A.37 - Trample


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A.37.1- The ability is written "Trample". [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9]

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A.37.2- Trample modifies the rules for assigning combat damage when a creature with Trample is attacking. Trample has no effect if the creature is blocking or while not in combat. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9a]

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A.37.3- If all the creatures blocking a Trample attacker receive lethal damage (or more), any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9b] You are not required to assign damage to the defending player and you are not required to divide the damage among the blockers in any particular way, but if you do assign it so that all the blockers receive lethal damage, you have the option to assign to the defending player. For example, if a Force of Nature (8/8 Trample) is blocked by three 2/2 creatures, you could a) assign all 8 damage to one blocker, b) 4 to each of two blockers, c) 3 to one 3 to another and 2 to the third, d) 3 to one, 2 to each other, and 1 to the defending player, e) 2 to each blocker and 2 to the defending player, and so on. [D'Angelo 2001/08/15]

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A.37.4- If all blocking creatures are removed from combat, all of the Trample creature's damage is assigned to the defending player. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9c]

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A.37.5- If a blocking creature is to receive damage from more than one attacking creature because it blocked multiple attackers (due to an ability or because the attackers were Banded), the player assigning the damage may assign the non-Trample creature's damage first in order to maximize the amount that can be assigned to the defending player. (Note that the damage is really assigned all at once, not "first" and "next", but it is easier to explain this way.) [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9f]

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A.37.6- Trample is a non-cumulative ability. Having Trample more than once gives no additional effect. See Rule A.1.2. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9g]

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A.37.7- Trample is a static ability. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9a]

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A.37.8- Assigning damage from a Trample creature only considers the actual toughness of the creature, not any abilities or effects that might prevent or redirect damage once it is assigned. For example, if a 2/2 creature with Protection from Green blocked a Force of Nature, you would only need to assign 2 damage to it, even though that damage will be prevented by the ability. Another way of thinking of this is that you need to assign enough damage that the creature would be lethally damaged if nothing prevented or redirected the damage. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9e]

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A.37.Ruling.1- If a creature was damaged prior to combat damage being assigned (by a spell or during the first strike combat damage step), you only need to assign enough additional damage to make the creature have damage on it equal to its toughness before satisfying the Trample rules. In other words, enough to make the creature have lethal damage (see Rule K.10.4). [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 502.9b]

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