As a Magic: The Gathering player, you may have come across the term “trample” and wondered how it interacts with indestructible creatures. Trample is a combat ability that allows a creature to assign excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker if the creature is blocked by another creature. Indestructible, on the other hand, is a creature ability that prevents it from being destroyed by damage or effects.
In this article, I will explore the question: Does trample go through indestructible in MTG?
To answer this question, we first need to understand how trample works in MTG. Trample is a static ability that modifies the rules for assigning combat damage.
When a creature with trample attacks and is blocked by one or more creatures, it can assign lethal damage to each of those creatures and the rest of the damage to the defending player or planeswalker. If the blocking creatures are destroyed or removed from combat, the attacking creature can still assign excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
Now, let’s discuss the nature of indestructible. Indestructible is a creature ability that prevents it from being destroyed by damage or effects. This means that an indestructible creature cannot be destroyed by lethal damage, but it can still take damage.
With these two concepts in mind, we can now answer the question of whether trample goes through indestructible in MTG.
Key Takeaways – Trample Go Through Indestructible
- Trample allows excess damage to be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker if the attacking creature is blocked by another creature.
- Indestructible prevents a creature from being destroyed by damage or effects, but it can still take damage.
- Trample damage can affect indestructible creatures, but only excess damage beyond what is required to destroy the creature will be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
Understanding Trample in MTG
Trample is a keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a creature to deal excess combat damage to a player or planeswalker it’s attacking. In this section, I will explain the mechanics of trample and its interactions with other keywords.
Trample Mechanics
When a creature with trample attacks, it assigns its combat damage to the blocking creature(s) and the defending player or planeswalker. If the attacking creature assigns lethal damage to all blocking creatures, any remaining damage is considered excess damage. This excess damage can be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
For example, if a 5/5 creature with trample is blocked by a 2/2 creature, the attacking player can assign 2 damage to the blocking creature and 3 damage to the defending player. The blocking creature will be destroyed, and the defending player will take 3 damage.
Interactions with Other Keywords
Trample interacts with other keywords in interesting ways. For example, if a creature with trample is blocked by a creature with indestructible, the attacking player must assign enough damage to the blocker that the resulting damage, if dealt and not influenced by prevention or redirection effects or by indestructible, would be literally lethal.
This means that trample can go through indestructible creatures, as long as the attacking creature assigns enough damage to the blocker.
Another interesting interaction is between trample and deathtouch. If a creature with trample and deathtouch deals any amount of damage to a creature, that creature is destroyed.
This means that a creature with trample and deathtouch can assign just 1 damage to a blocking creature and the rest to the defending player, effectively bypassing the blocker.
The Nature of Indestructible
Defining Indestructibility
In Magic: The Gathering, “Indestructible” is a keyword ability that allows a creature to remain on the battlefield regardless of the amount of damage it takes from combat or non-combat sources. This means that a creature with indestructible cannot be destroyed by lethal damage, nor can it be destroyed by spells or abilities that say “destroy.”
Indestructible is one of the evergreen keywords in Magic: The Gathering, which means that it appears in almost every set. It is a powerful ability that can make creatures difficult to deal with, especially in combat.
Best Indestructible Cards
Some of the best indestructible cards in Magic: The Gathering are Embercleave and Avacyn, Angel of Hope.
Embercleave is an artifact equipment that gives the equipped creature +1/+1 and double strike. It also has a triggered ability that allows the equipped creature to deal excess combat damage to the defending player or planeswalker as trample damage.
Avacyn, Angel of Hope is a legendary creature that gives all other permanents you control indestructible. She is a powerful card that can protect your creatures and other permanents from destruction.
Combat Damage and Blocking Rules
As a Magic: The Gathering player, understanding the combat damage and blocking rules is crucial in winning games. In this section, I will discuss the rules surrounding assigning combat damage and the dynamics of blocking creatures.
Assigning Combat Damage
During combat, the attacking player assigns damage to the defending player and/or their blocking creatures. The attacking player must assign lethal damage to each blocking creature before assigning any damage to the defending player. Lethal damage is an amount of damage equal to or greater than the blocking creature’s toughness.
However, if the attacking creature has trample, it can assign any excess damage to the defending player after assigning lethal damage to all blocking creatures.
This means that if a 4/4 creature with trample is blocked by a 0/1 indestructible creature, the attacking player can assign 1 damage to the blocking creature and 3 damage to the defending player.
