What Happens if You Destroy a Blocking Creature?
When it comes to blocking in Magic: The Gathering, understanding what happens when a blocking creature is destroyed is crucial to making strategic decisions during gameplay. In this article, we will delve into the details of what occurs when a blocking creature is destroyed and provide examples to illustrate these concepts.
Direct Answer:
If a blocking creature is destroyed, the attacking creature is still considered blocked, but it does not deal damage to the player unless it has Trample or is being blocked by another creature. This is because the blocked creature is no longer present to absorb the damage.
Blocking and Damage
In Magic, a blocking creature is one that is declared as a blocker during the declare blockers step of the combat phase. This creature is attempting to mitigate the damage dealt by the attacking creature. However, if the blocking creature is destroyed, it no longer exists to absorb the damage.
Trample
Trample is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal excess damage to the defending player if it is blocked. If a creature with trample is blocked, and the blocking creature is destroyed, the attacking creature can deal the remaining damage to the defending player. This is because the blocked creature is no longer present to absorb the damage.
Multiple Blockers
It is possible for a single attacking creature to be blocked by multiple creatures. In this scenario, if one of the blocking creatures is destroyed, the attacking creature is still considered blocked, but it does not deal damage to the player unless it has trample or is being blocked by another creature.
Blocking and Lethality
If a blocking creature is destroyed, and the attacking creature would have dealt lethal damage to the blocking creature, the attacking creature does not deal damage to the defending player. This is because the blocking creature is no longer present to receive the damage.
Removing a Blocking Creature
A blocking creature can be removed from combat in various ways, including:
• Destroying it with a spell or ability
• Sacrificing it to trigger a ability
• Moving it to a different location, such as the graveyard
• Using an ability that removes it from the game
Regardless of how a blocking creature is removed, the attacking creature is still considered blocked, but it does not deal damage to the player unless it has trample or is being blocked by another creature.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if a blocking creature is destroyed, the attacking creature is still considered blocked, but it does not deal damage to the player unless it has trample or is being blocked by another creature. Understanding these concepts is crucial to making strategic decisions during gameplay and to improve your overall Magic: The Gathering experience.
References:
- Magic: The Gathering Official Rulebook
- Duel Commander Official Rulebook
- Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering Official FAQs
Table: Removing a Blocking Creature
| Method | Effect |
|---|---|
| Destroying with a spell or ability | Removes the blocking creature from combat |
| Sacrificing to trigger an ability | Removes the blocking creature from combat |
| Moving to a different location | Removes the blocking creature from combat |
| Using an ability to remove from game | Removes the blocking creature from combat |
Note: This article is intended to provide a general understanding of the rules of Magic: The Gathering and should not be considered a comprehensive guide to the game.