Assigning Combat Damage: Trample, Deathtouch, and Multiple Blockers

The combat damage step

In the combat damage step, attacking and blocking creatures assign damage, then damage is dealt simultaneously (rule 510). You assign the creature’s power among legal recipients.

The assignment happens after blockers are finalized and before any of that damage is actually dealt. Players do not receive priority between assigning combat damage and dealing it. Once damage is dealt, triggered abilities wait to use the stack, and state-based actions are checked before a player receives priority again.

For example, if a 6/6 is blocked by a 2/2 and a 3/3, the attacker chooses an order for those blockers and normally must assign lethal damage to the first blocker before assigning damage to the second. Damage already marked, temporary toughness changes, and deathtouch can change what counts as lethal at the moment assignment happens.

Multiple blockers

If one attacker is blocked by multiple creatures, the attacking player assigns the attacker’s damage among those blockers and any other legal recipient, such as the defending player with trample. You must assign at least lethal damage to each blocker in order before assigning damage to the next, considering damage already marked and effects that affect toughness—with special rules for deathtouch.

Trample

Excess damage beyond what is required for the blocking creatures can be assigned to the player or planeswalker being attacked (rule 702.19). “Excess” respects lethal assignment requirements.

Deathtouch and assignment

A creature with deathtouch can assign as little as 1 damage to a blocker to be considered lethal for assignment purposes (rule 702.2). That changes trample math: a 5/5 with deathtouch and trample blocked by a 4/4 can assign 1 to the blocker and 4 to the player.

First strike and double strike

Creatures with first strike or double strike deal combat damage in an extra combat damage step before ordinary combat damage (rules 702.7, 702.4). Creatures that die in the first strike step won’t assign damage in the ordinary step.

Table scenario: Your 4/4 with first strike is blocked by a 3/3. First strike damage kills the 3/3. The 3/3 does not deal damage back in the ordinary step.

Common mistakes

Assigning damage “however you want” without lethal-order rules.

Forgetting deathtouch changes lethal assignment.

Assuming first strike damage and normal damage are the same step.

Trampling “through” a blocker without assigning lethal first, unless deathtouch applies.

Source and verification

Rules 510 (combat damage step), 702.19 (trample), 702.2 (deathtouch), and 702.7 (first strike). Arena and paper use the same assignment rules; the client automates legal assignments. At a sanctioned event, ask the event judge.

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