Combat phase

The combat phase is the third phase in a turn, and has five steps in this order:

• Beginning of Combat Step
• Declare Attackers Step
• Declare Blockers Step
• Combat Damage Step
• End of Combat Step

If no creatures are declared as attackers, the declare blockers step and combat damage step are skipped. If any attacking or blocking creatures has First Strike or Double Strike, there are two combat damage steps.

A creature is removed from combat if:

• it leaves play
• it regenerates [CR 419.6b]
• its controller changes
• it stops being a creature
• an effect removes it from combat

When a creature is removed from combat it stops being an attacking, blocking, blocked, and/or unblocked creature.

If a creature has been declared as an attacking or blocking creature, spells or abilities that would have kept that creature from attacking or blocking do not remove the creature from combat.

Example
If a player would want to cast an Off Balance it must be done before a creature has been declared attacker or blocker. Otherwise it will have no effect.

Tapping or untapping a creature that’s already been declared as an attacker or blocker doesn’t remove it from combat and doesn’t prevent its combat damage. (This is contrary to pre-sixth edition rules.)