Lets say that both my opponent and I both have a 1/1 white flying spirit. Now lets say I declare my spirit as an attacker, and my opponent declares their spirit as a blocker. After they declare their spirit as a blocker I cast Turn to Frog, which causes their spirit to lose all abilities and become a 1/1 blue frog until end of turn. What happens?
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@ghoppe, you said "If you cast Turn to Frog after attackers are declared, but before blockers are declared, your spirit can't be blocked by that creature." Is there an actual step where you are allowed to cast instants and sorceries after declaring attackers, but before your opponent declares blockers? I was under the impression that the next step after declaring attackers was declaring blockers. Also, sorry for writing this as an answer, but I don't yet have commenting privileges.– Brendon ChevesMay 11, 2012 at 17:41
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Yes, players get priority to play spells in each step of combat. 1) Beginning of combat - priority 2) declare attackers -> priority 3) declare blockers -> priority 4) combat damage -> priority 5) end of combat -> priority– AffeMay 11, 2012 at 19:34
1 Answer
Your creature is still blocked. The blue frog will still deal damage.
If you cast Turn to Frog after attackers are declared, but before blockers are declared, your spirit can't be blocked by that creature.
509.1b The defending player checks each creature he or she controls to see whether it's affected by any restrictions (effects that say a creature can't block, or that it can't block unless some condition is met). If any restrictions are being disobeyed, the declaration of blockers is illegal.
A restriction may be created by an evasion ability (a static ability an attacking creature has that restricts what can block it). If an attacking creature gains or loses an evasion ability after a legal block has been declared, it doesn't affect that block. Different evasion abilities are cumulative. Example: An attacking creature with flying and shadow can't be blocked by a creature with flying but without shadow.
The check for evasion ability blocking restrictions is made before blockers are declared, but is not made again. If the attacker gains or loses evasion abilities it doesn't matter. It's not explicitly mentioned in that rule, but it logically follows that if the defender gains or loses the ability to block flying creatures after the block is declared, it doesn't matter.
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@brendonchives after declare attackers priority passes to both players, allowing them to cast instants and abilities. then blockers are declare, priority passes. then combat damage is done– DForck42May 11, 2012 at 17:59