I understand how this rule works (of course correct me if I'm just talking nonsense), I'm just wondering if anybody knows how long this particular rule has been around? Has it been around since or near the beginning of the game or was it perhaps a rule update/change later? Looking for as precise of a date as possible with a source of this information if possible. The oldest mentioning of it I can find is from 2009 (google, yahoo, etc searches). Trying to prove to a stubborn player that I can declare a blocker and then tap it to use it's ability while still being able to block the chosen creature. All this house rules BS is starting to piss me off. Why play a game if you're just gonna arbitrarily change or ignore the rules?!
506.4b Tapping or untapping a creature that’s already been declared as an attacker or blocker doesn’t remove it from combat and doesn’t prevent its combat damage.
I understand how this rule works (of course correct me if I'm just talking nonsense), I'm just wondering if anybody knows how long this particular rule has been around? Has it been around since or near the beginning of the game or was it perhaps a rule update/change later?
Before that, tapping a blocking creature would mean that it didn't deal combat damage. But it was still a blocking creature and the attacking creature remained blocked.
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Prior to the 6th edition major rules overhaul, tapped blockers didn't deal combat damage. Ever since 6th edition they do. Tapping a blocker, however, has never removed it from combat, nor made a blocked creature unblocked, far as I know. So this rule has been around since the release of 6th edition in April of 1999.
Tapping a blocker, however, has never removed it from combat, nor made a blocked creature unblocked, far as I know.
This is correct. From page 26 of The Original Magic Rulebook:
If a creature became tapped after it was assigned as a blocker, the creature still blocks but doesn't deal any damage.
506.4b Tapping or untapping a creature that’s already been declared as an attacker or blocker doesn’t remove it from combat and doesn’t prevent its combat damage.
Since 1999: http://web.archive.org/web/19991129041419/http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/6e/6E_Letter.asp
Before that, tapping a blocking creature would mean that it didn't deal combat damage. But it was still a blocking creature and the attacking creature remained blocked.
Here's a link to the MTG wiki, where the 6th edition rules changes are listed. Scroll down to combat near the bottom:
https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Sixth_Edition/Rules_changes
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This is correct. From page 26 of The Original Magic Rulebook:
If a creature became tapped after it was assigned as a blocker, the creature still blocks but doesn't deal any damage.
Edit:
I already had the original link, but it stopped working at some point. Fortunately, it was in that archive.