Attacking Alone: Yuriko's Trigger and the Combat Lockdown
Judge Level 1Only Grizzly Bears attacks, Yuriko stays home — does she still trigger? And can your opponent cast Giant Growth?
Cards involved
Declare attackers
You control Yuriko, Blade of the Mighty and Grizzly Bears; your opponent has Hill Giant and Giant Growth in hand. You attack with Grizzly Bears ONLY — Yuriko stays home. Attackers are declared all at once; after that, it's settled who is attacking "alone."
508.1aThe active player chooses which creatures that they control, if any, will attack. The chosen creatures must be untapped, they can’t also be battles, and each one must either have haste or have been controlled by the active player continuously since the turn began.
506.6A creature attacks a player alone if it’s declared as an attacker attacking a player during the declare attackers step and no other creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player. A creature is attacking a player alone if it’s attacking a player and no other creatures are attacking that player.
Yuriko triggers
Grizzly Bears attacks a player alone (CR 506.6: no other creature was declared as an attacker against that same player). Yuriko's trigger goes on the stack — Yuriko herself doesn't need to attack for that; she says "a creature you control."
506.6A creature attacks a player alone if it’s declared as an attacker attacking a player during the declare attackers step and no other creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player. A creature is attacking a player alone if it’s attacking a player and no other creatures are attacking that player.
508.3Triggered abilities that trigger on attackers being declared may have different trigger conditions.
603.3Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object that’s not a card the next time a player would receive priority. See rule 117, “Timing and Priority.” The ability becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. It remains on the stack until it’s countered, it resolves, a rule causes it to be removed from the stack, or an effect moves it elsewhere.
What happens?
Question: Can your opponent respond?
The trigger is on the stack and your opponent is about to receive priority. Can they cast Giant Growth on Hill Giant now to set up the block?
Pick an answer to continue.
Yuriko's first ability is static (113.3d): it's simply true as long as Yuriko is on the battlefield — for ALL players, you included. Priority normally allows casting (117.1), but a prohibition always wins over a permission (101.2). Giant Growth has to be cast before combat or after it; mana abilities remain allowed.
101.2When a rule or effect allows or directs something to happen, and another effect states that it can’t happen, the “can’t” effect takes precedence.
113.3dStatic abilities are written as statements. They’re simply true. Static abilities create continuous effects which are active while the permanent with the ability is on the battlefield and has the ability, or while the object with the ability is in the appropriate zone. See rule 604, “Handling Static Abilities.”
The trigger resolves
Grizzly Bears has double strike until end of turn. Note: "attacking alone" is checked only at declaration — a creature that enters attacking later doesn't change that anymore.
Your opponent blocks
Hill Giant (3/3) blocks Grizzly Bears (2/2, double strike). Because an attacker has double strike, there are two combat damage steps: first only the first-strike/double-strike creatures, then everyone else — and the double striker again.
702.4bIf at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 702.7) or double strike as the combat damage step begins, the only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are those with first strike or double strike. After that step, instead of proceeding to the end of combat step, the phase gets a second combat damage step. The only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are the remaining attackers and blockers that had neither first strike nor double strike as the first combat damage step began, as well as the remaining attackers and blockers that currently have double strike. After that step, the phase proceeds to the end of combat step.
Two damage steps
First step: Bears deals 2, Hill Giant (3/3) survives. Second step: Bears deals another 2 (4 total ≥ 3, the Giant dies) — at the same time Hill Giant deals 3, and Bears dies as well. Rule of thumb: "alone" means alone AGAINST THAT PLAYER at declaration; Yuriko doesn't have to attack herself, and her combat lockdown hits both sides.
702.4bIf at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 702.7) or double strike as the combat damage step begins, the only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are those with first strike or double strike. After that step, instead of proceeding to the end of combat step, the phase gets a second combat damage step. The only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are the remaining attackers and blockers that had neither first strike nor double strike as the first combat damage step began, as well as the remaining attackers and blockers that currently have double strike. After that step, the phase proceeds to the end of combat step.
510.2Second, all combat damage that’s been assigned is dealt simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. No player has the chance to cast spells or activate abilities between the time combat damage is assigned and the time it’s dealt.
Stack
Yuriko, Blade of the Mighty
Your 2/3. Static: during combat, nobody can cast spells. Trigger: a creature attacks a player alone → double strike
Grizzly Bears
Your 2/2, attacking
Hill Giant
Opposing 3/3, blocking
Triggered ability: Yuriko, Blade of the Mighty
Yuriko: the lone attacker gains double strike
The stack is empty.
Battlefield
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In short
Can your opponent cast spells during combat while Yuriko's static ability is active?
Show answer Hide answer
Yuriko's first ability is static (113.3d): it's simply true as long as Yuriko is on the battlefield — for ALL players, you included. Priority normally allows casting (117.1), but a prohibition always wins over a permission (101.2). Giant Growth has to be cast before combat or after it; mana abilities remain allowed.
508.1aThe active player chooses which creatures that they control, if any, will attack. The chosen creatures must be untapped, they can’t also be battles, and each one must either have haste or have been controlled by the active player continuously since the turn began.
506.6A creature attacks a player alone if it’s declared as an attacker attacking a player during the declare attackers step and no other creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player. A creature is attacking a player alone if it’s attacking a player and no other creatures are attacking that player.
508.3Triggered abilities that trigger on attackers being declared may have different trigger conditions.
603.3Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object that’s not a card the next time a player would receive priority. See rule 117, “Timing and Priority.” The ability becomes the topmost object on the stack. It has the text of the ability that created it, and no other characteristics. It remains on the stack until it’s countered, it resolves, a rule causes it to be removed from the stack, or an effect moves it elsewhere.
101.2When a rule or effect allows or directs something to happen, and another effect states that it can’t happen, the “can’t” effect takes precedence.
113.3dStatic abilities are written as statements. They’re simply true. Static abilities create continuous effects which are active while the permanent with the ability is on the battlefield and has the ability, or while the object with the ability is in the appropriate zone. See rule 604, “Handling Static Abilities.”
702.4aDouble strike is a static ability that modifies the rules for the combat damage step. (See rule 510, “Combat Damage Step.”)
702.4bIf at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 702.7) or double strike as the combat damage step begins, the only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are those with first strike or double strike. After that step, instead of proceeding to the end of combat step, the phase gets a second combat damage step. The only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are the remaining attackers and blockers that had neither first strike nor double strike as the first combat damage step began, as well as the remaining attackers and blockers that currently have double strike. After that step, the phase proceeds to the end of combat step.
510.2Second, all combat damage that’s been assigned is dealt simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. No player has the chance to cast spells or activate abilities between the time combat damage is assigned and the time it’s dealt.