Can I pump a creature after blockers are declared?

Can I Pump a Creature After Blockers Are Declared?

When it comes to Magic: The Gathering, understanding the rules of combat is crucial to success. One of the most important aspects of combat is the ability to pump your creatures, increasing their power and toughness. But when can you do this? Can you pump a creature after blockers are declared? In this article, we’ll dive into the answer and explore the ins and outs of pumping creatures in Magic: The Gathering.

Direct Answer

Yes, you can play pump spells during the priority phase of the Declare Blockers Step. This means that after blockers have been assigned, but before damage is dealt, you have a chance to pump your creatures based on how your opponent blocks.

Understanding the Declare Blockers Step

The Declare Blockers Step is the third of four combat steps in Magic: The Gathering. During this step, the defending player declares which creatures will block the attacking creatures. The attacking player then declares which blocking creatures will be targeted by the attacking creatures. This step is crucial because it determines which creatures will be blocked and which will not.

Pumping Creatures

Pumping creatures is a key strategy in Magic: The Gathering. By increasing the power and toughness of your creatures, you can make them more formidable on the battlefield. There are several ways to pump creatures, including:

• Pump Spells: These are spells that specifically increase the power and toughness of creatures. Examples include Lifecraft Awakening and Frenzied Fugue.
• Abilities: Some creatures have abilities that allow them to pump themselves or other creatures. Examples include Goblin Warchief and Rhox Faithmender.
• Equipment: Some equipment cards, such as Auras, can pump the creatures they equip.

Can You Pump a Creature After Blockers Are Declared?

As mentioned earlier, you can play pump spells during the priority phase of the Declare Blockers Step. This means that after blockers have been assigned, but before damage is dealt, you have a chance to pump your creatures based on how your opponent blocks.

Here are some key points to consider:

• You can play pump spells during the priority phase of the Declare Blockers Step.
• This means you can pump your creatures after blockers have been assigned.
• You cannot pump your creatures during the Declare Attackers Step.
• You cannot pump your creatures during the Declare Blockers Step.

Examples

Let’s consider an example to illustrate this concept. Suppose you’re playing a game of Magic: The Gathering and you have a creature with 2 power and 2 toughness. Your opponent has a creature with 3 power and 3 toughness. You decide to play a pump spell that increases the power and toughness of your creature by 2. If you play this spell during the Declare Blockers Step, your creature will become a 4/4 and will not be blocked by your opponent’s creature. If you play this spell during the Declare Attackers Step, your creature will still have 2 power and 2 toughness, and your opponent’s creature will still block it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, you can pump a creature after blockers are declared. This is because the Declare Blockers Step is the third of four combat steps, and the priority phase of this step is when you can play pump spells. By understanding when you can pump your creatures, you can make informed decisions during combat and gain an advantage over your opponents.