What happens if i bounce a creature blocking a creature with trample?

Asked by MarbunZ 14 years ago

If a creature 8/8 Trample attack, and I block with a 0/4 defender, then before assign damage, I use an instant spell to return my defender creature... What happened to the trample damage? Is it 4 damage to player, or 8 damage, or no damage at all? Thx.

zebitty says... #1

if the blocker is unsummoned before damage assignment, then the attacker can assign 0 to the 'blocker' and 8 to the player

November 4, 2010 12:02 a.m.

Jorke says... #2

So you would just wait for damage to be dealt and then unsummon, but as far as i know by the time the damage was dealt to the 0/4 the trample has already dealt 4 damage to you and well i thought damage didn't go on the stack anymore so if you decide to let your creature take the damage you can't unsummon it because it will die anyways, can someone tell me if i'm right or wrong cuz i have problems with this so i am not sure.

November 4, 2010 1:15 a.m.

Eyehate says... Accepted answer #3

Trample requires that all blocking creatures be dealt lethal damage before damage can be assigned to the player or planeswalker being attacked.

In this instance if you Boomerang or Unsummon after blockers are declared but before damage is assigned, then when damage assignment occurs there are no creatures still blocking the trampler and thus the requirement to assign lethal damage to all blocking creatures is already met. As a result the remaining 8 damage is required to be assigned to the player or planeswalker the creature was attacking.

@Jorke

Basically, he can choose to block and take 4 and lose the 0/4 or he can choose not to block. The Unsummon cannot be of benefit without some other effect in this situation (unless you choose to bounce the 8/8 obviously).

This is precisely because damage no longer uses the stack as you mention. In effect damage is assigned and dealt with no opportunity to play spells in between, thus bouncing a blocking creature assigned to block a trampling creature serves no practical purpose.

November 4, 2010 1:26 a.m.

xeratheenigma says... #4

you would take eight damage

what happens when you bounce your 0/4 is the 8/8 trampler is considered blocked by a 0/0 which lets the 8/8 deal all its damage to you

but why not bounce their creature if you have a spell like Unsummon in your hand that just seems like a better move to me

now if you decided to bounce your creature once you go to the combat damage step you would only take four damage and have no creature to bounce. this is because damage no longer goes on the stack. this means when you enter the combat damage step you cannot respond to the damage until after all the combat damage has been dealt so your 0/4 would die and not be able to be bounced to your hand.

November 4, 2010 1:36 a.m.

MarbunZ says... #5

Thanks for the answer... Another question.... How about if my blocker creature is 2/2 undestructible or 2/2 have protection from the attacking creature? Do I still get 6 damage? or the damage would be nullify?

November 4, 2010 4:50 a.m.

cardcoin says... #6

The damage would be assigned to the creature equal to defence then the rest would be assigned to the player/plainswalker that the creature is attacking. Hope this helps.

November 4, 2010 2:22 p.m.

Eyehate says... #7

@MarbunZ,

The assignment of lethal damage doesn't look at anything that prevents or replaces destruction such as indestructible or regeneration. You just assign lethal damage and then the indestructible or regeneration ability takes its effect as you would expect.

Or in your example: You assign 2 damage (ie lethal damage) to the 2/2 Indestructible creature and then are free to assign the remaining 6 to the player (provided no other creatures are blocking the 8/8 trample).

November 4, 2010 4:46 p.m.

MarbunZ says... #8

@eyehate,

Great answers. I do understand about trample now. Thanks for your explanation. =)

November 5, 2010 12:26 a.m.

This discussion has been closed