Does Propaganda Stop Goad? A Comprehensive Magic: The Gathering Guide
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The interaction between Goad and effects like Propaganda can be complex for even seasoned Magic: The Gathering players. The core question often arises: Does Propaganda, or similar effects that impose a cost to attack, stop a creature that is goaded? The short answer is: No, Propaganda does not stop a goaded creature from attacking, but it introduces a choice for the controller of the goaded creature.
Let’s break it down to understand the nuances involved.
Understanding Goad
Goad is a designation placed on a creature that forces specific attack requirements. Here’s what you need to know:
- A goaded creature must attack if able.
- It must attack a player other than the player that goaded it, if able.
- The controller of the goaded creature chooses who it attacks.
- The goad effect lasts until the beginning of the goading player’s next turn.
- If there are no eligible players to attack (in a 1v1, or if other players have protection), a goaded creature can attack a planeswalker.
- If a goaded creature is tapped or has defender, it cannot attack.
The key part here is the requirement: “it must attack if able.”
Understanding Propaganda-like Effects
Cards like Propaganda, Ghostly Prison, and others create a cost to attack. These cards state that a player must pay a certain amount of mana for each creature they attack with targeting a player. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll refer to all effects like these as “Propaganda effects.”
These effects state that “Creatures can’t attack you unless their controller pays [mana cost] for each of those creatures.”
The Crucial Interaction
The conflict arises because Propaganda effects make it seem that the controller of a goaded creature could opt out of attacking by simply not paying the cost. However, the crucial rules interaction comes down to this:
- Goad states a creature must attack, if able. Propaganda states an additional cost must be paid to attack.
- The controller of the goaded creature can choose to not pay the Propaganda cost.
- If the cost isn’t paid, the goaded creature does not attack.
- This satisfies the “if able” clause on the goad requirement.
So, the controller of a goaded creature facing a Propaganda effect has a choice:
- Pay the mana: The creature attacks as directed by the goad.
- Do not pay the mana: The creature does not attack, thus avoiding the cost, but still fulfills the “if able” condition of goad.
Therefore, Propaganda doesn’t stop the goad, but it provides the controller a way to avoid an attack, without breaking any rules. The controller of the goaded creature chooses whether or not to pay the additional cost.
The Nuances
There are a few specific situations where understanding the rules of goad becomes important.
- If the goaded creature is unable to attack for any other reason, such as being tapped or having defender, it will not attack even if a Propaganda effect is in play.
- If the player is in a 1v1 with only one other opponent, the goaded creature must still attack, even if that means they attack the opponent who played the goad effect.
Conclusion
While Propaganda effects introduce an additional cost to attack, they do not negate the goad requirement. They simply give the controller of the goaded creature a decision: pay the cost and attack, or don’t pay and stay put. Understanding this interaction is crucial for mastering more complex game scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Goad in Magic: The Gathering?
Goad is a keyword ability that forces a creature to attack during its controller’s turn, if able. The goaded creature must attack a player other than the one who goaded it.
2. How long does the goad effect last?
A creature is goaded until the end of the turn that the goad was applied. Usually, this means it’s until the start of the player’s next turn who used the goad effect.
3. Can a goaded creature attack a planeswalker?
Yes, if a goaded creature cannot attack another player for any reason (e.g., in a 1v1 situation, or all other players have protection), it must attack a planeswalker controlled by a player who can be attacked.
4. Can I goad a creature I control?
Yes, you can goad a creature you control. However, if you attempt to goad the same creature again, it has no effect.
5. What happens if multiple players goad the same creature?
If multiple players goad the same creature, it creates additional attack requirements. A creature will have to follow each instance of the goad if able, but only once per player per effect.
6. How does goad work in 1v1 games?
In a 1v1 game, a goaded creature must attack the player who used the goad ability, since there is no other opponent to attack.
7. What’s the difference between “goad” and “goaded”?
“Goad” is the action of applying the goad effect to a creature, while “goaded” is the state the creature is in, indicating it is affected by the goad effect.
8. Can a creature with summoning sickness be goaded?
Yes, a creature with summoning sickness can be goaded, but it will not attack unless it also has haste. The summoning sickness restriction prevents it from attacking on the turn it enters play, even if goaded.
9. Can a creature with defender be goaded?
No. Goad creates two attack requirements: first, it must attack if able. Because defender prevents a creature from attacking, a creature with defender is not able to attack.
10. Does goad override other attack restrictions?
Goad does not override other attack restrictions, such as a tapped creature, or a creature with defender. It simply dictates the target for attack if the creature is able to attack.
11. If a creature has an ability that would prevent it from attacking do they still have to follow goad?
The creature would not have to attack if some condition would prevent the attack outside of the players control.
12. Does Goad work against creatures that have protection?
If a player has protection from the player who played the goad effect, the goaded creature can choose to attack other players. If no other options are available to attack, the goaded creature can choose to attack a planeswalker.
13. What if a creature has an attack cost, can the controller still choose not to attack?
Yes, similar to Propaganda, an additional attack cost can be used as a reason to choose not to attack with the goaded creature.
14. Can a goaded creature still block?
Yes, the goad effect only applies to attacking requirements. It does not prevent a goaded creature from blocking unless another effect such as on “Insufferable Balladeer” states the creature is unable to block.
15. Are there any other similar effects that can conflict with goad?
Effects that require payment to attack (like Propaganda) are the main conflict with goad. Understanding that these create a choice for the controller of the goaded creature is key to resolving those interactions.