<p>No. For this particular combination of cards, there is no time during which the Matsu-Tribe Decoy is a legal target for Trap Runner's ability.</p>

<p>The Oracle text for Trap Runner's ability says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Target unblocked attacking creature becomes blocked. Activate this ability only during combat after blockers are declared. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Since this ability can only be activated after blockers are declared, Trap Runner would first have to block the Decoy... but then the Decoy is no longer an <strong>unblocked</strong> attacking creature.</p>

<hr>

<p>Note also that your question asks about making the Trap Runner an "illegal target" for the Decoy's ability. Nothing about the Decoy's target being tapped (or otherwise unable to block) would make it an <em>illegal</em> target... just not one worth spending the mana on.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-15T13:22:42.040Z
Why can this ability only be used after blockers are declared?  Edit: NM, found the relevant rule; 509.1h governs when an attacker becomes a unblocked attacker, so before blockers are declared there is no legal targets.
Taemyr
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-15T14:32:24.733Z
While you are correct, and there is no such thing as an "unblocked" attacker before blockers have been declared, note also that Trap Runner explicitly specifies this window in its oracle text, so it would be true even if 509.1h didn't exist.
Ben P.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-13T22:49:50.383Z
2019-10-13T22:49:50.383Z
Ben P.
<p>If I activate <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMatsu-Tribe%20Decoy%5d">Matsu-Tribe Decoy</a>'s ability targeting opponent's <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTrap%20Runner%5d">Trap Runner</a>, can he activate Trap Runner's ability, blocking my creature, and making Trap Runner an illegal target for Matsu-Tribe Decoy's ability?</p>

<p><a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=75247" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=75247</a>
<a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=22288" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=22288</a></p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Matsu-Tribe Decoy vs. Trap Runner
Filipe Ramos
# Matsu-Tribe Decoy vs. Trap Runner

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-13)

If I activate [Matsu-Tribe Decoy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMatsu-Tribe%20Decoy%5d)'s ability targeting opponent's [Trap Runner](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTrap%20Runner%5d), can he activate Trap Runner's ability, blocking my creature, and making Trap Runner an illegal target for Matsu-Tribe Decoy's ability?

<https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=75247>
<https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=22288>

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

No. For this particular combination of cards, there is no time during which the Matsu-Tribe Decoy is a legal target for Trap Runner's ability.

The Oracle text for Trap Runner's ability says:

> Target unblocked attacking creature becomes blocked. Activate this ability only during combat after blockers are declared.

Since this ability can only be activated after blockers are declared, Trap Runner would first have to block the Decoy... but then the Decoy is no longer an **unblocked** attacking creature.

---

Note also that your question asks about making the Trap Runner an "illegal target" for the Decoy's ability. Nothing about the Decoy's target being tapped (or otherwise unable to block) would make it an *illegal* target... just not one worth spending the mana on.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Why can this ability only be used after blockers are declared?  Edit: NM, found the relevant rule; 509.1h governs when an attacker becomes a unblocked attacker, so before blockers are declared there is no legal targets.  
> **username_1**: While you are correct, and there is no such thing as an "unblocked" attacker before blockers have been declared, note also that Trap Runner explicitly specifies this window in its oracle text, so it would be true even if 509.1h didn't exist.  

---

