Who Assigns Combat Damage?
In Magic: The Gathering, combat damage is a crucial aspect of the game. It is essential to understand who assigns combat damage and how it is done. In this article, we will explore who assigns combat damage, the rules surrounding it, and provide examples to help illustrate the concept.
Assigning Combat Damage
Combat damage is assigned by the player who controls the creature attacking. This means that if a player has multiple creatures attacking, they are responsible for assigning combat damage for each of those creatures.
The Active Player Announces Assignments
During the declare attackers step, the active player announces which creatures are attacking. During the declare blockers step, the defending player announces which creatures are blocking. The active player then announces which blockers are assigned to which attackers. This information is crucial in determining the combat damage assignments.
Power and Toughness Matters
When assigning combat damage, the power and toughness of the creatures involved matters. A creature’s power represents the amount of combat damage it deals, while its toughness represents the amount of combat damage it can withstand. When a creature is blocked, its toughness is used to determine the amount of combat damage it takes.
Multiple Creepers and Blocking
When multiple creatures attack the same player, it’s crucial to understand how blocking works. A blocking creature’s toughness is used to determine the amount of combat damage it takes. The active player then assigns combat damage to the blocking creatures, taking into account the toughness of each.
| Creatures | Power | Toughness | Combat Damage | Damage Taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creature A | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Creature B | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
In this example, Creature A deals 4 combat damage, while Creature B deals 2. Since Creature B is tougher (3 toughness), it takes 1 point of combat damage.
Dealing with Multiple Attackers
When multiple creatures are attacking the same player, it’s essential to follow a specific order when assigning combat damage. The order of assignment is determined by the attacking player. Here’s an example:
Creature A (4 power)
Creature B (3 power)
Creature C (2 power)
The attacking player announces the order: "Creature A is first, followed by Creature B, then Creature C." When blocking, the defending player blocks Creature A, assigning its toughness (4) to the blocking creature. Creature B is then blocked, and its toughness is used to determine the combat damage taken. Finally, Creature C is blocked, and its toughness is used to determine the combat damage taken.
Combat Damage to Planeswalkers
When a planeswalker is attacked, the attack deals combat damage to it. The planeswalker’s loyalty is used to determine how much combat damage it can withstand. If a planeswalker’s loyalty falls to 0, it is destroyed.
| Loyalty | Combat Damage Withstood |
|---|---|
| 20 | 20 |
| 15 | 15 |
| 0 | 0 |
Example
A planeswalker, Liliana, the Last Hope, has a loyalty of 15. If a creature with 3 power attacks her, she would withstand 3 points of combat damage, leaving her loyalty at 12. If the same creature attacks her again, she would withstand another 3 points of combat damage, leaving her loyalty at 9. On the third attack, she would withstand 3 more points of combat damage, leaving her loyalty at 6. On the fourth attack, she would not withstand any combat damage, and her loyalty would fall to 0, destroying her.
Conclusion
In Magic: The Gathering, understanding who assigns combat damage is crucial for players of all levels. The active player announces assignments, and the power and toughness of creatures matter when assigning combat damage. When multiple creatures are involved, the order of assignment is determined by the attacking player. By understanding combat damage assignments, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the game and make strategic decisions.