<p>Yes. The combat unrolls as follows:</p>

<ol>
<li>...</li>
<li>[CR 509] Declare Blockers
<ol>
<li>[CR 509.1] Blockers are declared.</li>
<li>[CR 509.2] Damage Assignment order for attacking creatures is decided.</li>
<li>[CR 509.3] Damage Assignment order for blocking creatures is decided.</li>
<li>[CR 509.4-5] Players get priority.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>[CR 510] Combat Damage Step
<ol>
<li>[CR 510.1] Attacker assigns damage.</li>
<li>[CR 510.1] Defender assigns damage.</li>
<li>[CR 510.2] Combat damage is dealt.</li>
<li>[CR 510.3-4] Players get priority.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>...</li>
</ol>

<p>You can cast Giant Growth at the end of the Delcare Blockers step, saving 3 of your four soldiers. Of course, you could have blocked with just one of the Soliders to begin with.</p>

<p>If it was a 4/7 instead of a 4/4, you'd still only lose one Solider and the attacker would still die.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-03T08:39:43.070Z
the choice of example may be a bad one, but considering for example pumping a spider from spider spawning, blocking a large creature, and pumping the first spider with something like spidery grasp, being able to utilise this can be highly relevant.
Patters
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-03T15:49:41.380Z
Of course, I even gave an example where it is relevant.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T21:43:31.627Z
2013-05-31T21:43:31.627Z
ikegami
<p>In response to the comment, it is true that combat damage no longer goes on the stack.  However, the fact that combat damage no longer goes on the stack does not affect the answer to your question.  Assigning the order of blockers is part of the <a href="http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Declare_blockers_step">Declare Blockers step</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>509.2. Second, for each attacking creature that's become blocked, the active player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which
  consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that player's
  choice. (During the combat damage step, an attacking creature can't
  assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless each
  creature ahead of that blocking creature in its order is assigned
  lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>After that, you get priority, still during the Declare Blockers step:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>509.5. Fifth, the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So you can use Giant Growth to save all your soldier tokens.</p>

<p>(Unless the attacking creature has Deathtouch.  In that case, one damage is considered lethal, so a 4/4 can kill four blocking 4/4 creatures.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T11:20:21.470Z
the answer is probably correct, however point 3 implies first strike damage uses the stack
Patters
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T11:26:50.260Z
actually, there's no way this can be correct, it relies on damage using the stack (i.e. you pump with damage on the stack) which is no longer possible, since the magic 2010 rules update.
Patters
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T11:28:35.783Z
@Rawrgramming: You're right, I'll update the answer.
Andomar
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T14:45:17.557Z
First strike damage does not use the stack however it does cause two combat damage steps and between the first and the second, players get priority. This means you can use a first strike 1/1 to damage a 4/4 in the first strike combat damage step and cast lightning bolt before the second combat damage step to kill it before your creature is killed.
Pow-Ian
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-31T11:16:31.410Z
2013-05-31T11:32:26.610Z
2013-05-31T11:32:26.610Z
Andomar
<p>The answer to <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/12091/do-creatures-with-summoning-sickness-deal-damage-while-blocking">this question about blockers and summoning sickness</a>, reminded me of a seldom treaded area of the combat phase, which has caused confusion in a number of games.</p>

<p>When blockers are declared, the attacker chooses the order damage will be assigned to them. Then, they assign damage, assigning at least lethal damage to the first one in line, before moving on to the next, and so on.</p>

<p><strong>Can spells be cast between the ordering of blockers by an attacker, and the damage being assigned?</strong></p>

<p>for example, is blocking a  4/4 creature with 4 1/1 soldier tokens, and then casting <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bGiant%20Growth%5d">Giant Growth</a> on the "first in line" so the other 3 soldiers survive a legal play?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can I pump my blocker after the attacker has chosen their order, before damage assignment?
Patters
# Can I pump my blocker after the attacker has chosen their order, before damage assignment?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-31)

The answer to [this question about blockers and summoning sickness](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/12091/do-creatures-with-summoning-sickness-deal-damage-while-blocking), reminded me of a seldom treaded area of the combat phase, which has caused confusion in a number of games.

When blockers are declared, the attacker chooses the order damage will be assigned to them. Then, they assign damage, assigning at least lethal damage to the first one in line, before moving on to the next, and so on.

**Can spells be cast between the ordering of blockers by an attacker, and the damage being assigned?**

for example, is blocking a 4/4 creature with 4 1/1 soldier tokens, and then casting [Giant Growth](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bGiant%20Growth%5d) on the "first in line" so the other 3 soldiers survive a legal play?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-05-31. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

In response to the comment, it is true that combat damage no longer goes on the stack. However, the fact that combat damage no longer goes on the stack does not affect the answer to your question. Assigning the order of blockers is part of the [Declare Blockers step](http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Declare_blockers_step):

> 509.2. Second, for each attacking creature that's become blocked, the active player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which
> consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that player's
> choice. (During the combat damage step, an attacking creature can't
> assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless each
> creature ahead of that blocking creature in its order is assigned
> lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.

After that, you get priority, still during the Declare Blockers step:

> 509.5. Fifth, the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities.

So you can use Giant Growth to save all your soldier tokens.

(Unless the attacking creature has Deathtouch. In that case, one damage is considered lethal, so a 4/4 can kill four blocking 4/4 creatures.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: the answer is probably correct, however point 3 implies first strike damage uses the stack  
> **username_0**: actually, there's no way this can be correct, it relies on damage using the stack (i.e. you pump with damage on the stack) which is no longer possible, since the magic 2010 rules update.  
> **username_2**: @Rawrgramming: You're right, I'll update the answer.  
> **username_3**: First strike damage does not use the stack however it does cause two combat damage steps and between the first and the second, players get priority. This means you can use a first strike 1/1 to damage a 4/4 in the first strike combat damage step and cast lightning bolt before the second combat damage step to kill it before your creature is killed.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-31. Score: 3

Yes. The combat unrolls as follows:

1. ...
2. [CR 509] Declare Blockers
   1. [CR 509.1] Blockers are declared.
   2. [CR 509.2] Damage Assignment order for attacking creatures is decided.
   3. [CR 509.3] Damage Assignment order for blocking creatures is decided.
   4. [CR 509.4-5] Players get priority.
3. [CR 510] Combat Damage Step
   1. [CR 510.1] Attacker assigns damage.
   2. [CR 510.1] Defender assigns damage.
   3. [CR 510.2] Combat damage is dealt.
   4. [CR 510.3-4] Players get priority.
4. ...

You can cast Giant Growth at the end of the Delcare Blockers step, saving 3 of your four soldiers. Of course, you could have blocked with just one of the Soliders to begin with.

If it was a 4/7 instead of a 4/4, you'd still only lose one Solider and the attacker would still die.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: the choice of example may be a bad one, but considering for example pumping a spider from spider spawning, blocking a large creature, and pumping the first spider with something like spidery grasp, being able to utilise this can be highly relevant.  
> **username_1**: Of course, I even gave an example where it is relevant.  

---

