Hello, I have a question to do with the requirement to "block this turn if able" from Grappling Hook, in conjunction with additional combat phases, such as granted by Godo, Bandit Warlord.

At the moment Godo's attack trigger resolves, the game knows there are going to be 2 combat phases this turn.

Let's assume Godo is carrying the Grappling Hook, and chooses to force an opponent's Silklash Spider (2/7) to block. (I chose a creature such that both Godo and the blocker will survive combat).

When we interpret block requirements in our first combat phase, I can see a few ways of interpreting grappling Hook's ability:

1) Grappling Hook says the spider must block this turn. This means it must block in all combat phases during this turn.

2) Grappling Hook says the spider must block this turn. This means it must block in at least one combat phase this turn.
a) The game can see there will be at least 2 combat phases. As such, the spider is not required to block in the first combat phase, but if it chooses not to itwill be required to block in the second combat phase.
b) The game doesn't care that more combat phases are coming. The spider is required to block in the first combat phase, and if it does, is no longer required to block in the second combat phase, because the requirement to block this turn has already been met.

Thanks!

The Spider has to block Godo during the first combat phase, but it does not have to block during the second combat phase.

The Spider has to block Godo that turn if able. During the declare blockers step of the first combat phase, the Spider sees that it's being affected by a requirement that it hasn't fulfilled yet (it hasn't blocked Godo this turn), so it has to block during the first combat phase. When the second combat phase comes around, the same requirement is still around, but it's been fulfilled (since the Spider has blocked Godo this turn), so the Spider does not have to block Godo the second combat phase.

Even if you target the Spider again with the Hook's ability during the second combat phase, it still doesn't have to block. It's being affected by two requirements, but those were both fulfilled during the first combat phase, so it still would not have to block Godo during the second combat phase.

Nathan Long
Wizards.Com Boards NetRep