How Does Trample Work on Indestructible Creatures?
Trample is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker it’s attacking, even if the creature is blocked by another creature. But what happens when an indestructible creature is on the battlefield? Does trample still work as usual? In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Magic: The Gathering and explore how trample works on indestructible creatures.
Does Trample Work on Indestructible Creatures?
In a nutshell, yes, trample still works on indestructible creatures. But there’s a catch. When a creature with trample deals damage to a blocking creature, the damage is considered "lethal" if it would kill the blocking creature. Indestructible does not prevent damage from being considered lethal. Instead, it prevents the blocking creature from being destroyed, even if it would have been killed by the damage.
Here’s an example to illustrate this:
Suppose you have a creature with trample, a 5/5 flying demon, attacking an indestructible 4/4 creature. The demon’s power is 5, so it deals 5 damage to the blocking creature. Since the damage would have killed the blocking creature, it’s considered lethal. The excess damage (1 point) would then be dealt to the defending player.
Trample and Indestructible Creatures: A Closer Look
To better understand how trample works on indestructible creatures, let’s break it down step by step:
- Assign Damage: First, assign the creature’s power to the blocking creature. In our example, the demon’s power is 5, so we assign 5 damage to the blocking creature.
- Check for Lethality: Check if the damage would kill the blocking creature. If it would, the damage is considered lethal.
- Apply Lethality: Apply the lethal damage to the blocking creature, even if it’s indestructible. The blocking creature won’t be destroyed, but the damage is still considered lethal.
- Excess Damage: Calculate the excess damage by subtracting the blocking creature’s toughness from the assigned damage. In our example, the excess damage would be 1 point (5 – 4 = 1).
- Deal Excess Damage: Deal the excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
Table: Trample and Indestructible Creatures
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Assign damage to blocking creature |
| 2 | Check for lethality |
| 3 | Apply lethal damage to blocking creature (even if indestructible) |
| 4 | Calculate excess damage |
| 5 | Deal excess damage to defending player |
Conclusion
In conclusion, trample still works on indestructible creatures, but it’s essential to understand how to apply the damage correctly. When a creature with trample deals damage to a blocking creature, the damage is considered lethal if it would kill the blocking creature. Indestructible doesn’t prevent damage from being considered lethal, but rather prevents the blocking creature from being destroyed. By following the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to correctly apply trample to indestructible creatures and maximize your damage output.