What exactly is "Lethal Damage"
Asked by Gamer7129 14 years ago
Is lethal damage equal to or greater than the creature's toughness, assuming the source doesn't have deathtouch, or is it the remaining damage required to kill a creature. For example, can a prodigal pyromancer's ability deal lethal damage to a 5/5 who has recieved 4 damage prior?
Lethal damage is the definition of an amount of damage dealt to a creature that is hight enough to cause it to be destroyed as a state-based action. The amount is the quantity of damage that was marked on that creature and not it's toughness.
And yes, the damage deal to a creature is marked on it until the cleanup step
119.6. Damage marked on a creature remains until the cleanup step, even if that permanent stops being a creature. If the total damage marked on a creature is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed as a state-based action (see rule 704). All damage marked on a permanent is removed when it regenerates (see rule 701.11, Regenerate) and during the cleanup step (see rule 514.2).
sporkife says... Accepted answer #1
lethal damage is enough to kill the creature, so an x/5 with 4 damage marked on it only need be assigned 1 damage from a creature with trample, say.
March 27, 2011 10:02 p.m.