It is my understanding that if you have a 3/3 double strike creature with lifelink and you hit a 1/1 creature with no abilities, that you will gain 3 life from the first strike of double strike and that the 1/1 creature is no longer there for the normal combat to occur so the damage from the normal combat doesn't get applied. Is that correct?
If the above is correct, what happens if a 3/3 double strike and trample creature hits a 3/3 defender with no other abilities? I could see an argument that the normal damage doesn't occur because there is no creature to assign it to. Can you simply assign the full amount of the normal combat damage to the player because of the trample?
In an example where the defending creature's toughness is different, it's cut and dry as the first strike or normal combat damage will trample onto the player.
It is my understanding that if you have a 3/3 double strike creature with lifelink and you hit a 1/1 creature with no abilities, that you will gain 3 life from the first strike of double strike and that the 1/1 creature is no longer there for the normal combat to occur so the damage from the normal combat doesn't get applied. Is that correct?
If the above is correct, what happens if a 3/3 double strike and trample creature hits a 3/3 defender with no other abilities? I could see an argument that the normal damage doesn't occur because there is no creature to assign it to. Can you simply assign the full amount of the normal combat damage to the player because of the trample?
You not only can, you must. If a creature with trample that was blocked has no more blockers as combat damage is assigned, all is assigned to the defending player or planeswalker. This is relevant not only in the trample+double strike case, but also when the attacker just has trample and the blocker is removed from combat before the combat damage step.
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
As far as I understand it, in your first scenario, you would only gain 3 life from the first swing, but once it went to normal combat damage, the creature would be dead, and is blocked, so therefore assigns no more damage.
In your second scenario, yes, you would gain all 6 life. 3 from the first strike damage and killing the blocker, and the other 3 from its normal combat step trampling through to the opponent.
If the above is correct, what happens if a 3/3 double strike and trample creature hits a 3/3 defender with no other abilities? I could see an argument that the normal damage doesn't occur because there is no creature to assign it to. Can you simply assign the full amount of the normal combat damage to the player because of the trample?
In an example where the defending creature's toughness is different, it's cut and dry as the first strike or normal combat damage will trample onto the player.
You not only can, you must. If a creature with trample that was blocked has no more blockers as combat damage is assigned, all is assigned to the defending player or planeswalker. This is relevant not only in the trample+double strike case, but also when the attacker just has trample and the blocker is removed from combat before the combat damage step.
In your second scenario, yes, you would gain all 6 life. 3 from the first strike damage and killing the blocker, and the other 3 from its normal combat step trampling through to the opponent.