Does Trample Go Through Each Blocker?
Trample is a powerful mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that allows an attacking creature to deal excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker. But how does trample work when multiple creatures are blocking the attack? In this article, we’ll dive into the intricacies of trample and explore whether it goes through each blocker.
What is Trample?
Before we dive into the specifics of trample, let’s quickly review what trample is. Trample is a mechanic that allows an attacking creature to deal excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker. When a creature with trample attacks, it assigns lethal damage to any blocking creatures, and then deals the remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
Does Trample Go Through Each Blocker?
Now, let’s get to the main question: does trample go through each blocker? The answer is yes. When a creature with trample is blocked by multiple creatures, it will assign lethal damage to each blocker in a specific order. Here’s how it works:
- The creature with trample assigns lethal damage to the first blocker.
- If the first blocker survives, the creature with trample assigns lethal damage to the second blocker.
- If the second blocker survives, the creature with trample assigns lethal damage to the third blocker, and so on.
- Once the creature with trample has assigned lethal damage to all blockers, it deals the remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
Example:
Let’s say you have a 5/5 trampling creature attacking your opponent, who is blocking with a 1/1 creature and a 2/2 creature. Here’s how the trample would work:
- The 5/5 trampling creature assigns 1 damage to the 1/1 creature (lethal damage).
- The 1/1 creature dies, and the 5/5 trampling creature assigns 2 damage to the 2/2 creature (lethal damage).
- The 2/2 creature dies, and the 5/5 trampling creature deals 2 damage to your opponent (the remaining damage).
Shield Counters and Trample
But what about shield counters? Shield counters are a type of counter that prevents damage from being dealt to a creature. Do shield counters prevent trample from going through each blocker? The answer is no. Shield counters only prevent damage from being dealt to a creature, but they don’t prevent the creature with trample from assigning lethal damage to each blocker.
Fog and Trample
Another question that comes up is whether fog affects trample. Fog is a type of ability that prevents a creature from being blocked. Does fog prevent trample from going through each blocker? The answer is no. Fog only prevents a creature from being blocked, but it doesn’t prevent the creature with trample from assigning lethal damage to each blocker.
Conclusion
In conclusion, trample does go through each blocker. When a creature with trample is blocked by multiple creatures, it will assign lethal damage to each blocker in a specific order, and then deal the remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker. Shield counters and fog don’t prevent trample from going through each blocker, but they can affect how the trample is applied.
Important Points to Remember
- Trample is a mechanic that allows an attacking creature to deal excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
- When a creature with trample is blocked by multiple creatures, it will assign lethal damage to each blocker in a specific order.
- Shield counters only prevent damage from being dealt to a creature, but they don’t prevent the creature with trample from assigning lethal damage to each blocker.
- Fog only prevents a creature from being blocked, but it doesn’t prevent the creature with trample from assigning lethal damage to each blocker.
Table: Trample and Blockers
| Number of Blockers | Trample Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Assign lethal damage to the blocker, deal remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker |
| 2 | Assign lethal damage to the first blocker, then assign lethal damage to the second blocker, deal remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker |
| 3 | Assign lethal damage to the first blocker, then assign lethal damage to the second blocker, then assign lethal damage to the third blocker, deal remaining damage to the defending player or planeswalker |
I hope this article has helped clarify how trample works when multiple creatures are blocking the attack. Remember to always keep in mind the important points and table above to ensure you’re playing trample correctly in your Magic: The Gathering games.