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Rules Q&A » Post: Coveted Jewel and creatures not declared attacking

Coveted Jewel and creatures not declared attacking

May 2, 2019 11:21:06 PM

Eli Meyer
Judge (Level 2 (Judge Foundry))

USA - Northeast

Coveted Jewel and creatures not declared attacking

Coveted Jewel

“Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls attack you and aren't blocked”

Does this line of text require that the unblocked creature be one that was declared as an attacker? For instance, if my opponent attacks me with [] and I block it but take 8 from the angels, will my opponent gain control of the Jewel?

May 5, 2019 05:58:36 AM

Callum Milne
Forum Moderator
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Western Provinces

Coveted Jewel and creatures not declared attacking

An ability that triggers whenever something “attacks and isn't blocked” triggers if no blockers are declared for that creature, regardless of whether or not the creature was ever actually declared as an attacking creature. If your opponent attacks you with Parhelion II and it gets blocked but the Angels do not, the ability will trigger and your opponent will gain control of the Jewel. (Among its other effects.)

This is laid out in CR509.5g: "An ability that reads “Whenever attacks and isn’t blocked, . . .” triggers if no creatures are declared as blockers for that creature. It will trigger even if the creature was never declared as an attacker (for example, if it entered the battlefield attacking). It won’t trigger if the attacking creature is blocked and then all its blockers are removed from combat."