MTG Timing: Embercleave & Attack Triggers Explained

Hey guys, let's dive deep into a classic Magic: The Gathering timing puzzle! We're going to break down the interaction between declaring attackers, attack triggers, and when a creature is actually considered an "attacking creature." Specifically, we'll tackle a scenario involving Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer, and the powerhouse equipment, Embercleave. Understanding this timing is crucial for optimizing your plays and knowing when you can squeeze in those game-changing instants.

The Core Question: Embercleave Before or After the Trigger?

Our main question revolves around this scenario: If you attack with Jor Kadeen, can you cast Embercleave for its reduced cost before Jor Kadeen’s attack trigger resolves? Doing so would potentially pump Jor Kadeen to a 4/4 (or bigger, depending on your artifacts) and let you draw a card from Embercleave's triggered ability. Or are you stuck paying the full mana cost if you wait until after the trigger? This is where understanding the stack, priority, and the specific timing steps of the combat phase becomes essential.

Why does this matter? Well, efficiency is king in Magic. Saving mana can be the difference between casting another spell, holding up a counterspell, or simply developing your board further. In this case, saving one mana on Embercleave can be a huge tempo swing. Plus, knowing the timing allows you to maximize the card draw from Embercleave, potentially digging for answers or further threats. It's about getting the most value out of every card and every mana you spend. Let's unravel the mechanics step by step to get to the bottom of this.

Breaking Down the Combat Phase: A Step-by-Step Guide

To answer the Embercleave question, we need to dissect the combat phase. It's not just one big chaotic brawl; it's a carefully choreographed dance with distinct steps, each offering opportunities for players to act.

1. Beginning of Combat Step: This is the calm before the storm. No attackers or blockers have been declared yet. This is a prime time for spells and abilities that affect the upcoming combat, such as pre-combat removal or pump spells.
2. Declare Attackers Step: This is where you choose which creatures will attack. You tap them (if needed) and declare them as attackers. This is a key moment for our question, so let's zoom in:
   • You declare your attackers, including Jor Kadeen.
   • Triggered abilities that trigger on attacking (like Jor Kadeen's ability) go on the stack. Importantly, these triggers are put on the stack after attackers are declared, but before anyone gets priority to cast spells or activate abilities.
3. Declare Blockers Step: Your opponent now chooses which creatures, if any, will block your attackers.
4. Combat Damage Step: This is where the actual fighting happens. Creatures deal combat damage to each other based on their power and toughness.
5. End of Combat Step: Combat is over. Any creatures that dealt damage stay on the battlefield (unless they were destroyed), and any effects that lasted "until end of combat" expire.

The crucial step for our scenario is the Declare Attackers Step. Remember, Jor Kadeen's ability triggers when it attacks. So, the trigger goes on the stack immediately after you declare it as an attacker, but before you or your opponent can do anything else. This is where the timing gets interesting.

The Stack: A Quick Refresher

Before we continue, let's briefly revisit the concept of the stack. The stack is like a temporary holding zone for spells and abilities. When a spell is cast or an ability is activated, it goes on the stack. Players can then respond by casting more spells or activating more abilities, adding them to the stack on top of the previous ones. The stack resolves in a Last In, First Out (LIFO) order. The last spell or ability added to the stack is the first one to resolve.

This is vital because it dictates the order in which things happen in the game. Knowing how to use the stack to your advantage is a core skill in Magic.

Unpacking the Jor Kadeen and Embercleave Interaction

Okay, back to our original question. You declare Jor Kadeen as an attacker. Boom! Its triggered ability (making your creatures with power 2 or less get +1/+0) goes on the stack. Now, here’s the critical part: You gain priority. This means you have the opportunity to cast spells or activate abilities before Jor Kadeen’s trigger resolves.

Priority is the key to the whole puzzle. After a spell or ability is put on the stack, the active player (the player whose turn it is) gets priority. They can choose to cast another spell, activate an ability, or simply pass priority. If they pass, the other player gets priority. This back-and-forth continues until all players pass priority in succession. Only then does the top item on the stack resolve.

So, in our scenario, after Jor Kadeen’s trigger goes on the stack, you have priority. This means you can absolutely cast Embercleave before Jor Kadeen’s ability resolves! This is awesome news because it allows you to potentially reduce Embercleave's cost. Here’s how it plays out:

1. You declare Jor Kadeen as an attacker.
2. Jor Kadeen's ability triggers and goes on the stack.
3. You gain priority.
4. You cast Embercleave. Crucially, you can tap your artifacts before Jor Kadeen's ability resolves. This means if you control three or more artifacts (including Jor Kadeen itself), Jor Kadeen will count towards the artifact total when Embercleave's cost reduction is calculated.
5. Embercleave goes on the stack, on top of Jor Kadeen's trigger.
6. Your opponent gets priority. If they don't respond, you retain priority again.
7. You pass priority.
8. If your opponent also passes, Embercleave resolves, attaching to Jor Kadeen (or another attacking creature).
9. Now, Jor Kadeen's ability finally resolves, potentially pumping your other creatures.

The result? You’ve potentially saved mana on Embercleave and made Jor Kadeen (or another creature) a bigger threat. And if Embercleave attaches to Jor Kadeen, its triggered ability will draw you a card at the beginning of the combat damage step since Jor Kadeen will likely have power 4 or greater.

Maximizing Value: Timing is Everything

This example perfectly illustrates the importance of understanding timing in Magic. By correctly sequencing your plays and leveraging the stack, you can gain significant advantages. In this case, you’ve potentially saved mana, drawn a card, and made your attacker more powerful – all by knowing when you can cast Embercleave.

Let's recap the key takeaways:

• Attack triggers go on the stack after attackers are declared but before you get priority.
• You get priority after an ability goes on the stack, allowing you to cast spells and activate abilities.
• You can cast Embercleave before Jor Kadeen's ability resolves, potentially reducing its cost and triggering the card draw.

Beyond Jor Kadeen: Other Timing Considerations

The principles we've discussed here extend far beyond the Jor Kadeen and Embercleave scenario. There are countless situations in Magic where understanding timing is crucial. Consider these examples:

• Triggered abilities that trigger "when this creature attacks": These abilities always go on the stack after attackers are declared, but before you can cast instants. This is consistent across all similar triggers.
• Spells that affect combat: If you want to cast a pump spell or a removal spell during combat, you need to consider when your opponent has priority. If they respond to your initial spell, the stack order might not play out as you expect. The same holds true if they have instant-speed removal for the equipped creature in response to Embercleave's equip.
• Abilities that trigger on entering the battlefield: If you cast a creature that triggers on entering the battlefield, that ability goes on the stack before you can do anything else. This can be relevant if you need to tap that creature for mana or an ability.

Mastering the timing of spells and abilities is a continuous learning process in Magic. The more you play, the more you'll internalize these concepts and be able to make the most advantageous plays. Don't be afraid to ask questions, experiment with different scenarios, and analyze how the stack works in real game situations. The rewards for mastering timing are well worth the effort!

Conclusion: Become a Timing Master!

Understanding the intricacies of the combat phase, the stack, and priority is essential for any serious Magic player. The interaction between Jor Kadeen and Embercleave is a perfect example of how knowing these rules can translate into real advantages in-game. By remembering that attack triggers go on the stack before you get priority, you can cast Embercleave at the most opportune moment, saving mana and potentially drawing cards.

So, next time you're in a tight spot during combat, remember the lessons we've discussed today. Think about the stack, consider your priority, and make the play that maximizes your chances of victory. Keep practicing, keep learning, and keep mastering the art of timing in Magic: The Gathering. Good luck, and happy dueling!