MTG Magic The Gathering Question Rulings...?

Question

If my opponent has an instant that can tap target creature, is he able to tap one of my creatures after I have declared attackers to prevent target creature from attacking? Or is he required to tap it during the beginning of combat step of the combat phase before I have declared my attackers?

I found this in the rulebook:

"308.1. As the declare attackers step begins, the active player declares attackers. This game action
doesn’t use the stack."

This would mean that the other player would be unable to prevent my creature from attacking since it was done after I have declared attackers, correct?

Answer 1

All the previous answers are technically incorrect. As you declare attacking creatures, no other player can respond to this. Once you've finished doing this, then players have the opportunity to play spells and abilities. If you've declared an attacking creature, that creature is attacking. If your opponent plays Icy Manipulator's ability targeting the creature, it won't prevent it from attacking. Becoming tapped after being declare as an attacking creature won't remove it from combat.

Instead, that's what the beginning of combat step is before. During this step, you can play spells or abilities BEFORE attacking creatures are declared. This allows you to play instants to tap the creature before it's ever declared as an attacking creature. In which case, your opponent will probably not be able to declare it as an attacking creature.

The rule you quoted supports this, and you may also want to see the following rules:

306.4. A creature or planeswalker is removed from combat if it leaves play (such as by being destroyed or removed from the game); if its controller changes; if it stops being a creature or planeswalker, respectively; or if an effect removes it from combat. A creature is also removed from combat if it regenerates (see rule 419.6b). A creature that’s removed from combat stops being an attacking, blocking, blocked, and/or unblocked creature. A planeswalker that’s removed from combat stops being attacked.

306.4a Once a creature has been declared as an attacking or blocking creature, spells or abilities that would have kept that creature from attacking or blocking don’t remove the creature from combat.

306.4b Tapping or untapping a creature that’s already been declared as an attacker or blocker doesn’t remove it from combat and doesn’t prevent its combat damage.

306.4c If a creature is attacking a planeswalker, removing that planeswalker from combat doesn’t remove that creature from combat. It continues to be an attacking creature, although it is attacking neither a player nor a planeswalker. It may be blocked. If it is unblocked, it will deal no combat damage.

308.2g Each chosen creature becomes an attacking creature if all costs have been paid, but only if it’s still controlled by the active player. It remains an attacking creature until it’s removed from combat or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. See rule 306.4.

As noted, once the creature has been declared as an attacking creature, it's an attacking creature. Spells or abilities that would prevent this from happening won't do anything and won't prevent the creature from attacking.

Answer 2

Since it is an Instant, it can be done immediately as you declare attackers. It can be said, 'Before this creature can do anything, it's tapped first.' An instant takes effect as an immediate action before/during another action, so he can tap the creature with the instant because it's a lightning quick effect.

Answer 3

they don't do the same things anymore, so you have to see if they fit in the particular deck you are building. pump effects got a little better with the ordered blocking.

Answer 4

norak is correct, as you declare attackers instants may be played by tyhe opponent the situation you are refering to would be his responce to you attacking. Since the creature is tapped you may not attack with it. Attackers may only be declared as a group, you cannot declare an attacker and then declare another attacker.

Answer 5

yupe they're right... but to better understand this, you have to understand what we call "THE STACK". the stack is the pile of anything that's been declared by any player(spells, attacking creature, targeting something, blocking creature, etc...) instants and creature abilities have a special rule that it can put itself on the stack anywhere you like it to as long as it isn't on top a resolved spell. sorceries and creature spells doesn't work like that it just ends up on the dead end of the stack at that current moment unless the creature has "FLASH" meaning it can be played anytime you could play a instant.

on you chase, since you declared you attacking creature your opponent can respond to it by playing an instant which he chose to put it on top of your "declaring attacking creature". (according to stack)

another way to understand this better is Khamal pit fighter with shock. if i decide to use Khamal's ability which is "tap: Khamal deals 3 damage to target creature or player" and when i declared that my opponent could play SHOCK(deals 2 dmg to target creature or player) and kill Khamal so he/ his creature doesn't take any damge.

BUT... if my opponent plays shock to kill Khamal. i can respond to it by using it's ability to damage him/his creature before my Khamal dies...

so to conclude, it's almost always better to be the second one to respond...