Rule evolution

Rule 508.4

Previously numbered 508.5, 508.3.

Earliest archived Rules release: 2009-10-01 · 3 wording revisions · 3 renumberings

  1. Earliest archived Rules release508.5Details
    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it's attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it's attacking). Such creatures are "attacking" but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never "attacked."
  2. Renumbered508.5 → 508.4Details

    Previously
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    Then
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it's attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it's attacking). Such creatures are "attacking" but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never "attacked."
  3. Renumbered508.4 → 508.3Details

    Previously
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    Then
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it’s attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it’s attacking). Such creatures are “attacking” but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never “attacked.”
  4. Renumbered508.3 → 508.4Details

    Previously
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    Then
    5. Turn Structure
    508. Declare Attackers Step

    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it’s attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it’s attacking). Such creatures are “attacking” but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never “attacked.”
  5. Wording changed508.4Details
    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it's attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it's attacking). Similarly, if an effect states that a creature is attacking, its controller chooses which defending player or which planeswalker a defending player controls it's attacking it becomes attacking (unless the effect has already specified). Such creatures are "attacking" but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never "attacked."
  6. Wording changed508.4Details
    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player, or which planeswalker a defending player controls, or battle a defending player protects it's attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it's attacking). Similarly, if an effect states that a creature is attacking, its controller chooses which defending player, or which planeswalker a defending player controls, or battle a defending player protects it's attacking it becomes attacking (unless the effect has already specified). Such creatures are "attacking" but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never "attacked."
  7. Wording changed508.4Details
    If a creature is put onto the battlefield attacking, its controller chooses which defending player, planeswalker a defending player controls, or battle a defending player protects it's attacking as it enters the battlefield (unless the effect that put it onto the battlefield specifies what it's attacking). Similarly, if an effect states that a creature is attacking, its controller chooses which defending player, planeswalker a defending player controls, or battle a defending player protects it's attacking (unless the effect has already specified). Such creatures are "attacking" but, for the purposes of trigger events and effects, they never "attacked." They remain attacking creatures until they're removed from combat or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first.

Current in the latest available Rules
Unchanged since 2026-08-07.