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[QUOTE=Jaggednib]Or is that the point? [/QUOTE]

yup, what you're describing is pretty much the entire point of Magic. =)

He was casting his spell in reaction to the Declare Blockers step which is perfectly normal. here's some reading that should help clear up how the mechanics work out:

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Combat_phase

http://mtgsalvation.com/794-priority-and-the-stack.html

Great, thanks for clarifying and for the links!

The rules from my understanding have now been changed so that after the declared blockers staged instants and abilities can't be played. This isnt to stop giant growths from happening but if someone attacks with a 1/1 llanowar elves and then you say not blocking they cant say tap timberwatch elf make the llanowar elves a 25/25 and your now dead because common sense would say you'd put a blocker in the way to stop yourself from dying.

you understanding is incorrect, players can still cast instants and activate abilities in response to the Declare Blockers step.

http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Declare_Blockers_Step

After reading the rules I'm correct unless you can show me where. In the declare blockers step nothing stacks so if someone does pump something up big i can then declare a defender. In the combat damage phase you cant use the triggered abilities or cast instants so you couldnt for example say after no defenders declared and your then in your combat damage phase couldnt say "before dealing any damage i'll play giant growth".

[QUOTE=dannycolledge] In the declare blockers step nothing stacks[/QUOTE]

what are you basing this on?

here's how combat works:

-Declare Attackers step
attacking player declares his attacking creatures, priority is passed and both players can cast spells or activate abilities in response to this, once this stack is resolved then combat advances to the next step:

-Declare Blockers step
defending player declares which creature is blocking which attacking creature, priority is passed and both players can cast spells or activate abilities in response to this, once this stack is resolved then combat advances to the next step:

-Combat Damage step
this is where the rules have changed, no longer allowing players to respond to this step. damage is all resolved simultaneously without using the stack.


maybe watching this will help clear things up for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d55FQgut1E

yeah thats what i meant. You cant boost an attacker no more just before combat is dealt. I only found out in a tournament when i put firebreathing on a goblin and boosted his attack to 5 after the blockers were declared and they said they wasnt blocking the 1/1 so i thought i'd activate his firebreathing enchantment and got told i couldnt do that since the rules had changed this was bout 2-3 months ago. So is that true or were they cheating.

the change in question was made for m10, about 18 months ago, and only pertains to damage resolution no longer using the stack.

at this point I can't really make this any clearer than I already have, sorry.

[QUOTE=dannycolledge]for example say after no defenders declared and your then in your combat damage phase couldnt say "before dealing any damage i'll play giant growth".[/QUOTE]

I think this is where you're getting it wrong.

in this case the Giant's Growth isn't cast in the Combat Damage step, it's case in response to Declare Blockers. it will resolve before the game proceeds to the Combat Damage.

Thanks for the help clearing it up. I know what you mean by stacking in the combat damage step its made it a lot clearer.