How does trample work when blocking with multiple creatures?

When a creature with trample attacks and is blocked by multiple creatures, the attacking creature’s controller first assigns lethal damage to each blocking creature, and any excess damage is then assigned to the defending player or planeswalker. The trample ability allows the attacking creature to deal damage to the defending player or planeswalker if the total toughness of the blocking creatures is less than the power of the attacking creature.

Understanding Trample and Blocking

To fully understand how trample works when blocking with multiple creatures, it’s essential to know the basics of trample and blocking in Magic: The Gathering.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Trample Questions

1. What is trample in Magic: The Gathering?: Trample is a keyword ability that allows an attacking creature to deal excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker if the total toughness of the blocking creatures is less than the power of the attacking creature.
2. Does trample work when blocking?: Trample only works when a creature is attacking, not when it’s blocking.
3. How does trample work?: Trample allows an attacking creature to assign lethal damage to each blocking creature and then assign any excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker.

Blocking with Multiple Creatures

4. Can you block an attacking creature with multiple creatures?: Yes, you can block an attacking creature with multiple creatures.
5. How does blocking work with multiple creatures?: When blocking with multiple creatures, the attacking creature’s controller assigns lethal damage to each blocking creature, and any excess damage is then assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
6. Can a creature block multiple attackers?: Generally, a creature can’t block more than one attacking creature at a time, except in specific circumstances.

Trample and Damage Assignment

7. How is damage assigned with trample?: The controller of an attacking creature with trample first assigns damage to the creature(s) blocking it, and once all those blocking creatures are assigned lethal damage, any excess damage is assigned as its controller chooses among those blocking creatures and the player or planeswalker the creature is attacking.
8. Does trample go through if it dies?: Yes, trample allows any damage beyond lethal damage to be assigned to the player or planeswalker the trampling creature is attacking.

Interactions with Other Abilities

9. Does first strike work when blocking multiple creatures?: Yes, first strike works when blocking multiple creatures, and the attacking creature may divide its damage among all declared blockers.
10. Does double strike apply when blocking?: Yes, double strike and first strike work while blocking, with double strike dealing damage in two steps: the first strike combat damage step and the regular combat damage step.
11. Does deathtouch stop trample?: No, deathtouch does not stop trample, as trample deals excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker after assigning lethal damage to the blocking creatures.

Special Scenarios

12. What happens when you block with two creatures?: When blocking with two creatures, the blocked creature’s controller gets to choose which order that creature deals combat damage, and the blocked creature must deal lethal damage to each blocker before dealing damage to the next blocker.
13. Does tapping a blocking creature remove it from combat?: No, tapping a blocking creature does not remove it from combat, and both the attacking and blocking creatures resolve their damage as normal.

Color Protection and Indestructible

14. Does color protection stop trample?: Yes, color protection can affect trample, as the trampling creature would only have to deal enough damage equal to the creature with protection’s toughness, and the rest will trample through.
15. Does indestructible prevent deathtouch?: Yes, indestructible creatures ignore deathtouch, as they cannot be destroyed by any amount of damage, including deathtouch.