This came up in a game and we had a bit of a dispute about the result

My opponent won an unopposed challenge and played Assault of the Kraken

They initiated another challenge of the same type

I defend but my opponent strength was at least 4 more than my strength

My opponent claimed that using Drumbeater meant the challenge was unopposed

I argued against that as Drumbeater's effect is only "if you win by 4 or more"

At resolution, (before my opponent has won by 4 or more), the challenge is opposed and therefore fizzles

Who's correct?

Assault of the Kraken

Response: After you win an unopposed challenge, you may initiate an additional challenge of the same type this phase (this additional challenge must be the next challenge you initiate). If that additional challenge is opposed, neither player wins the challenge

Drumbeater

Challenges: During a challenge in which you are the attacker, kneel Drumbeater to have that challenge considered unopposed if you win by 4 or more total STR.

Might have to walk me through the scenario again here Hast, as i understand it.

1st challenge is unopposed.
Assault of the kraken is player
2nd challenge is initiated let us say for sake of argument with str total 7
You block challenge with for sake of argument str1
Opponent kneels drumbeater after defenders are declared
Resolution

Is that accurate?

If so as far as i understand the rules drumbeater creates a lasting effect that alters the framework resolution of the challenge to make it unopposed if str attacking is 4 or more then defending.

I would say that this creates the scenario where the challenge is unopposed for challenge resolution and the greyjoy attacking wins and meets the condition of unopposed.

As i can only see the framework event where unopposed is checked that's where i think drumbeater makes AotK work.

If AotK read, if any defenders are declared neither player wins the challenge i would agree with you as its not unopposed thats the condition.

I await correction by greater minds.

You have understood the scenario correctly Underworld

Difficult one ... I obviously could not agree with my opponent during a game situation

Though Drumbeater is a lasting affect, I am swayed by the "if you win" part ... and the wording of AotK suggests the condition has to be met before the winner is determined

... and the wording of AotK suggests the condition has to be met before the winner is determined

But if the status of "unopposed" were not determined until the "award unopposed" framework step, you could never meet that condition before the winner is determined -- two framework steps earlier.

This demonstrates that the status of "unopposed" is established as part of determining the winner/loser of the challenge (which makes sense because a challenge is normally "unopposed" if the defender counts 0 STR, no matter how many participating defenders there might be). The "unopposed" framework step is simply when the power is awarded - not when the status of "unopposed" is determined.

When Drumbeater's effect is active, the definition of "unopposed" changes from "defender counts 0 STR" to "attacker counts 4 or more STR than the defender." Since the status of "unopposed" is established as part of determining the winner/loser of the challenge, and we have established that the Drumbeater's effect is a lasting one that is active during the determination of winner/loser, that changed definition of "unopposed" is applicable when determining the winner of the AotK challenge - and Drumbeater will help drive the AotK challenge home.

So your opponent was right. It kind of comes down to either Drumbeater can be used to make sure the AotK challenge is unopposed, or the AotK challenge can never be successful because the winner is determined before you figure out if the challenge can be won (because it is unopposed).