass, all other players pass again. Step ends.
- Declare Attackers Step: you declare Volrath as an attacker. You gain priority again and pass, all other players pass. Step ends.
- Declare Blockers Step: opponent declares they are not blocking. You gain priority and activate Volrath's ability again, copying Blight Mamba. You pass priority, all other players also pass. Ability resolves, Volrath is not a 7/5 copy of Blight Mamba. You regain priority again and pass, all other players pass again. Step ends.
- Combat Damage Step: Volrath deals combat damage to the attacked player as a 7/5 with Infect. You gain priority again and...