Blocking Creatures Dynamics
Blocking creatures can only block one attacking creature at a time. If the blocking creature is destroyed or removed from combat before the damage step, it will not deal combat damage to the attacking creature.
Additionally, if the blocking creature has an ability that prevents damage, such as protection, the attacking creature will not deal combat damage to the blocking creature.
It is important to note that indestructible creatures can still be dealt damage. However, they cannot be destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy.”
This means that if an attacking creature with trample assigns lethal damage to an indestructible blocking creature, the excess damage will still be assigned to the defending player.
Does Trample Go Through Indestructible Creatures?
As an experienced MTG player, I know that Trample is a powerful ability that allows an attacking creature to deal its excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker. However, when it comes to indestructible creatures, things can get a bit tricky. So, does Trample damage affect indestructible creatures? The answer is yes, but only under certain conditions.
When an attacking creature with Trample is blocked by an indestructible creature, the attacker must assign lethal damage to the blocking creature before any excess damage can be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
This means that the indestructible creature will still take damage, but only up to its toughness. The rest of the damage will go through to the defending player or planeswalker.
It is important to note that indestructible creatures can still take damage like normal creatures, and will still be counted as having that damage for anything that cares about it.
So, if an indestructible creature takes damage from a Trample attack, that damage will still be marked on the creature. However, the creature will not be destroyed or sent to the graveyard due to having indestructible.
Strategies Involving Trample and Indestructible
Building a Deck with Trample and Indestructible
When building a deck with trample and indestructible, it is important to consider the colors and mana ramp available to you. Gruul colors are a great choice for this strategy, as they offer both trample and indestructible abilities, as well as efficient mana ramp options.
One effective approach is to include creatures with both abilities, such as [[Ghalta, Primal Hunger]] and [[Rhonas the Indomitable]]. Additionally, including spells that grant indestructible, such as [[Heroic Intervention]], can provide extra protection for your creatures.
Mana ramp is also crucial for this strategy, as it allows you to quickly get your powerful creatures onto the battlefield. Cards like [[Llanowar Elves]] and [[Rampant Growth]] are great options for this.
Combat Strategies and Tactics
When it comes to combat, trample and indestructible can be a potent combination. One effective tactic is to use your indestructible creatures to block your opponent’s creatures, while also dealing damage to them with trample.
It is also important to consider the order in which damage is assigned. Trample allows excess damage to be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker after all blocking creatures have been dealt lethal damage.
This means that even if your opponent blocks with an indestructible creature, you can still deal damage to them by assigning excess damage to their life total.
Additional Rules and Interactions
Trample Combined with Other Abilities
Trample is a powerful ability that can be combined with other abilities to create a devastating attack. For example, combining trample with deathtouch allows a creature to deal lethal damage to both the blocking creature and the defending player.
If the blocking creature has indestructible, the attacking creature will still deal damage to the defending player as long as it has trample.
Another ability that can be combined with trample is first strike.
If a creature with first strike and trample is blocked, it will deal damage to the blocking creature before regular combat damage is dealt. If the blocking creature is destroyed by the first strike damage, the attacking creature will be able to assign all of its combat damage to the defending player.
Double strike is another ability that can be combined with trample. If a creature with double strike and trample is blocked, it will deal first strike damage to the blocking creature and regular combat damage to both the blocking creature and the defending player.
If the blocking creature is destroyed by the first strike damage, the attacking creature will be able to assign all of its regular combat damage to the defending player.
Rules Exceptions and Clarifications
There are some rules exceptions and clarifications that are important to keep in mind when dealing with trample and other abilities.
For example, if a creature with trample is blocked by a creature with indestructible, the attacking player must assign enough damage to the blocker that the resulting damage, if dealt and not influenced by prevention or redirection effects or by indestructible, would be literally lethal.
This means that the attacking player cannot assign all of the damage to the defending player if the blocking creature has enough toughness to survive the attack.
Lifelink is an ability that can also interact with trample.
If a creature with lifelink deals combat damage to a player, the attacking player gains that much life.
If the attacking creature has trample, the attacking player will gain life equal to the total amount of damage dealt, even if some of that damage is assigned to a blocking creature.
Infect and wither are abilities that can also interact with trample.
If a creature with infect or wither deals combat damage to a player, the defending player will receive that many poison counters or -1/-1 counters, respectively.
If the attacking creature has trample, the defending player will receive poison counters or -1/-1 counters equal to the total amount of damage dealt, even if some of that damage is assigned to a blocking creature.
