While playing in (another) local PTQ against a familiar opponent, Alfred controls an Angelic Skirmisher, Frontline Medic and 2 Serra Angels, while Mr. Nigma has 3 Hamlet Captains and a Feral Ridgewolf on the battlefield.
As before, Alfred declares all four of his creatures as attacking.
Before declaring blockers, Mr. Nigma again casts Tower Defense, then declares his Hamlet Captains as blocking the Angelic Skirmisher and each of the Serra Angels.
Before moving to Combat Damage, Mr. Nigma also casts a Searing Spear, targeting the Frontline Medic. Alfred sighs and puts the Medic in the graveyard.
The players move to combat damage, where things become confused and they call for a judge. While both players are agreeing that all of Alfred’s creatures should be in the Graveyard, Alfred maintains that his creatures have lifelink from the Skirmisher and he should be gaining 12 life.
How many triggers (if any) have been forgotten and why?
Judges, feel free to discuss this scenario here!
View AnswerIn this example, the Angelic Skirmisher, Frontline Medic and Hamlet Captain are cards with triggers.
Angelic Skirmisher triggers at the beginning of combat and requires the controller to make a choice upon resolution, falling into the “A triggered ability that causes a change in the visible game state (including life totals) or requires a choice upon resolution”. Given that Alfred makes no mention of this trigger before moving to declaring attackers, he has missed that trigger (and thus will not be gaining any life later in combat).
Via its Battalion ability, Frontline Medic makes all of Alfred’s creatures indestructible. This is “ A triggered ability that affects the game state in non-visible ways” and it is not necessary to make anyone aware of the trigger until it becomes relevant to the game. In this case, it would be the first time one of his creatures takes lethal damage from a source – specifically, when the Frontline Medic itself takes 3 damage from the Searing Spear. Since Alfred puts the creature in the graveyard, he has clearly missed the trigger.
The Hamlet Captains all have the ability to make other humans Mr Nigma controls bigger – this is “A triggered ability that affects the game state in non-visible ways”, which is only relevant if something tries to interact with the Hamlet Captains. The first time this happens is during combat damage – given that both players agree that all of Alfred’s creatures should be in the graveyard – and this is only possible if the Hamlet Captains have 4 or more power (they each should be 4/9 creatures with reach), Mr Nigma has remembered his triggers.