Is there a rules distinction between "attacks" and "put onto the battlefield attacking"?
Asked by vic 3 weeks ago
I control an Ilharg, the Raze-Boar and attack with it, bringing in a Hellkite Charger from my hand. Do I get to use the Hellkite's activated ability? I'm not sure if there is a distinction between "attacks" and "put onto the battlefield attacking". It was not declared at attacker. Does that matter?
Rhadamanthus says... #3
To be 100% clear on the details: Hellkite Charger's ability is a triggered ability (starts with "when/whenever/at"), not an activated ability (written as "[cost] : [effect]"). You're given an optional cost of to pay as the trigger resolves if you want to get the rest of the effect, but it's not an activation cost and you're not activating anything. The distinction matters for effects that care about activated vs. triggered abilities, such as Rings of Brighthearth vs. Strionic Resonator.
Crow_Umbra says... Accepted answer #1
You cannot activate the Hellkite's ability, as it was never on the battlefield to be declared as an attacker at the beginning of your combat step.
Triggered abilities that check when a creature attacks check for that when a creature is declared as an attacker at the Declare Attackers part of combat.
Ilharg's ability triggers during that Declare Attackers phase, so the creature it puts onto the battlefield with its ability enters after that phase, & is never a declared attacker. Since the creature is already entering tapped and attacking, it never had the opportunity to trigger any attack triggers.
Wiki page for reference. Also something I'm fairly familiar with from playing various aggro commanders.
October 21, 2024 2:15 a.m.