<p>This would not work how you want it to. Because of the timing for the different triggers in this scenario.</p>

<p>There are 5 parts of the combat phase:</p>

<ol>
<li>Beginning of Combat</li>
<li>Declare Attackers</li>
<li>Declare Blockers</li>
<li>Combat Damage</li>
<li>End of Combat</li>
</ol>

<p>The trigger from Spiteful Returned triggers is "Whenever Spiteful Returned or enchanted creature attacks", this means that it will trigger during the Declare Attackers step. While the Master's trigger is "Whenever Master of Cruelties attacks a player and isn't blocked", this means that it will trigger during the Declare Blockers step long after the trigger from the Returned has been put on the stack and resolved.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>508.3a</strong> An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks, . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker. Similarly, “Whenever [a creature] attacks [a player or planeswalker], . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player or planeswalker. Such abilities won’t trigger if a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking.</p>
  
  <p><strong>508.3d</strong> An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks and isn’t blocked, . . .” triggers during the declare blockers step, <strong>not the declare attackers step.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T14:47:33.807Z
2017-10-13T14:47:33.807Z
diego
<p>No, I don't believe it would.</p>

<p><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=378456" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Spiteful Return</a> says that your opponent loses 2 life when the enchanted creature attacks, but <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=368981" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Master of Cruelties</a> says that it reduces your opponent's life to one when it attacks <i>and isn't blocked</i>. </p>

<p>As such, I'm pretty sure that when you declare the enchanted Master as an attacker, the Spiteful effect would trigger, then blockers would have to be declared. If they then don't block, <i>then</i> Master's effect will trigger, reducing their life to one regardless of the Spiteful's life loss.</p>

<p>There's even a ruling on the card that backs this up on the Gatherer page for Master -</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T14:43:36.710Z
2017-10-13T14:43:36.710Z
CDClarke
<p>If I enchanted <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMaster%20of%20Cruelties%5d">Master of Cruelties</a> with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpiteful%20Returned%5d">Spiteful Returned</a>, would this create a potential one–hit combo?<br>
If your opponent doesn't block it, then the Master of Cruelties would drop your opponent to 1, and then the Spiteful Return as an enchantment would deal 2 damage. </p>

<magic-the-gathering><deck-building>
Master of Cruelties Spiteful Returned Combo
Lord Shadowheim 
# Master of Cruelties Spiteful Returned Combo

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-13)

If I enchanted [Master of Cruelties](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMaster%20of%20Cruelties%5d) with [Spiteful Returned](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSpiteful%20Returned%5d), would this create a potential one–hit combo?  
If your opponent doesn't block it, then the Master of Cruelties would drop your opponent to 1, and then the Spiteful Return as an enchantment would deal 2 damage.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, deck-building


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-10-13. Score: 11

This would not work how you want it to. Because of the timing for the different triggers in this scenario.

There are 5 parts of the combat phase:

1. Beginning of Combat
2. Declare Attackers
3. Declare Blockers
4. Combat Damage
5. End of Combat

The trigger from Spiteful Returned triggers is "Whenever Spiteful Returned or enchanted creature attacks", this means that it will trigger during the Declare Attackers step. While the Master's trigger is "Whenever Master of Cruelties attacks a player and isn't blocked", this means that it will trigger during the Declare Blockers step long after the trigger from the Returned has been put on the stack and resolved.

> **508.3a** An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks, . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker. Similarly, “Whenever [a creature] attacks [a player or planeswalker], . . .” triggers if that creature is declared as an attacker attacking that player or planeswalker. Such abilities won’t trigger if a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking.
>
> **508.3d** An ability that reads “Whenever [a creature] attacks and isn’t blocked, . . .” triggers during the declare blockers step, **not the declare attackers step.**


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-10-13. Score: 4

No, I don't believe it would.

[Spiteful Return](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=378456) says that your opponent loses 2 life when the enchanted creature attacks, but [Master of Cruelties](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=368981) says that it reduces your opponent's life to one when it attacks *and isn't blocked*.

As such, I'm pretty sure that when you declare the enchanted Master as an attacker, the Spiteful effect would trigger, then blockers would have to be declared. If they then don't block, *then* Master's effect will trigger, reducing their life to one regardless of the Spiteful's life loss.

There's even a ruling on the card that backs this up on the Gatherer page for Master -

> An ability that triggers when something “attacks and isn’t blocked” triggers in the declare blockers step after blockers are declared if (1) that creature is attacking and (2) no creatures are declared to block it. It will trigger even if that creature was put onto the battlefield attacking rather than having been declared as an attacker in the declare attackers step.


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