How do you assign damage in magic?

In Magic: The Gathering, assigning damage is a crucial aspect of the game, and it’s essential to understand the rules to play effectively. Assigning damage involves determining how much damage an attacking creature deals to a blocking creature or the defending player, with the attacking player declaring the damage assignment order for multiple blockers during the declare blockers step.

Understanding Damage Assignment

Basic Damage Assignment

In Magic: The Gathering, damage represents impairment or destruction that a creature, planeswalker, or player may suffer from a certain source. When a creature attacks, it assigns combat damage equal to its power, and creatures that would assign 0 or less damage don’t assign combat damage at all.

Assigning Damage to Multiple Blockers

If an attacking creature gets blocked by multiple blocking creatures, the attacking player has to declare a damage assignment order for them. The attacking player starts by assigning damage to the first blocking creature in line, and if that creature is assigned lethal damage, further damage may be assigned to that creature and/or the next one in line.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you assign damage to multiple blockers in magic? The controller of the attacking creature assigns how that creature assigns damage to the blocking creatures.
2. How does damage work with menace in Magic The Gathering? After blockers are declared, the attacking player chooses which blocking creature gets damaged first, and the attacking creature deals damage to the blockers one at a time until damage is dealt equal to its power.
3. What is the menace rule in magic? Menace is an evergreen keyword ability that prevents a creature from being blocked except by two or more creatures.
4. Who assigns damage with menace? First, the active player announces how each attacking creature assigns its combat damage, then the defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns its combat damage.
5. Does deathtouch cancel deathtouch? Any two instances of the Deathtouch ability against one another cancel out the Deathtouch ability.
6. Does indestructible prevent Deathtouch? Indestructible creatures ignore Deathtouch, as they can’t be destroyed.
7. What is the 21 damage rule in Magic The Gathering? A player that’s been dealt 21 or more combat damage by the same commander over the course of the game loses the game.
8. What are the rules for attacking and blocking in magic? A creature must be untapped to block, and each creature can only block a single attacker, but multiple defending creatures can block the same attacker.
9. Does first strike work when blocking? Yes, you can block a creature with first strike, and when declaring blockers, you just have to be aware that a creature with first strike will deal combat damage before a creature without first strike.
10. Is losing life considered damage in magic? Damage causes loss of life, but loss of life is not damage.
11. What is trample in magic? An attacker with trample deals excess damage to the defending player, planeswalker, or battle, even if it is blocked.
12. Does first strike negate Deathtouch? Creatures with Deathtouch deal damage during the regular combat damage step, but if you block a creature with Deathtouch with a creature with first strike or double strike, your creature will deal damage during the first strike damage step, before the Deathtouch creature can return fire.
13. What kills indestructible in mtg? Indestructible permanents can still be put into their owner’s graveyard by other means, such as by the legend rule, by being sacrificed, or having zero or less toughness.
14. Does Deathtouch apply to Planeswalkers? No, Deathtouch does not apply to Planeswalkers, as they are not creatures.
15. Does regenerate beat Deathtouch? One regeneration effect is enough to prevent both lethal damage and Deathtouch, so regenerate can beat Deathtouch.

By understanding how to assign damage and the answers to these frequently asked questions, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled Magic: The Gathering player, capable of outmaneuvering your opponents and emerging victorious.