How exactly can Icy Blast be used during combat?
Asked by PlagueRats 9 years ago
First Situation: Can I wait until after my opponent has declared blockers to play Icy Blast and prevent my creatures from being blocked even if my opponent still has other untapped creatures available that they could have chosen to block with? In other words do they have to commit to their declared blockers before I have to reveal my instant spell that makes those creatures unable to block?
Second Situation, Opponent declares one attacking creature, I declare one creature as a blocker, they cast an instant buffing their creature. At this point can I still play Icy Blast to prevent their buffed creature from being able to attack?
If you care to see how I'm using this card, here's my deck:
Hexproof Badger -- Playtest
Standard
SCORE: 4 | 0 COMMENTS | 395 VIEWSEpochalyptik says... #2
tl;dr: Unless an effect explicitly states that it removes a creature from combat, you can't stop a creature from attacking or blocking after it has already been declared as an attacker or blocker.
December 31, 2014 4:55 p.m.
PlagueRats says... #3
Thanks for the response, that sounds right to me.
Regarding casting it defensively, quote "Your last chance to prevent a creature from attacking is to preemptively tap it during the beginning of combat phase. You won't know yet how your opponent intends to attack."
I've never played competitively, I'm confused about how people actually handle this in serious play. Playing with friends, I'll wait till they begin to declare attackers before I react by tapping mana and showing them my card. To play properly do I need to have my opponent check with me prior to beginning their declare attackers step every turn?
December 31, 2014 6:56 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
Technically, it should be clear when the active player intends to move from one step or phase to the next. He or she should always announce it because there's a round of priority that must occur before the game actually moves on. This is especially important around combat, since some spells and abilities must be used at certain times. It should be clear when you're moving from the main phase to the beginning of combat, from the beginning of combat to the declare attackers step, and so on.
If your opponent rushes into a step or phase and you wanted to take an action, call a judge and explain that you were not given a chance to take actions during the end-of-step round of priority. The judge will back the game up to the end of the appropriate step or phase and allow you to take your actions.
Remember, Magic is based on timing and priority, not speed. You can't rush ahead to prevent someone else from doing anything first.
December 31, 2014 7:17 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
Many players will verbally narrate the progression of the turn, especially when there are relevant effects at all times. For example, some players begin their turn by saying "Untap. Upkeep. Draw" to indicate that opponents should take any relevant actions at those times. Many players will also say "moving to combat" to indicate that they want to progress from the main phase to the beginning of combat step.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
Situation 1:
The first thing that happens in the declare blockers step is that blockers are declared all at once. This process is a turn-based action and does not use the stack. Players can't respond to the declaration of blockers. After blockers are declared, players get priority.
If you cast Icy Blast at this point, you can tap the creatures that were declared as blockers, but those creatures will still be blockers and will still be blocking the designated attackers. Tapping a blocker doesn't remove it from combat or change anything about how it deals or is dealt combat damage.
Your last chance to prevent certain creatures from blocking is to cast Icy Blast at the end of the declare attackers step. You won't know how your opponent intends to block, so you can only preemptively prevent certain creatures from blocking.
Situation 2:
No. As with blockers, once a creature is declared as an attacker, it remains an attacking creature until the end of combat. As part of the process of declaring a creature as an attacker, that creature becomes tapped. Tapping it again afterwards will do nothing.
Your last chance to prevent a creature from attacking is to preemptively tap it during the beginning of combat phase. You won't know yet how your opponent intends to attack.
December 31, 2014 4:54 p.m.