Confirmation needed - Theft of Vitae and Carrions Crows

inm8 wrote:

Rémi wrote:

Dear All,

My minion plays carrions crows at superior level and then plays theft of vitae at superior level. Stealing blood should be done before healing normal damage by burning blood.

My question comes from the last part of that ruling: [TOM 19950407]

Opposing minion has 1 blood left.
- Can the opposing minion play Hidden Strength not to go to torpor? I mean, is the blood stolen before the opposing minion can even prevent damage from Carrion Crows?

The effect of the strike Theft of Vitae is applied in the Strike step (4) before the Damage Resolution (5). The scenario would play out in that the opposing minion would be emptied of blood by the Theft of Vitae and would then be sent to torpor by either taking both of the damage points from the superior Carrion Crows or by taking one damage by preventing one damage of the two with Hidden Strength played at no blood cost as the minion doesn’t have any.

Rémi wrote:

- If the opposing minion can pay it, does it means 1 blood is burnt to pay Hidden Strength, so no blood is stolen. Am I right?

The blood is stolen regardless as it happens before as described above. If there was still the two damage points to handle after the stealing of blood and the opposing minion had at least one remaining blood it would be able to avoid going to torpor by using Hidden Strength at a blood cost of one to prevent the two damage points.