Situation: I am at one life with a Magus of the Moon in play and an untapped Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle and Scalding Tarn. I have Icefall in my graveyard. I'm being attacked by a Tuktuk the Returned token (5/5 artifact creature), and I block with the Magus. Is there any time for me to tap my two lands for red mana so I can pay the recover cost on Icefall when Magus dies, or am I out of luck? This might be a simple question, so forgive me if it is, I'm just a little unclear on when I can tap those lands now that combat damage doesn't use the stack. Thanks!
No. Now that mana clears from mana pools at the end of every step, there is no time at which you will be able to draw the red mana from the two lands you named AND have the Magus in your graveyard.
You could, of course, just use the Scalding Tarn to fetch a mountain after the Magus has died, and get the two red mana from the lands afterwards.
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The first thing that happens in the combat damage step is the assignment and dealing of damage. Then SBAs are checked, killing the Magus and triggering the Icefall Recover ability, before you get priority. You can only activate mana abilities when you have priority, or when a resolving spell or ability asks for a mana payment. By the time you get priority to activate mana abilities in the combat damage step, your lands are no longer mountains because the Magus has already left the battlefield.
You could, of course, just use the Scalding Tarn to fetch a mountain after the Magus has died, and get the two red mana from the lands afterwards.
He could activate the Scalding Tarn ability, but it wouldn't resolve, considering he mentioned he's at one life.
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