How does double blocking work? Asked by ElizabeththeDragon 8 years ago Straight forward here, a 7/7 creature attacks, I have two 4/4 creatures and I block the 7/7. Do both those creatures die because they both take 7 damage or does 1 live because 4 is dealt to one and the remaining 3 is dealt to the other? Mar 28, 2011 So I'm new to Magic and I'm not completely clear on blocking. When you block one attacker with multiple defenders, how is the damage distributed/who decides? And do blocking creatures all deal damage back to the attacker? For example, if an 8/8 is blocked by four 2/2's, does each 2/2 deal 2 damage to the 8/8 and destroy it? Sep 08, 2016 If two or more creatures are blocking it, it assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. This may allow the blocked creature to divide its combat damage. However, it can’t assign combat damage to a creature that’s blocking it unless, when combat damage assignments are complete. Judge Question: Enrage and double blocks. The first only triggers once regardless of how many creatures block, the second triggers for each creature that blocks. First strike and double strike create two combat damage steps so potentially two distinct moments of damage that the enrage trigger could trigger for.

Mtg How Is Dmg Distributed When Blocking Two Creatures Youtube
Mtg How Is Dmg Distributed When Blocking Two Creatures Online

It’s no Hundred-Handed One, but Watcher in the Web does a pretty mean impression. Just in case you’ve ever wanted to block eight attacking creatures with one 2/5 with reach, Watcher is your spider.

Of course, with these rule-bending cards come complications–and that’s what we’re going to clarify in today’s Rules Tip!

When a Watcher in the Web blocks multiple creatures, each of those attacking creatures deals its damage normally; e.g., a 2/2 Zombie token, a 2/2 Wolf token, and a 1/1 Cleric token.
The three tokens will deal a total of 5 damage to Watcher. Additionally, the defending player decides the order in which Watcher’s damage is going to be dealt. Just like the attacking player chooses damage assignment order for an attacker blocked by multiple creatures, the defending player chooses the order in which the attacking creatures will be dealt damage by Watcher. For example, the defending player decides the order Watcher will assign its damage is Wolf, Zombie, then Cleric. When damage is assigned, the Watcher has to assign lethal damage to the first creature before it can assign any damage to the next. So Watcher in the Web will deal 2 damage to the Wolf token, and zero to the Zombie
and Cleric.

Mtg How Is Dmg Distributed When Blocking Two Creatures

Let’s try another scenario. The active player has declared two 4/4 Angel tokens as attackers.
The defending player “double blocks” with two Watchers in the Web (i.e., each Watcher is assigned as a blocker for both Angels)–now what happens? Well, the result doesn’t change all that much.

The attacking player will choose the order of blockers for each Angel, and the defending player chooses the order in which each Watcher will deal its damage to the creatures it is blocking.

Mtg How Is Dmg Distributed When Blocking Two Creatures Youtube

Now what if one Watcher blocks a 2/2 Wolf, a 2/2 Zombie and a 4/4 with trample? Can any damage trample over? Well, when figuring out whether “lethal damage” is being assigned (which must be done before any trampling can happen), you get to consider: a) damage already marked on the creature, b) damage from any source with deathtouch, and c) damage being assigned by other creatures at the same time. So the short answer is yes, you can assign trample in excess of the Watcher’s toughness, because there is a total of 8 damage being assigned at once, and 3 can trample over.

You’re more likely to see Watcher in the Web in a Draft or Sealed event, but knowing how blocking multiple creatures with one creature is always good to know! Hopefully, this helped clear up some of the confusion.

Mtg How Is Dmg Distributed When Blocking Two Creatures Online

Today’s Rules Tip written by Jeremy Fain, L2 from Tustin, CA