Blocking 101: How Many Times Can You Block in MTG? A Comprehensive Guide
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In Magic: The Gathering, blocking is a crucial defensive maneuver that allows you to protect yourself, your planeswalkers, and even other creatures from incoming attacks. The core question is straightforward, yet the nuances surrounding blocking are vast and strategic. So, let’s dive into the intricacies of defending yourself in the world of MTG.
The fundamental answer to the question “How many times can you block in MTG?” is this: a single creature can only block a single attacking creature each combat phase. However, multiple creatures can block the same attacker. Understanding this basic principle is the cornerstone of effective defense.
The Blocking Phase: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
To truly master blocking, you need to understand the flow of combat. Here’s a simplified version:
- Beginning of Combat Step: Nothing much happens here unless abilities trigger.
- Declare Attackers Step: Your opponent chooses which creatures will attack, and declares who or what they are attacking (you, a planeswalker, or another creature).
- Declare Blockers Step: This is where you shine! You declare which of your untapped creatures will block which attacking creatures. Remember, each of your creatures can only block one attacker.
- Combat Damage Step: Combat damage is dealt simultaneously. Creatures deal damage to the creatures they are blocking, and attackers deal damage to the creatures that are blocking them, or the player/planeswalker if they are unblocked.
- End of Combat Step: Cleanup happens, and triggered abilities resolve.
The Power of Multiple Blockers
While a single creature is limited to blocking one attacker, the power of blocking truly emerges when you gang up on a single attacking creature with multiple blockers. This is often referred to as double blocking, triple blocking, and so on. This is a common tactic to ensure a large or problematic attacker is neutralized. The attacking player then gets to choose the order in which their creature deals damage to the blockers.
Damage Assignment: The Attacker’s Choice
When multiple creatures block a single attacker, the attacking player has to choose a damage assignment order. This means they decide which blocker their attacking creature will deal damage to first, second, third, and so on.
The attacking creature must assign lethal damage to the first blocker in the order before assigning any damage to the next blocker. “Lethal damage” is an amount of damage equal to or greater than the blocker’s toughness, minus any damage that has already been dealt to that blocker this turn. Any remaining damage is not lost; it can be assigned to the next blocker in the order until all damage is assigned.
Example: A Blocking Scenario
Let’s say your opponent attacks with a 5/5 creature, and you block with two 3/3 creatures. Your opponent gets to decide how their 5/5 divides its damage. A common choice would be to assign 3 damage to the first 3/3 blocker, and 2 damage to the second. This would ensure both of your blockers die, however, their attacker would also die in the combat damage step, being assigned 3 damage from the first blocker and 3 damage from the second blocker.
Special Circumstances: Breaking the Rules
As with most things in Magic, there are exceptions. Some cards allow a creature to block multiple attacking creatures. These effects are relatively rare, but can be powerful in certain situations. Always read your cards carefully!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules surrounding blocking in Magic: The Gathering.
Q1: Can a creature with summoning sickness block?
Yes! A creature with summoning sickness can block. Summoning sickness only prevents a creature from attacking or using abilities that include the tap symbol in their cost during your turn. Blocking doesn’t require tapping the creature (unless an ability requires it), so it is perfectly legal.
Q2: Can I block with a planeswalker?
No, planeswalkers cannot block. Players can attack planeswalkers, but planeswalkers themselves cannot be declared as blockers. You must use creatures or other defensive strategies to protect your planeswalkers.
Q3: What happens if I sacrifice a creature that is blocking?
If you sacrifice a creature before the combat damage step, the creature it was blocking will become unblocked, unless the effect that made it blocked still exists (some cards do this!). The sacrificed creature will not deal any combat damage. If you sacrifice a creature during the combat damage step, after damage has already been assigned, it can be a way to deny an opponent deathtouch or lifelink value, but the sacrificed creature will still deal damage as assigned.
Q4: Does first strike affect multiple blockers?
Yes, first strike affects multiple blockers. The attacking creature with first strike deals combat damage before creatures without first strike. If the creature with first strike has enough power to deal lethal damage to all blockers, they are all destroyed before they deal any damage back. The attacking player still decides the order in which damage is assigned, though.
Q5: Can you block a creature with flying using a non-flying creature?
No. Flying is an evasion ability that prevents creatures without flying or reach from blocking creatures with flying.
Q6: Can I block a creature with protection from a specific color?
A creature with protection from a color can’t be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything of that color. So, if a creature has protection from red, a red creature cannot block it. A creature of a different color could block it, unless protection also applied to that color.
Q7: Does double strike work when blocking?
Yes, double strike works when blocking. A creature with double strike deals combat damage twice. The first instance of damage happens in the first combat damage step, and the second instance happens in the regular combat damage step. This can be devastating for blockers! However, even if the blocking creature dies during the first combat damage step, the attacking creature remains blocked.
Q8: Does deathtouch work on indestructible creatures?
No, deathtouch does not destroy indestructible creatures. Indestructible means a creature cannot be destroyed by lethal damage or effects that say “destroy”. Since deathtouch attempts to destroy a creature that has been dealt combat damage, it doesn’t work on indestructible creatures.
Q9: What happens if a blocked creature has trample?
Trample allows an attacking creature to deal excess combat damage to the defending player (or planeswalker) if it deals lethal damage to all blocking creatures. So, if a 5/5 creature with trample is blocked by a 2/2 creature, it must assign 2 damage to the blocker, and can then assign the remaining 3 damage to the player or planeswalker being attacked.
Q10: Can a creature block more than one attacking creature if it has an ability that allows it?
Yes, some creatures have abilities that allow them to block multiple attacking creatures. These abilities are explicitly stated on the card. For example, a card might say “This creature can block any number of attacking creatures.”
Q11: If a creature with first strike kills one blocker, can it deal damage to another blocker?
Yes, as long as the attacking player assigns damage to the subsequent blocker(s). The attacker must deal lethal damage to the previous blocker before assigning damage to the next.
Q12: What is the “double blocking rule” in Magic?
The “double blocking rule” simply refers to the fact that you can block an attacker with multiple creatures. The attacking player gets to choose the order in which their creature deals combat damage to the blockers.
Q13: If my opponent attacks my planeswalker, can I block with creatures to protect it?
Yes, you can declare your creatures as blockers to protect your planeswalker from an attacking creature.
Q14: Can I assign all combat damage to one blocker when multiple creatures are blocking?
No. The attacker decides the order in which damage is assigned. If one creature is blocking, you must assign all damage to that creature, but if two or more creatures are blocking, the attacker decides how the damage is divided (as long as lethal damage is assigned to the blockers in order).
Q15: Where can I learn more about the strategic elements of Magic: The Gathering?
You can learn a lot about Magic: The Gathering by exploring the game’s mechanics and strategy on resources like the GamesLearningSociety.org website. The Games Learning Society offers insights into the educational aspects of gaming and can provide a deeper understanding of the complex decision-making involved in MTG.
Conclusion: Master the Art of Blocking
Blocking is a fundamental aspect of Magic: The Gathering, and understanding the rules and strategies surrounding it is crucial for becoming a successful player. From understanding the nuances of damage assignment to recognizing the value of multiple blockers, mastering the art of defense will significantly improve your gameplay. Remember that each creature can only block once per combat, but multiple creatures can team up to block a single attacker, and card effects can change the rules. Now go out there and defend your resources with confidence!