How does one creature blocking multiple attackers work?

Asked by FierceTierce 10 years ago

If one creature were to block two or more attackers, say with Brave the Sands on your battlefield, would the blocker deal damage equal to its power to each attacker and each attacker deal its power to the defender? Or would the blocker only deal damage to one attacker?

sonnet666 says... Accepted answer #1

Pretty much the same as when an attacking creature is blocked by two or more blockers:

-509.3. Third, for each blocking creature, the defending player announces that creatures damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures its blocking in an order of that players choice. (During the combat damage step, a blocking creature cant assign combat damage to a creature its blocking unless each creature ahead of that blocked creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesnt use the stack.

- 510.1d A blocking creature assigns combat damage to the creatures its blocking. If it isnt currently blocking any creatures (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage. If its blocking exactly one creature, it assigns all its combat damage to that creature. If its blocking two or more creatures, it assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. This may allow the blocking creature to divide its combat damage. However, it cant assign combat damage to a creature that its blocking unless, when combat damage assignments are complete, each creature that precedes that blocked creature is assigned lethal damage. When checking for assigned lethal damage, take into account damage already marked on the creature and damage from other creatures thats being assigned during the same combat damage step, but not any abilities or effects that might change the amount of damage thats actually dealt. An amount of damage thats greater than a creatures lethal damage may be assigned to it.

Neither attacking creature will see the other or do anything unusual.

April 25, 2015 4 a.m.

FierceTierce says... #2

Makes sense. So defender decides where the damage would go but it needs to assign lethal damage to one creature before it assigns damage to the next? Thanks for the answer.

April 25, 2015 4:05 a.m.