Decoding Trample: A Comprehensive Guide to Overrun in Combat

Yes, trample absolutely works when a creature is blocked! In fact, that’s often when it’s most relevant. Trample, formally known as “overrun,” is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal excess combat damage to the defending player or planeswalker when it is blocked. The key is understanding how the damage assignment process works.

Understanding Trample’s Interaction with Blocking

Trample essentially rewrites the normal combat damage rules for creatures that possess it. Without trample, a blocked creature would deal all its combat damage to the creature(s) blocking it. With trample, however, you are only required to assign lethal damage to each blocking creature. Any remaining damage can be “trampled over” to the defending player or planeswalker.

Let’s break this down with an example: Suppose you attack with a 5/5 creature with trample, and your opponent blocks with a 2/2 creature. You must assign at least 2 damage to the 2/2 blocker. The remaining 3 damage can be assigned to the defending player. The blocker dies, and the player loses 3 life.

It’s crucial to remember that you choose how much damage to assign to each blocker, as long as it’s at least lethal damage. This is especially relevant when dealing with multiple blockers or creatures with special abilities like deathtouch or indestructible.

Strategic Considerations with Trample

Trample isn’t just about dealing extra damage. It introduces a significant layer of strategic decision-making. Understanding how to optimally assign damage can be the difference between victory and defeat.

• Deathtouch Blockers: When facing a deathtouch blocker, you only need to assign 1 damage to it. Deathtouch triggers when any amount of damage is assigned. This frees up most of your trample damage to hit the opponent.
• Indestructible Blockers: Against an indestructible blocker, you must assign lethal damage based on the creature’s toughness. While the blocker won’t die, you can still trample the remaining damage. Note that “lethal damage” is calculated before indestructible is applied.
• Multiple Blockers: You choose the order in which you assign damage to multiple blockers. This allows you to strategically eliminate blockers with lower toughness or more dangerous abilities before trampling over the remaining damage.
• Damage Prevention: If your opponent has a way to prevent damage, remember that they can prevent the trample damage as well. A timely fog effect can negate your trample advantage entirely.
• First Strike and Double Strike: Trample interacts normally with first strike and double strike. If your creature with trample has first strike, it will deal its damage to the blocker(s) during the first strike combat damage step. Any remaining damage can then be trampled over. The same applies during the normal combat damage step if the creature has double strike.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Trample

Here are 15 common questions about trample, designed to further clarify its mechanics and strategic implications:

1. If I attack with a creature with trample and my opponent doesn’t block, does trample still do anything? No. Trample only functions when the creature is blocked. If it’s unblocked, all damage is simply dealt to the defending player or planeswalker.

2. What happens if a creature with trample is blocked by multiple creatures? You assign damage to the blockers in an order of your choice. You must assign at least lethal damage to the first blocker before assigning any damage to the second, and so on. Any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player.

3. Does trample trigger abilities like lifelink? Yes. If a creature with trample deals damage to both a blocker and the defending player, you gain life equal to the total damage dealt by the creature if it also has lifelink.

4. If my opponent sacrifices their blocker after damage is assigned but before damage is dealt, does my trample creature still deal damage to them? Yes! Once you’ve assigned damage, the game “remembers” that you assigned damage to the defending player. Removing the blocker doesn’t change the damage assignment.

5. What happens if my creature with trample is blocked by a creature with deathtouch and indestructible? You only need to assign 1 damage to the creature with deathtouch. The indestructible doesn’t matter for the deathtouch trigger.

6. If a creature blocks my creature with trample and then gets buffed to a higher toughness before damage is dealt, do I have to reassign damage? No. You assign damage based on the creatures’ characteristics at the moment damage is assigned, not when it’s dealt.

7. Can I choose to assign all of my trample creature’s damage to the blocker, even if it only needs to assign lethal damage? Yes, you can choose to assign all the damage to the blocker, effectively negating the trample ability for that combat. This can be relevant if you want to protect your own creature from a triggered ability on the defending player.

8. Does trample work against planeswalkers? Yes, if a creature with trample is blocked, any excess damage can be assigned to the planeswalker the player controls.

9. If a creature with trample is blocked by a creature with protection from that creature’s color, what happens? Protection prevents damage, so you can’t assign any damage to the blocker. All damage can then be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.

10. How does trample interact with keywords like “vigilance” or “haste”? Trample does not directly interact with vigilance or haste. Vigilance allows a creature to attack without tapping, and haste allows it to attack or tap the turn it comes into play. They don’t affect the damage assignment process.

11. If my creature with trample is blocked, and the blocker has a triggered ability that activates when it’s dealt damage, does that ability trigger? Yes, the triggered ability will trigger. You only need to assign lethal damage for the ability to trigger.

12. What if my creature with trample is blocked by a creature that prevents the next X damage that would be dealt to it? You still need to assign lethal damage to the blocker. The damage prevention will absorb some or all of the damage, potentially reducing the amount that can be trampled over.

13. Can I divide the trample damage between multiple planeswalkers my opponent controls? No. You can only assign trample damage to the defending player or one planeswalker they control.

14. If a creature with trample also has infect, how does the damage assignment work? You still assign damage normally, but the damage is dealt in the form of -1/-1 counters to creatures and poison counters to players. You must assign enough damage in the form of -1/-1 counters to be lethal to the blocking creature(s) before you can assign any poison counters to the player.

15. Where can I learn more about game mechanics and the theory behind game design? Explore resources like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You’ll find valuable insights into the world of game design and the mechanics that make them engaging.

Mastering Trample: A Path to Victory

Trample is a powerful ability that rewards careful planning and a deep understanding of the combat rules. By mastering the nuances of damage assignment and considering the various strategic factors involved, you can significantly improve your gameplay and consistently overrun your opponents. Remember to practice, experiment with different strategies, and continue learning about the intricacies of the game.
This field is constantly evolving, so stay curious and adapt your approach as new cards and mechanics are introduced.