How does Trample Work with Banding?
Trample, a keyword ability in the Magic: The Gathering gameplay, allows an attacking creature to deal excess damage beyond its toughness to the controller of the blocking creature, rather than dealing it entirely to the creature itself. Banding, on the other hand, is another keyword ability that allows specific creatures to share a lifetotal cost, similar to a lifelinking ability. But how exactly do these two abilities combine? In this article, we’ll dive into the intricacies of trample and banding, to help you understand how your creatures can effectively use and counter these abilities.
Direct Answer: Can Banding Stop Trample?
Simply put, yes. A blocker with banding can stop trample. When a creature attacks with trample, banding changes who decides how combat damage is distributed: the player who controls the banding creature (be it the attacking or defending player) makes this determination. This means that with banding, the defense player can still choose who takes the damage, countering the excess damage capability of trample.
Blocking with Banding: Table of Possibilities
| Blocks with Trample | Creature’s Toughness | Effective Toughness |
|---|---|---|
| 1T, 1G; Banding | 6/6 | 0/0 |
| No Color; Banding | – | – |
| +1/+1; Lifelink; Banding | 7/6 | 6/2 |
In this table:
- Blocks with Trample: Indicates whether or not the creature has blocking with trample.
- Creature’s Toughness: The original toughness value of the blocking creature.
- Effective Toughness: The actual toughness damage prevented by the creature’s defending player.
The table outlines the possible combinations of how banding can affect blocks with trample. These combinations can greatly impact who takes the damage and prevent excessive damage.