Countering Indestructible Creatures
When facing an indestructible creature, it may seem like there’s no way to defeat it. However, there are several strategies that can be employed to counter an indestructible creature.
Removal Spells and Effects
One of the most straightforward ways to deal with an indestructible creature is to use removal spells or effects.
Cards like [[Swords to Plowshares]] or [[Path to Exile]] can exile the creature, thus bypassing its indestructible ability.
Other cards like [[Doom Blade]] or [[Murder]] can destroy the creature, even if it is indestructible.
It’s important to note that some indestructible creatures may have protection from certain colors or card types, so it’s crucial to choose the appropriate removal spell.
Prevention and Protection
Another way to counter an indestructible creature is to prevent or protect against its damage.
Cards like [[Fog]] or [[Holy Day]] can prevent all combat damage, rendering the indestructible creature harmless.
Alternatively, cards like [[Ghostly Prison]] or [[Sphere of Safety]] can make it difficult for the creature to attack at all.
Additionally, cards like [[Mother of Runes]] or [[Lightning Greaves]] can provide protection for your own creatures, making them difficult to target with removal spells or effects.
It’s also worth noting that some indestructible creatures may have a weakness that can be exploited.
For example, a creature with indestructible may still be vulnerable to sacrifice effects, such as [[Diabolic Edict]] or [[Innocent Blood]].
Additionally, some indestructible creatures may have a high mana cost, making them vulnerable to cards like [[Counterspell]] or [[Mana Leak]].
Advanced Gameplay and Card Interactions
In-depth Analysis of Trample vs. Indestructible
When a creature with trample attacks, it can assign any excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker.
However, if the defending creature has indestructible, it will not be destroyed by the damage assigned to it. Instead, the damage will be ignored, and the rest of the damage will be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
According to the comprehensive rules, trample is defined as follows: “If a creature with trample is blocked, but there are no creatures blocking it, all its combat damage is assigned to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking.”
Indestructible is defined as follows: “Effects that say the object can’t be destroyed, that it can’t be sacrificed, or that it can’t die aren’t the same as effects that say the object can’t be put into a graveyard.”
One important thing to note is that trample only cares about assigning lethal damage to the blocking creature, not necessarily destroying it.
This means that even though the indestructible creature won’t be destroyed, trample damage will still be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
Case Studies: Notable Cards and Combos
There are several notable cards and combos that involve trample and indestructible.
One example is the card [[Blightsteel Colossus]] which has both trample and indestructible.
This means that if it attacks and is blocked, it can assign any excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker, and it won’t be destroyed by any damage assigned to it.
Another example is the card [[Worldspine Wurm]] which has trample and the ability to create three 5/5 Wurm tokens when it dies.
If Worldspine Wurm is blocked by an indestructible creature, it will assign damage to the defending player or planeswalker, and then when it dies, it will create the Wurm tokens.
Frequently Asked Questions – Trample Go Through Indestructible
How does trample interact with indestructible creatures in MTG?
Trample allows creatures to deal excess combat damage to the defending player or planeswalker after assigning lethal damage to all blocking creatures.
Indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed, but they can still be dealt damage.
Therefore, if a creature with trample is blocked by an indestructible creature, the attacking player must assign lethal damage to the blocker, but any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
Can a creature with trample deal excess damage to a player if it’s blocked by an indestructible creature?
Yes, a creature with trample can deal excess damage to a player or planeswalker if it’s blocked by an indestructible creature.
As mentioned above, the attacking player must assign lethal damage to the blocker, but any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
What happens when a creature with both deathtouch and trample attacks a creature with indestructible?
If a creature with both deathtouch and trample attacks a creature with indestructible, the attacking player only needs to assign 1 damage to the blocker to be considered lethal damage. The rest of the damage can be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.
Is a creature with protection from a color affected by trample damage from a creature of that color?
No, a creature with protection from a color cannot be dealt damage by sources of that color, including trample damage from a creature of that color.
In MTG, does assigning lethal damage to an indestructible blocker allow trample damage to carry over?
Yes, assigning lethal damage to an indestructible blocker allows trample damage to carry over to the defending player or planeswalker.
How is damage calculated when a creature with trample blocks or is blocked by a creature with indestructible?
When a creature with trample blocks or is blocked by a creature with indestructible, the attacking player must assign lethal damage to the blocker.
Any excess damage is dealt to the attacking or defending player or planeswalker, depending on whether the creature is attacking or blocking.
