{Boros Battleshaper} is on my side of the field. {Hound of Griselbrand} attacks, can I choose Boros' targets twice?
One for the first strike dmg and then once for normal dmg?
Quote from: Avodroc13 on June 10, 2014, 08:05:37 PM
{Boros Battleshaper} is on my side of the field. {Hound of Griselbrand} attacks, can I choose Boros' targets twice?
One for the first strike dmg and then once for normal dmg?
No bc 1st strike and normal strike aren't separate combats just separate times during combat.
But I can cast instants in between the first strike and norm dmg.
Yes, you can.
First Strike and Double Strike don't create separate Combat Phases, they just create an additional Combat Damage step that happens before the first one. Normally, the combat Phase has steps like this:
Beginning of Combat
Declare Attackers
Declare Blockers
Combat Damage
End of Combat
However, when First Strike and Double Strike are involved, it looks like this:
Beginning of Combat
Declare Attackers
Declare Blockers
Combat Damage 1
Combat Damage 2
End of Combat
Things that trigger at the beginning of Combat (like {Boros Battleshaper}) will only trigger once, since there's still only one Beginning of Combat step. Now, if you were to create additional Combat Phases (through {Aurelia, the Warleader} or Scourge of the Throne), then it'll trigger again, because there's another Beginning of Combat step.
^That, I understand. Nice explanation! :D
Quote from: Avodroc13 on June 10, 2014, 09:33:48 PM
^That, I understand. Nice explanation! :D
Agreed, very clear. +1 to him for describing clearly a very unclear confusing step in this game thing we all call magic.
No problems, guys.
And to add to the question of casting spells between damage steps: Players receive priority to cast spells and activate abilities during each of the steps in the Combat Phase.
Though, the very first things to happen in the Declare Attackers and Declare Blockers steps are the Turn-Based Actions of Declaring Attackers and Blockers, respectively. The last time you can use spells to stop things from attacking (like tapping them) or force them to attack ({Basandra, Battle Seraph}) is during the Beginning of Combat step.