Rules about doubling damage, specifically Obosh, the Preypiercer

Asked by musej 3 years ago

I have a question about the mechanic of double damage. Does this rule apply during a first-strike attack phase essentially making it double-strike, or does it occur during regular combat?

For some reference, I have Obosh, the Preypiercer on the battlefield. I attack with Satyr Hoplite , and he is blocked by Arctic Foxes . Would Satyr Hoplite deal damage, essentially as first-strike, before Arctic Foxes , or do they both deal damage simultaneously to one another?

I am pretty sure it is simultaneous, but just want some clarification. The rule that has been applied for trample with Obosh, the Preypiercer seems to confuse things more than help. The rule being it applies damage twice rather than just doubling the damage. The way the rule had been applied makes me think Obosh, the Preypiercer is intended as double-strike rather than simply double damage.

Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #1

When the creature deals damage the number that is dealt is twice the unmodified damage. It does not change when or how that damage is dealt.

Combat damage from a creature without first strike will be dealt during the normal combat damage step.

Combat damage from a creature with first strike will be dealt in the first strike combat damage step.

Combat damage from a creature with doublestrike will be dealt in both and each will be doubled.

Damage from a creature with infect will still cause -1/-1 counters or poison counters, the number of counters will be doubled.

The ruling you found referring to trample is stating that when assigning damage the game will not "look ahead" to see the modified damage. If you attack with a Goliath Beetle and it is blocked by a Grizzly Bears you must assign at least 2 damage before trampling any over. It doesn't matter that a single point would be lethal after the doubling.

The same damage assignment logic applies to multiple blockers and other things that distribute damage like the Ravenous Gigantotherium used as an example in the next ruling. In all cases the unmodified damage is assigned and then the damage is doubled when dealt.

March 20, 2021 12:06 p.m.