What are the rules for trample in Magic The Gathering?

What are the Rules for Trample in Magic The Gathering?

Trample is a keyword ability found on creatures in Magic: The Gathering. It allows a creature to deal excess combat damage to the player it’s attacking, even if the creature is blocked. In this article, we will delve into the rules of trample and explore its effects on combat and gameplay.

How Trample Works

When a creature with trample attacks, you must assign its combat damage to the creature(s) blocking it first. Any excess damage is then dealt to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking. This means that even if a creature is blocked, it can still deal damage to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking if its toughness is higher than the damage dealt to the blocking creature.

Example:

Let’s say you’re attacking with a 7/7 trampler and your opponent has a 2/2 creature blocking it. You assign 2 damage to the blocking creature, and the remaining 5 damage is dealt to your opponent.

Assigning Damage

When assigning damage to a blocking creature, you must assign the entire amount of damage to that creature, regardless of its toughness. Excess damage is not assigned to other creatures or players. This means that if a creature has a toughness of 2 and you’re attacking with a 3/3 trampler, you must assign 3 damage to the blocking creature, and the excess 1 damage is not dealt to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.

Trample and Protection

Trample does not interact with protection in any way. A creature with protection can still be dealt damage by a trampling creature, and protection does not prevent the damage from being dealt. However, if a creature has regeneration, it can regenerate and regain its life total, even if it’s been dealt damage by a trampling creature.

Trample and Regenerate

When a creature with trample deals damage to a player or planeswalker, regeneration can only regenerate the damage dealt by the blocking creature, not the excess damage dealt by the trampling creature. For example, if a 7/7 trampler deals 3 damage to a player and a 2/2 creature blocks it, the blocking creature can regenerate the 2 damage it received, but the player or planeswalker still takes the excess 1 damage.

Trample and Deathtouch

Trample and deathtouch do not cancel each other out. Both abilities can still be active at the same time, and a creature with deathtouch can still kill a creature with trample. However, if a creature with deathtouch is blocked by a creature with trample, the deathtouch ability will only kill the blocking creature, and the excess damage will still be dealt to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.

Conclusion

Trample is a powerful ability that can greatly increase the effectiveness of a creature in combat. By understanding how trample works, including its interactions with protection, regenerate, and deathtouch, you can make informed decisions about which creatures to play and how to build your deck.

Key Takeaways:

• Trample allows a creature to deal excess combat damage to the player it’s attacking, even if it’s blocked.
• Assign damage to the blocking creature first, and then deal excess damage to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.
• Excess damage is not assigned to other creatures or players.
• Trample does not interact with protection, but can be interacted with by regeneration and deathtouch.
• Regeneration can only regenerate the damage dealt by the blocking creature, not the excess damage dealt by the trampling creature.
• Deathtouch can still kill a creature with trample, but the excess damage will still be dealt to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.