<p>As with most abilities, you choose the targets as part of placing the ability on the stack. The damage is assigned and resolves before any blockers are declared.</p>

<p>I will cite ikegami's answer from another question related to Thorncaster Sliver.</p>

<p><a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/12644/3128">https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/12644/3128</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Here's what happens:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>You attack with five slivers. Five instances of Thorncaster Sliver's ability triggers</li>
  <li><strong>You place the abilities on the stack in the order of your choice</strong>: (Best order used)
  
  <ol>
  <li>You place PS#1's ability on the stack targeting the 2/2</li>
  <li>You place PS#2's ability on the stack targeting the 2/2</li>
  <li>You place TS's ability on the stack targeting the Blood Artist</li>
  <li>You place MS#1's ability on the stack targeting your opponent</li>
  <li>You place MS#2's ability on the stack targeting your opponent</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><strong>MS#2's ability resolves:</strong>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Deal one damage to your opponent.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><strong>MS#1's ability resolves</strong>:
  
  <ol>
  <li>Deal one damage to your opponent.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li><strong>TS's ability resolves</strong>:
  
  <ol>
  <li>Deal one damage to the Blood Artist</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li>The Blood Artist dies. Blood Artist's ability triggers.</li>
  <li>Your opponent places Blood Artist's ability on the stack targeting you.</li>
  <li>Blood Artist's ability resolves:
  
  <ol>
  <li>You lose one life.</li>
  <li>Your opponent gains one life.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li>PS#2's ability resolves:
  
  <ol>
  <li>Deal one damage to the 2/2.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li>PS#2's ability resolves:
  
  <ol>
  <li>Deal one damage to the 2/2.</li>
  </ol></li>
  <li>The 2/2 dies.</li>
  <li><strong>[Move on the Declare Blockers]</strong></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>The emphasis is mine.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T17:44:59.097Z
2013-08-06T17:51:03.963Z
2017-04-13T12:38:49.990Z
Colin D
<p>Before blockers are declared.</p>

<hr>

<p>First of all, it's not combat damage, so it's not assigned. The ability <em>triggers</em>, the ability is <em>placed on the stack</em>, targets are <em>chosen</em>, the ability <em>resolves</em>, and the Sliver <em>deals damage</em>.</p>

<p>The ability triggers when the Sliver attacks, which means when it's declared as an attacker.</p>

<p>The ability gets placed on the stack the next time a player would get priority [CR 112.3c], which is still within the Declare Attackers step. That means the ability resolves and causes damage to be dealt in that step too.</p>

<p>My <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/12644/3128">earlier answer</a> covers a very similar scenario in detail.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T17:54:36.353Z
2013-08-06T17:54:36.353Z
2017-04-13T12:38:50.177Z
ikegami
<p>If I have 5 slivers and one of them is a Thorncaster, will I need to assign the "1 damage to target creature or player" before or after my opponent declares blockers?</p>

<p>My guess is that it is as I attack, but I would like it to be after blockers are assigned.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T17:46:26.630Z
This is likely a duplicate or can be gleaned from the other questions that have been asked/answered recently relating to Thorncaster Sliver.
Colin D
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T17:55:13.843Z
@ColinD - You are right.  I should have looked at that question.  (Funny that we both used the same example of 5 slivers attacking.)
Vaccano
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-06T21:06:09.803Z
As a side note, you often wouldn't want it to be after blockers are assigned. Since it is before blockers are assigned, you can use the damage to remove potential blockers
bengoesboom
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-08T10:35:58.953Z
I voted to reopen it. I explain why [here](http://meta.boardgames.stackexchange.com/q/1070/2474).
Pablo
<magic-the-gathering>
Does the Thorncaster Sliver's ability damage have to be assigned before or after blockers are declared?
Vaccano
# Does the Thorncaster Sliver's ability damage have to be assigned before or after blockers are declared?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-08-06)

If I have 5 slivers and one of them is a Thorncaster, will I need to assign the "1 damage to target creature or player" before or after my opponent declares blockers?

My guess is that it is as I attack, but I would like it to be after blockers are assigned.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is likely a duplicate or can be gleaned from the other questions that have been asked/answered recently relating to Thorncaster Sliver.  
> **username_0**: @ColinD - You are right.  I should have looked at that question.  (Funny that we both used the same example of 5 slivers attacking.)  
> **username_2**: As a side note, you often wouldn't want it to be after blockers are assigned. Since it is before blockers are assigned, you can use the damage to remove potential blockers  
> **username_3**: I voted to reopen it. I explain why [here](http://meta.boardgames.stackexchange.com/q/1070/2474).  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-08-06. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

As with most abilities, you choose the targets as part of placing the ability on the stack. The damage is assigned and resolves before any blockers are declared.

I will cite username_4's answer from another question related to Thorncaster Sliver.

<https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/12644/3128>

> Here's what happens:
>
> 1. You attack with five slivers. Five instances of Thorncaster Sliver's ability triggers
> 2. **You place the abilities on the stack in the order of your choice**: (Best order used)
>    1. You place PS#1's ability on the stack targeting the 2/2
>    2. You place PS#2's ability on the stack targeting the 2/2
>    3. You place TS's ability on the stack targeting the Blood Artist
>    4. You place MS#1's ability on the stack targeting your opponent
>    5. You place MS#2's ability on the stack targeting your opponent
> 3. **MS#2's ability resolves:**
>    1. Deal one damage to your opponent.
> 4. **MS#1's ability resolves**:
>    1. Deal one damage to your opponent.
> 5. **TS's ability resolves**:
>    1. Deal one damage to the Blood Artist
> 6. The Blood Artist dies. Blood Artist's ability triggers.
> 7. Your opponent places Blood Artist's ability on the stack targeting you.
> 8. Blood Artist's ability resolves:
>    1. You lose one life.
>    2. Your opponent gains one life.
> 9. PS#2's ability resolves:
>    1. Deal one damage to the 2/2.
> 10. PS#2's ability resolves:
>     1. Deal one damage to the 2/2.
> 11. The 2/2 dies.
> 12. **[Move on the Declare Blockers]**

The emphasis is mine.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-08-06. Score: 3

Before blockers are declared.

---

First of all, it's not combat damage, so it's not assigned. The ability *triggers*, the ability is *placed on the stack*, targets are *chosen*, the ability *resolves*, and the Sliver *deals damage*.

The ability triggers when the Sliver attacks, which means when it's declared as an attacker.

The ability gets placed on the stack the next time a player would get priority [CR 112.3c], which is still within the Declare Attackers step. That means the ability resolves and causes damage to be dealt in that step too.

My [earlier answer](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/12644/3128) covers a very similar scenario in detail.


---

