Smite

[An Angry Fatman]

During the pre-release of gatecrash, smite was being played continuously which reads, "destroy target blocked creature." when is the creature considered blocked and not blocking?

Basically I'm trying to figure out if you can declare blockers play it at instant speed, and the defending creature lives. Or if the damage from the attack still hits the defending creature and the creatures trade out.


We got two different results from the judges and I am trying to clarify for me and my friends.

[Birdbrain]

I think the defending creature lives because the destruction would happen before the damage step

[An Angry Fatman]

What is confusing me is the blocked. Does that mean all you have to do declare blocker to activate smite, or did it have to be blocked. (past tense of blocking)

[Coffee Vampire]

{Smite}

For it to destroy a guy, the guy has to be currently blocked. See the ruling on smite (if you have the rulings feature--highly recomended!) to read on what exactly a blocked creature is.

[Gorzo]

A block must be active in order for the blocked creature to be targeted with smite. This means after the 'declare blockers' step and before the end of combat. After combat, the creature is no longer blocked.

The optimal time in this short window to use {smite} is right after you declare blockers, when you have priority between this and the combat damage step. This way, your tiny blocker survives, as the thing you smote never gets to deal damage.

Edit: ahh, I got CV'd! That's what I get for half watching jeopardy while I answer rules questions

[Coffee Vampire]

Gorzo for the win.

(Heh. I may have beat ya but instead of {redirect}ing him to a ruling you typed it up like a boss )

[Keyeto]

Edit: ahh, I got CV'd! That's what I get for half watching jeopardy while I answer rules questions

I like how we're slowly turning each other into verbs.

[Coffee Vampire]

Lmao...that has got to be the comment of the day.