Mastering Trample in Magic: The Gathering: A Comprehensive Guide

Trample is a keyword ability found on creatures in Magic: The Gathering that significantly impacts combat. It fundamentally alters how damage is assigned when an attacking creature with trample is blocked. Essentially, trample allows the attacking creature to deal excess combat damage beyond what’s necessary to defeat its blockers to the defending player or planeswalker. You must first assign enough damage to the blocking creatures to deal lethal damage. Once lethal damage has been assigned to all blockers, you can assign any remaining damage to the player or planeswalker being attacked. Understanding trample is crucial for effective combat strategy and maximizing damage output.

Understanding the Core Mechanics of Trample

How Trample Damage is Assigned

The core of trample lies in the sequence of damage assignment. When an attacking creature with trample is blocked, the controller of the attacking creature makes the following decisions:

1. Lethal Damage Assignment: First, you must assign enough damage to each blocking creature to destroy it. “Lethal damage” usually equates to the blocker’s toughness, but effects like deathtouch can modify this.

2. Excess Damage Trampling Over: After assigning lethal damage to all blocking creatures, any remaining damage from the attacker can be assigned to the player or planeswalker being attacked. This is the “trample” effect.

Example: A 5/5 creature with trample is blocked by a 2/2 creature. You must assign at least 2 damage to the 2/2 blocker. The remaining 3 damage can then be assigned to the defending player.

Key Considerations for Trample

• Order of Blockers: If multiple creatures block a trampling attacker, you decide the order in which you assign damage. You can assign damage to the blockers in any sequence you choose, potentially maximizing the amount of damage that tramples through.

• Prevent Damage Effects: You must assign damage as if no damage prevention effects are in place. Even if a blocker has an ability that would prevent damage, you still need to assign lethal damage to it before any damage tramples over.

• Deathtouch Interaction: If a creature has both deathtouch and trample, assigning even 1 damage to a blocking creature is considered lethal damage. This can drastically increase the amount of damage that tramples through.

• Indestructible Creatures: If a creature blocking has indestructible, you must still assign lethal damage to it equal to its toughness, however this will not destroy the indestructible creature. Any remaining damage can trample over.

Trample: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What happens if a creature with trample is blocked by multiple creatures?

You, as the attacking player, decide the order in which you’ll assign damage to the blockers. You must assign lethal damage to each blocker in the chosen order before any damage can trample over to the player or planeswalker. Strategic damage assignment is key.

2. Does trample work against creatures with protection?

Yes, but with a caveat. You must still assign damage equal to the creature’s toughness to the creature with protection, even if that damage would be prevented. The remaining damage then tramples over to the player. For example, a 7/7 trampler blocked by a 2/2 with protection from green still assigns 5 damage to the player.

3. What happens if my creature with trample is blocked by a creature with deathtouch?

If your trampling creature is blocked by a creature with deathtouch, and neither has first strike or double strike, both creatures deal damage simultaneously. If your trampling creature survives the combat damage, any remaining damage, beyond that which constitutes “lethal” damage which is only 1 with deathtouch, tramples over.

4. How does first strike or double strike interact with trample?

First strike and double strike can significantly impact trample. If the first strike damage is enough to destroy all blockers, the full power of the trampling creature will be dealt to the defending player or planeswalker during the regular combat damage step. With double strike, the same logic applies for the first combat damage step, with any damage able to trample over in the second combat damage step.

5. Can trample damage be prevented?

The trample ability itself isn’t directly prevented, but the damage dealt to the player or planeswalker can be prevented using cards like Fog. However, you still must assign what would be lethal damage to each blocker regardless of prevention effects.

6. Does trample work with lifelink?

Yes. If a creature with both trample and lifelink deals damage to a player, you gain life equal to the damage dealt to that player. Similarly, if it deals damage to a blocking creature, you gain life equal to the damage dealt to that creature.

7. If a creature with trample dies during combat, does the damage still trample over?

If the creature with trample dies before dealing combat damage, no damage is dealt, so there’s nothing to trample. However, if it deals combat damage simultaneously with a blocker (e.g., both have deathtouch), and enough damage was assigned to blockers to be lethal, the remaining damage, if any, will trample over.

8. How does trample interact with indestructible creatures?

You must still assign lethal damage to indestructible blockers before any damage can trample through. “Lethal damage” is equal to the toughness of the indestructible creature, even though the indestructible creature won’t be destroyed.

9. Can I choose not to assign damage to the defending player if my creature has trample?

No. Once you’ve assigned lethal damage to all blockers, any remaining damage must be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker. You can’t choose to forgo the trample effect.

10. Does trample apply to non-combat damage?

No. Trample only applies to combat damage dealt during the combat damage step. It doesn’t affect damage dealt by spells or abilities. The comprehensive rules state 702.19a: “Trample is a static ability that modifies the rules for assigning an attacking creature’s combat damage. The ability has no effect when a creature with trample is blocking or is dealing noncombat damage.”

11. What if the blocker’s toughness is reduced to 0 during combat?

If a blocker’s toughness is reduced to 0 during combat, and the attacker has trample, the attacker must assign lethal damage (which is 0 in this case) to the blocker. All remaining damage can then be assigned to the player or planeswalker.

12. Does trample “go through” hexproof?

Hexproof doesn’t directly interact with trample. Hexproof prevents spells and abilities controlled by an opponent from targeting the permanent with hexproof. It doesn’t prevent a creature from blocking an attacking creature with trample.

13. How does trample work with shield counters?

Shield counters prevent the creature from being destroyed by the assigned damage. However, in a trample situation you must still assign damage equal to the creature’s toughness, and any leftover damage can go through to the player or planeswalker being attacked.

14. Can trample be given to all creatures on the battlefield?

Yes, certain cards grant trample to all creatures you control. A prime example of this is Akroma’s Memorial, which grants all your creatures trample, flying, first strike, haste, vigilance, and protection from red and black.

15. Where can I learn more about advanced Magic: The Gathering strategies?

There are many resources available for learning more about Magic: The Gathering, including websites, forums, and articles. Understanding the intricate rules and card interactions can be significantly enhanced through educational gaming. Organizations like the Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org, explore the educational potential of games and can provide valuable insights into strategic thinking and decision-making processes relevant to games like Magic: The Gathering.

By understanding the nuances of trample, players can leverage this powerful ability to dominate the battlefield and secure victory in their Magic: The Gathering games.