Can we ninja before the block step?

[Maveric78f]

All is in the title of the thread.

I have a 1/1 in play, I attack with, my opponent controls a 1/2 can I activate ninja of deep hours on my 1/1 before my opponent blocks?

[luma]

Your creature is an attacking creature by the time you get priority. So: yes, you can.

Wrong. Ninjutsu requires you to return an unblocked creature, and attackers don't become "unblocked" before the declare blockers step.




702.46a Ninjutsu is an activated ability that functions only while the card with ninjutsu is in a player’s hand. “Ninjutsu [cost]” means “[Cost], Reveal this card from your hand, Return an unblocked creature you control to its owner’s hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.”


509. Declare Blockers Step
--
509.1h An attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers for it becomes a blocked creature; one with no creatures declared as blockers for it becomes an unblocked creature. This remains unchanged until the creature is removed from combat or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. A creature remains blocked even if all the creatures blocking it are removed from combat. (Some effects can change whether a creature is blocked or unblocked.)

[Nihil Credo]

702.46. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/) Ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu)
702.46a. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/) Ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu) is an activated ability (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#activated_ability) that functions only while the card (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#card) with ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu) is in a player (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#player)'s hand (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#hand). "Ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu) [cost (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#cost)]" means "[Cost (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#cost)], Reveal (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#reveal) this card (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#card) from your (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#you__your) hand (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#hand), Return an unblocked creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#unblocked_creature) you (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#you__your) control (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#control__controller) to its owner (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#owner)'s hand (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#hand): Put this card (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#card) onto the battlefield (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#battlefield) from your (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#you__your) hand (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#hand) tapped (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#tapped) and attacking."
[/URL]

[URL="http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/"]702.46c. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/) A ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu) ability (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ability) may be activated only while a creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#creature) on the battlefield (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#battlefield) is unblocked (see rule 509.1h (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#R509.1h.)). The creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#creature) with ninjutsu (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#ninjutsu) is put onto the battlefield (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#battlefield) unblocked. It will be attacking the same player (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#player) or planeswalker (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#planeswalker) as the creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#creature) that was returned to its owner (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#owner)'s hand (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#hand).



509.1h. (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/) An attacking creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#attacking_creature) with one or more creatures (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#creature) declared as blockers for it becomes (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#becomes) a blocked creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#blocked_creature); one with no creatures (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#creature) declared as blockers for it becomes (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#becomes) an unblocked creature (http://www.yawgatog.com/resources/magic-rules/#unblocked_creature).


It's not the most explicit piece of rule text, but the "becomes" in the last sentence means that the attacking creature is not considered blocked or unblocked until blockers have been declared. In other words, your opponent can block your creature to prevent it from turning into a ninja.

[Skeggi]

Ah I see.

But why did they worded it as "Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand". Why not just an unblocked creature, as unblocked already requires a creature to be attacking?

[citanul]

Because in main phase2 it will be considered unblocked but no longer attacking.
At least that's what I think but it seems to be the only valid reason.

[yggdrasil]

Because in main phase2 it will be considered unblocked but no longer attacking.
No. The status blocked/unblocked is only defined within combat phase. Once combat phase ends, the status is undefined again.

[Raindown]

Additional question:

After opponent does not block it can the ninja comes in, can the Swords to Plowshares the ninja before it does damage?

[quicksilver]

Additional question:

After opponent does not block it can the ninja comes in, can the Swords to Plowshares the ninja before it does damage?

Yes

[Koby]

You can also Ninjutsu a First Striker after first strike damage has been dealt, and deal normal speed damage with the Ninja - effectively making your Ninja have double strike.

You can also Ninjutsu after damage has been dealt but before the Combat Step is completed.

[Raindown]

Does Swording the creature in which the Ninja, is coming in for or replacing, in any way 'disrupt' per se the ninjitsu?

[Koby]

Ninjutsu is an instant effect that reads "<mana cost>, return an unblocked attacker to your hand: Put <this card> into play attacking." In order to prevent ninjutsu from happening, you should remove the creature before it's unblocked (after attackers have been declared).

Of course, if you cast Swords on the creature after blockers have been declared, your opponent could respond with Ninjutsu, saving his creature and countering the removal. You can also just target the removal on the Ninja, but the same combat trick could be used if he has another ninja, indefinitly until he runs out of mana to pay for the ability.

[freakish777]

Additional question:

After opponent does not block it can the ninja comes in, can the Swords to Plowshares the ninja before it does damage?

It's important to note here that if you have another Ninja in your hand, you can ninjutsu it in before Swords resolves.

For instance:

Attack with Savannah Lions.
Opponent declares no blocks.
Ninjutsu in Ninja of the Deep Hours (returning Savannah Lions).
Opponent plays Swords to Plowshares targeting Ninja of the Deep Hours.
Ninjutsu in Throatslitter (returning Ninja of the Deep Hours).

If you suspect your opponent has Ninjas (and they have mana open for multiple Ninjutsus), it's important to play your targeted removal in the declare attackers phase.