Can You Tap An Opponent's Creatures When they Attack?
Asked by tyrannosaurusrex 14 years ago
Can you play an instant that taps an attacking opponents creatures so that they can't attack?
mistergreen527 says... Accepted answer #2
Sorry Zylo, but not quite. Once a creature is declared as an attacker, it's attacking unless a card specifically says it is removed from combat. Tapping a creature that is attacking only taps it (which it probably already is, unless it has vigilance).
To tap a creature to prevent it from attacking, it must be done at the end of the first main phase. The game won't continue to the next step or phase unless all players pass priority in succession. So, when the opponent says that they plan to enter the combat phase, you get priority and can tap down any creature you don't want to attack.
November 9, 2010 1:30 p.m.
Oh yeah, I always forget that. You don't do it "in response" to them attacking. You say "before your combat phase I tap this creature" and that prevents it from attacking.
I don't usually make the distiction because I play casual and the tapping is done at nearly the same times and we are so strict on the rules for that matter. However, in a tournament, the judges would enforce it and so you'd have to tap it before the combat phase.
My bad, sorry.
November 9, 2010 1:53 p.m.
Well, you can do it at the end of their first main phase, but this gives them the chance to react with sorcery-speed abilities and spells. You could also tap it during the beginning of combat step, where they'd have to use instants.
In either case, you don't absolutely know what they're going to be attacking with, so you might have to make an educated guess.
November 9, 2010 2:53 p.m.
Don't forget you can also tap creatures in the "Beginning of Combat Step" and this is, in fact, the ideal time to do so.
Basically the only thing that happens in this step is that you declare your intent to attack and your opponent becomes the "defending player" while you become the "attacking player". This is only important for cards that care about the attacking and/or defending player.
Anyways, once this is done state-based actions and triggered abilities are checked and then priority is given to the active player.
Now, the reason this is the ideal time to tap their creatures is because it is both before they've been tapped as part of declaring attackers and after the main phase which means they can no longer cast or use sorcery speed abilities such as re-equiping to move equipment off of creatures you tap.
Hope this helps =)
Zylo says... #1
In response to them declaring an attack you can play a spell that would tap their creature preventing it from attacking. So say they attack with a Darksteel Colossus , you could in response play Gigadrowse and they would not be able to attack with it.
November 9, 2010 10:46 a.m.