"perform this attack twice" isn't always treated as a single "attack"

[Cerevant 20]

[This came up during a discussion on Reddit about Blinded Pilot (original core set), and thought it was worthwhile for a broader discussion]

 

There is a common misconception about the "perform this attack twice" (PTAT) FAQ - that because PTAT attacks only have one phase 2 (and prior), and one phase 8 (and later) that it is considered a single attack. This is caused by the the term "attack" being used in three different ways:

• 
  

  "Performing an attack" which includes phase 1 through 10 of a given declared attack (my term, "Declared Attack")

  
  
  
• 
  

  Attack resolution which includes phases 1-9 for additional attacks (my term, "Extra Attack")

  
  
  
• 
  

  "perform this attack twice" (PTAT) second attack which includes phases 2-6 (my term, "PTAT Attack")

  
  
  

 

So yes, PTAT is a single Declared Attack, but PTAT Attacks are not treated entirely as a single attack:

1) The card itself says "perform this attack twice" - there are two attacks

2) Note the following in the timing diagram - the diagram calls each set of rolls of a PTAT an "attack"

• 
  

  Step 6iv: "Determine whether the defender is hit by the attack or the attack misses"

  
  
  
• 
  

  Decision block after 6: "Did the attack hit"

  
  
  
• 
  

  The next decision block: "Is this the first attack from a secondary weapon that says 'Perform this attack twice'"

  
  
  

3) The trigger for Miranda is during phase 2i, and the FAQ indicates that the PTAT is counted as two separate attacks (you can modify the first or the second, but not both).

4) All FAQ/errata that treat PTAT as a single attack do so for effects that fall in phase 1 (declare target), 8 (after attacking) or 9 (after attacking, extra attack). These are the phases that are not part of second PTAT attacks.

 

The conclusion is that any effect that triggers in phases 2-6 ("when attacking", "during the compare results phase", etc.) do so once for each PTAT attack (first and second).  Examples:

• Blinded Pilot (original core set)
  
• Miranda (triggered on both, can only be used once per round)
  
• Crack Shot (triggered on both, but discarded)
  
• Autothrusters
  

Examples of cards that do not trigger twice an a PTAT attack, because they are triggered outside of phases 2-6:

• Blinded Pilot (TFA)
  
• Dengar
  
• Tactician
  
• Gunner
  
• Vader
  

Comments?  Counterexamples?

Edited July 13, 2016 by Cerevant

[digitalbusker 2,248]

Which Blinded Pilot are you talking about? I would think that the TFA version would bypass the entire stack, so it doesn't matter whether the attack you're skipping would be performed once or twice. The old "roll 0 dice" version should work with PTAT as two attacks, though.

[Cerevant 20]

Which Blinded Pilot are you talking about? I would think that the TFA version would bypass the entire stack, so it doesn't matter whether the attack you're skipping would be performed once or twice. The old "roll 0 dice" version should work with PTAT as two attacks, though.

Yes, I meant the old Blinded Pilot.  I'll update the OP

[Cactus 195]

I agree with this analysis and it's inspired me to try Tomax Bren with crack shot and cluster missiles.

[Dr Zoidberg 3,200]

I agree with this analysis and it's inspired me to try Tomax Bren with crack shot and cluster missiles.

 

Careful; Tomax's ability only works once a round.  If you spend your Crack Shot twice during a cluster missile attack; it's gone for good.

[thespaceinvader 17,568]

 

I agree with this analysis and it's inspired me to try Tomax Bren with crack shot and cluster missiles.

 

Careful; Tomax's ability only works once a round.  If you spend your Crack Shot twice during a cluster missile attack; it's gone for good.

 

THis is how I expect Tomax to work:

 

Fly into range 3 with Some sort of 2-3 ordnance and Chips.  Fire, crack shot.

Fly into range 2 with cluster missiles, fire, double crack shot, die having hopefully done more damage than his points.