<p>No, you cannot.  Going to the graveyard (due to damage) is a State-Based action that happens before either player gets priority.  Without priority, you can't activate Ballista's ability. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>704.3. Whenever a player would get priority (see rule 116, “Timing and Priority”), the game checks for any of the listed conditions for state-based actions, then performs all applicable state-based actions simultaneously as a single event. If any state-based actions are performed as a result of a check, the check is repeated; otherwise all triggered abilities that are waiting to be put on the stack are put on the stack, then the check is repeated. Once no more state-based actions have been performed as the result of a check and no triggered abilities are waiting to be put on the stack, the appropriate player gets priority. </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-08T19:11:17.153Z
2017-02-08T19:11:17.153Z
JonTheMon
<p>Rules Question:  </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Player A attack with 1/2 creature</p></li>
<li><p>Player B block with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWalking%20Ballista%5d">Walking Ballista</a> with 1 +1/+1 counter<br>
And now can player B use Walking Ballista activation ability, after combat damage but before it go to graveyard, to kill 1/2 creature?</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-09T15:40:39.893Z
You could have done this prior to 2010 when they change the rules: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/3265/can-someone-explain-the-damage-on-the-stack-rule-change
GendoIkari
<magic-the-gathering>
Can I deal combat damage with a 1/1 Walking Ballista and deal damage with its ability?
Rivsky
# Can I deal combat damage with a 1/1 Walking Ballista and deal damage with its ability?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-08)

Rules Question:

1. Player A attack with 1/2 creature
2. Player B block with [Walking Ballista](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWalking%20Ballista%5d) with 1 +1/+1 counter  
   And now can player B use Walking Ballista activation ability, after combat damage but before it go to graveyard, to kill 1/2 creature?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You could have done this prior to 2010 when they change the rules: http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/3265/can-someone-explain-the-damage-on-the-stack-rule-change  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-08. Score: 5

No, you cannot. Going to the graveyard (due to damage) is a State-Based action that happens before either player gets priority. Without priority, you can't activate Ballista's ability.

> 704.3. Whenever a player would get priority (see rule 116, “Timing and Priority”), the game checks for any of the listed conditions for state-based actions, then performs all applicable state-based actions simultaneously as a single event. If any state-based actions are performed as a result of a check, the check is repeated; otherwise all triggered abilities that are waiting to be put on the stack are put on the stack, then the check is repeated. Once no more state-based actions have been performed as the result of a check and no triggered abilities are waiting to be put on the stack, the appropriate player gets priority.


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