"Attacks that player this combat if able" can force creatures to attack dead players

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If a [[Ruhan of the Fomori]] randomly selects (during the 'Beginning of Combat Step') Player A to be attacked, and Player A is killed before the 'Declare Attackers' step (e.g. via the effects of a [[Door to Nothingness]]), then Ruhan will still be forced to attack that dead player. Ruhan should not be forced to attack a player who is not in the game, and the expected outcome would be that his ability is nullified and his controller may choose someone else to attack, or choose not to attack with Ruhan at all. See the ruling below:

If Ruhan isn’t forced to attack the chosen player for one of the above reasons but can still attack, you may choose to have Ruhan attack another player, attack a planeswalker, or not attack at all.

This issue is not exclusive to Ruhan, and affects other cards with similar effects, such as [[Raving Dead]], which make use of AttacksIfAbleTargetPlayerSourceEffect.java.

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Ruhan of the Fomori - (Gatherer) (Scryfall) (EDHREC)

{1}{U}{R}{W} Legendary Creature — Giant Warrior 7/7 At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose an opponent at random. Ruhan of the Fomori attacks that player this combat if able.

Door to Nothingness - (Gatherer) (Scryfall) (EDHREC)

{5} Artifact Door to Nothingness enters the battlefield tapped. {W}{W}{U}{U}{B}{B}{R}{R}{G}{G}, {T}, Sacrifice Door to Nothingness: Target player loses the game.

Raving Dead - (Gatherer) (Scryfall) (EDHREC)

{4}{B} Creature — Zombie 2/6 Deathtouch At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose an opponent at random. Raving Dead attacks that player this combat if able. Whenever Raving Dead deals combat damage to a player, that player loses half their life, rounded down.

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Closed by eb0366998992ff13bfba2c62a09354c35a5e4fe7