Pointed Discussion

Under new combat rules this guy loses some of its potential, but my inner johnny intuitively knows that there are many combos that can be used with this ability.

how?
this can be tapped before the damage resolve.

One word: Vigilance :D

Just to clear this up, when I tap this card to gain 3 power and toughness, I cannot** attack with it? Or is it when I tap this card to attack it gains 3 power and toughness?

This and freed from the real is U: Boa Constrictor gets +3/+3 until end of turn. This and Umbral Mantle is 2: Boa Constrictor gets +5/+5 until end of turn. It has potential, in the right deck.

Throw on an Umbral Mantle and go nuts.

It's like Abbey Matron except kind of practical. : o

@SavageBrain89: How exactly does this lose some of its potential under the new damage rules? As Ignaser said, it can still be tapped before the combat damage step.

@TanPaper: Your first assumption would be correct; you tap the Boa Constrictor to give it +3/+3 - the ability doesn't trigger when you attack. Boa Constrictor is meant to be a blocker; your opponent attacks with a creature, you block with Boa Constrictor and tap the Boa in response to the combat damage step to give it +3/+3, making your blocker 6/6. Tapping a creature during combat does not remove it from combat, so even though Boa Constrictor is now tapped, it is still blocking the attacking creature, and it's now a 6/6 as opposed to a 3/3.

IIRC when MM got out tapped blockers didn't deal damage. So this was kinda 3/3 or 0/6.

Vault Skyward

Pemmin's Aura you say?

How awkward. I suppose it's a nice blocker, and an ideal candidate to give vigilance one way or another.