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Magic (The Gathering) => Rules => Topic started by: PapaBudz on January 03, 2014, 07:11:17 PM

Title: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: PapaBudz on January 03, 2014, 07:11:17 PM
Ok, so a buddy of mine used {Bow of Nylea} to keep himself alive while I used a 47/47 {Lotleth Troll} with {Gift of Orzhava}. He would activate the gain 3 life after I swung him down to 0.

I understand combat damage goes on the stack, but can you activate abilities after hitting 0?

Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Wackaman9001 on January 03, 2014, 07:31:35 PM
Not without something like {platinum angel}. Loss due to no life is a state based action, so he wouldnt be able to respond because he would lose before he got priority. Also, life totals can go below 0.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: PapaBudz on January 03, 2014, 07:49:46 PM
The 47 would kill him. Once he was at 0, he would activate it to go back to 3. I thought it was fishy.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Spencer Addington on January 03, 2014, 08:25:26 PM
Quote from: PapaBudz on January 03, 2014, 07:49:46 PM
The 47 would kill him. Once he was at 0, he would activate it to go back to 3. I thought it was fishy.
What happened to your pic budz? I love dthe ed bed one. Brought back good memories :)
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: PapaBudz on January 03, 2014, 09:00:41 PM
I don't know, Spence. I tried to reload it, but it's not working. When i get home I'll try to reload it again. It was one of my favorite.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Giggle the Draco Genius on January 03, 2014, 10:00:07 PM
Also you do go to negative life. So if they were at 20 you put them to -27 and they can gain the 3 life before taking damage but you still go to -24. Also damage does not use the stack and can not be responded to
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Spencer Addington on January 03, 2014, 10:16:14 PM
Quote from: Giggleflat on January 03, 2014, 10:00:07 PM
Also you do go to negative life. So if they were at 20 you put them to -27 and they can gain the 3 life before taking damage but you still go to -24. Also damage does not use the stack and can not be responded to
Many people don't remeber that you can go negative. Good on you for mentioning that  me amigo.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: PapaBudz on January 04, 2014, 03:08:02 AM
I agree. Than you everyone for helping me out.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: MuggyWuggy on January 04, 2014, 04:44:46 AM
How the hell he get a lotleth troll that big???
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Galabranth on January 04, 2014, 11:46:36 AM
Quote from: Muggywuggy on January 04, 2014, 04:44:46 AM
How the hell he get a lotleth troll that big???

This is what I want to know also
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Pleeb on January 04, 2014, 02:22:38 PM
Assuming that the 47/47 troll will bring your opponent to 0 life:  he can activate the bow before damage is delt and would gain the extra 3 life and live. If he somehow had an ability that prevents him from going below 0 life, he's SOL. Losing the game by going to 0 life is a state based action. Combat damage is delt, bringing him to 0 life. In order to activate the bow for life gain, he must first gain priority. State based effects are checked before any player is able to receive priority. Because of this, life gain effects have to be used (placed on the stack) before the damage that would otherwise kill you.

A little wordier than I was going for, but long story short, your friend loses.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: PapaBudz on January 04, 2014, 06:03:35 PM
Yep. Thanks again. I got my {Lotleth Troll} up to 47/47 flying and lifelink using {Varolz, the Scar-Striped} on {Desecration Demon}s and {Polulranos, World Eater}s, then a good old {Gift of Orzhova}.
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Pi on January 04, 2014, 09:39:18 PM
The bow wouldn't save him but { reverse damage } would
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: gtfotis on January 05, 2014, 02:28:27 AM
He would have had to do it in response to you declaring him as an attacker, but if he's doing it after declaring no blockers, then he dies. Right? Because he doesn't get priority to respond again until after Papa declares attacks until after the combat step... Right!?

The only time he has priority to respond is after the declare attackers.. Right!? D:

I'm just now learning about how damage isn't on a stack thing and it's blowing up my brain 😭
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Giggle the Draco Genius on January 05, 2014, 04:30:35 AM
Damage is in its own step

Combat phase

Beginning of combat step
Declare attackers step
Declare blockers step
First strike combat damage step
Normal combat damage step

First strike step only exists f first stoke is present. The first thing that happens in these steps is their described action. After that the active player will get priority allowing them to casts instants or use abilities then the non-active player gets the same chance. This will repeat until both players pass priority without adding something to the stack
Title: Re: Activate Abilities at 0?
Post by: Pleeb on January 05, 2014, 10:43:14 AM
Quote from: gtfotis on January 05, 2014, 02:28:27 AM
He would have had to do it in response to you declaring him as an attacker, but if he's doing it after declaring no blockers, then he dies. Right? Because he doesn't get priority to respond again until after Papa declares attacks until after the combat step... Right!?

The only time he has priority to respond is after the declare attackers.. Right!? D:

I'm just now learning about how damage isn't on a stack thing and it's blowing up my brain 😭

To expand on what giggleflat said:  players receive priority after blockers are declared. As long as your response hits the stack before damage is actually dealt, you should be fine.