Prevent how many deathtouch trample damage?

Asked by fivestar 9 years ago

Here's the scenario:
Loyal Pegasus with 9 +1/+1 counter, along with a Mortal Obstinacy attached, which is a 12/11 flying creature. I also have Nyxborn Shieldmate with 3 +1/+1 counter on it, which makes it a 4/5 creature. There's also an Ajani, Mentor of Heroes on my board.

On the opposing side, there is a Satyr Rambler with Aspect of Gorgon attached, so he's a 3/4 deathtouch trampler. There's also a Borderland Minotaur and Fanatic of Mogis on his side.

I was at 5 life, and he is at 15. I attack with both of my creatures for lethal (16 damage total) while holding an Acolyte's Reward with 4 devotions on the board.

He blocks the 4/5 Nyxborn Shieldmate with his 3/4 deathtouch trample Satyr Rambler . Here's the question, if I use Acolyte's Reward on my shieldmate and redirect the damage to my opponent. Would that be 1 damage? or 3 damage?

I thought it would only be 1 damage because of the deathtouch trample scenario, so I just directed the damage to Satyr Rambler , and both Rambler and Shieldmate was removed from the battlefield.

Would appreciate your help answering this question, thanks!

-MisterJ- says... #1

If in this scenario you have 4 devotion to white and you attempt to cast Acolyte's Reward you will be able to prevent the next 4 damage dealt to target creature. Since you are the one attacking Trample does nothing in this scenario, Trample can only be used by attacking creatures, not blocking. Though the Deathtouch obviously does play a factor. Since you are preventing that damage it will not deal damage to your creature and your creature will live.

Acolyte's Reward will redirect 3 damage since the Satyr Rambler is enchanted with Aspect of Gorgon . Since the damage Nyxborn Shieldmate is doing was NOT prevented there would not be a reason to redirect that damage back to the blocking creature. The Satyr Rambler will die from combat damage alone and the Nyxborn Shieldmate will survive combat since no damage was dealt to it. So the best choice would be to direct that damage to the player.

July 19, 2014 5:14 a.m.

fivestar says... #2

But the Satyr Rambler now has deathtouch, wouldn't it be dealing only 1 "lethal" damage to my Nyxborn Shieldmate ? So when it comes to Acolyte's Reward preventing damage, only 1 damage is prevented / can be redirected?

July 19, 2014 7:53 a.m.

Named_Tawyny says... #3

No. Damage can only be divided up when there are multiple targets for that damage (eg if a creature blocks multiple attackers, or is blocked by multiple defenders, or is attacking with trample and has power greater than the blocker's toughness).

When blocking just one creature, all of the damage is assigned to that creature. (Think of it as overkill. They still assign the damage, even if it's not needed)

July 19, 2014 8:12 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #4

@Named_Tawyny: Note that damage never has targets. Spells and abilities that deal damage may have targets, but the damage itself (especially combat damage) never targets anything.

@fivestar: I think you're confused because you're forgetting that trample is meaningless unless the creature that has trample is attacking. Blocking creatures always deal damage equal to their power to whichever creature(s) they're blocking.

Satyr Rambler , now a 3/4, would attempt to deal 3 damage to Nyxborn Shieldmate , but the damage is redirected instead to whichever second target you named for Acolyte's Reward . Acolyte's Reward says to prevent up to X damage, not to prevent lethal damage. Even if it did prevent lethal damage, it wouldn't break 3 deathtouch damage into parcels of 1 damage; the entire quantity of deathtouch damage is considered lethal.

July 19, 2014 11:04 a.m.

Named_Tawyny says... #5

@Epochalyptik

Fair point. I should be more careful with my language - I tried that by saying target rather than 'targetting'. What would you suggest is a good neutral noun to use for the creature to whom you're dealing damage?

July 20, 2014 7:28 p.m.

This discussion has been closed