E.7 - Is Not Blocked Ability


Return to Rules Index

E.7.1- An ability written as "If attacks and is not blocked, you [may] do " is known as an 'Is Not Blocked' ability or as a 'saboteur' ability. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03]

Top

E.7.2- This is a triggered ability (see Rule A.4) that triggers on the declaration of blockers if the creature is attacking and it was not blocked. [Aahz 1997/08/18] If the ability is optional, you have to decide at that time if you want to play it. You cannot wait until later. [Aahz 1997/03/17]

Top

E.7.3- If a creature has multiple Is Not Blocked abilities, even multiple copies of the same ability, all of them can be used. [Duelist Magazine #4, Page 6, 1995/02/01]

Top

E.7.Ruling.1- Some of these abilities have a targeted part and an untargeted part of making the attacking creature not deal damage. If the targeted part of the ability finds its target is illegal, then the untargeted part is ignored (see Rule G.39.6). [Duelist Magazine #6, Page 132, 1995/08/01] It is common for the untargeted part to be "this creature deals no damage", which is ignored if the target is illegal. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03]

Top

E.7.Ruling.2- The ability can be used even if a fog effect (see Rule E.6) or some other Is Not Blocked ability has made it so the creature cannot deal damage. [Duelist Magazine #4, Page 6, 1995/02/01]

Top


Acknowledgments and Disclaimers