Using abilities during combat

[DarkJesterEternal]

Can you use mana activated abilities during combat to cause your attacker to lose life the card in question is orzhov guildmage and can I pay it more than once and would this prevent the attack from going thru if it is enough to kill the attacker?

[Rass]

 {Orzhov Guildmage}

[MuggyWuggy]

 {Orzhov Guildmage}

With his ability: you may activate it any time you have the mana available and as many times as you can pay for it

Problem with your scenario: he causes loss of life or life gain only. He cannot damage attackers or defenders with his ability.

[DarkJesterEternal]

I'm using it to take the final two life from my opponents life total after they have declared attack which deal almost enough to take my life total

[MuggyWuggy]

Oh yeah you can totally psych em out and let em think they will kill you, as they declare attackers:

"In response to declaring attacks and before block are declared:  ill pay X amount and activate orzhov guildmages ability twice to drain your last two life"

[DarkJesterEternal]

Thanks!

[ibtrickey]

But remember damage in combat is simultaneous so you both take damage at the same time:) so be careful how you use this

[rarehuntertay]

But remember damage in combat is simultaneous so you both take damage at the same time:) so be careful how you use this

Only for creature creature. Damage from activated abilities such as the creature above will resolve first. Reason is attackers were declared, but ability was activated before blockers. The ability will resolve before they can move into "declare blockers" phase/step.

[Pleeb]

There is a round of spell casting after blockers are declared, so you can get away with this after you have declared blockers also