509.2. Second, for each attacking creature that's become blocked, the active player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that player's choice. (During the combat damage step, an attacking creature can't assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless each creature ahead of that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
509.3. Third, for each blocking creature, the defending player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures it's blocking in an order of that player's choice. (During the combat damage step, a blocking creature can't assign combat damage to a creature it's blocking unless each creature ahead of that blocked creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
if I attack with a 1/6 and they block with three 2/2 creatures, since I can not assign lethal damage to the first creature in my damage assignment order, does this mean two of their creatures can't assign damage?
Also, If I attack with a 5/5 and they block with Drogskol Captain and Aurora Eidolon, If i choose the captain first, does it die making the spirit a 2/2 again and killing it next
if I attack with a 1/6 and they block with three 2/2 creatures, since I can not assign lethal damage to the first creature in my damage assignment order, does this mean two of their creatures can't assign damage?
No each of your opponents creatures will deal 2 damage to your guy and your ceature will deal one damage to one of those creatures. All damage is done at the same time.
Also, If I attack with a 5/5 and they block with Drogskol Captain and Aurora Eidolon, If i choose the captain first, does it die making the spirit a 2/2 again and killing it next
You got the right idea here, You can assign three damage to the captain and two to the Aurora. After the captain dies sba will be checked and they will see a creature with two toughness and two damage marked on it and then it will also die.
No each of your opponents creatures will deal 2 damage to your guy and your ceature will deal one damage to one of those creatures. All damage is done at the same time.
Under an old set of rules you used to be able to divide up the combat damage being dealt as you wished.
So if your 5/x creature was being blocked by 5 x/2 you would be able to assign 1 point of damage to each of them and then be able to kill them all off with a pyroclasm or earthquake for 1.
Under the current rules system your 5/x creature has to assign 2 points of damage to the first creature in front of it, then 2 points to the second and final 1 point to the third leaving the 4th and 5th creatures untouched.
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- Edgar Allan Poe
Under an old set of rules you used to be able to divide up the combat damage being dealt as you wished.
So if your 5/x creature was being blocked by 5 x/2 you would be able to assign 1 point of damage to each of them and then be able to kill them all off with a pyroclasm or earthquake for 1.
Under the current rules system your 5/x creature has to assign 2 points of damage to the first creature in front of it, then 2 points to the second and final 1 point to the third leaving the 4th and 5th creatures untouched.
The point of this is to allow damage-prevention effects to still be relevant* after the rules change (as combat damage don't use the stack anymore, you can't cast something like Shielded Passage in response to it).
Let's say you attack with a 3/6 and it is blocked by three 2/2s.
Old rules: combat damage step starts, you assign 2 damage to a blocker and 1 to another; opponent assigns a total of 6 damage to your attacker; damage goes to the stack, opponent responds with Shielded Passage targeting the one 2/2 that's going to receive 2 damage, your 3/6 dies and all 2/2s survive.
New rules: still at declare blockers step, you announce which 2/2 will be dealt damage first, which one is the second, and which is the third. Opponent casts Shielded Passage on the first. At combat damage step, you must assign 2 damage to the first 2/2, and at most 1 to the second one; all three survive. As your 3/6 receives 6 damage from the blockers, it dies.
New combat rules, but without this specific must-assign-lethal-damage rule: like above, but here you can assign only 1 damage to the first 2/2, and 2 to the second, killing it. Your 3/6 still dies.
*Or, in reality, so that damage prevention on creatures isn't even less relevant than it already is
509.2. Second, for each attacking creature that's become blocked, the active player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures blocking it in an order of that player's choice. (During the combat damage step, an attacking creature can't assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless each creature ahead of that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
509.3. Third, for each blocking creature, the defending player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures it's blocking in an order of that player's choice. (During the combat damage step, a blocking creature can't assign combat damage to a creature it's blocking unless each creature ahead of that blocked creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
if I attack with a 1/6 and they block with three 2/2 creatures, since I can not assign lethal damage to the first creature in my damage assignment order, does this mean two of their creatures can't assign damage?
Also, If I attack with a 5/5 and they block with Drogskol Captain and Aurora Eidolon, If i choose the captain first, does it die making the spirit a 2/2 again and killing it next
what does the bold part of 509.3 mean?
509.2 is for attacking creatures that are being blocked by more than one blocking creature.
I.E. Attacker A being blocked by Blockers A, B, and C. Attacking player chooses the order the attacker will assign damage to the defenders. First B, then C, then A.
509.3 is for blocking creatures that are blocking more than one attacking creature, Two-Headed Dragon.
I.E. Blocker A blocking Attackers A and B. Attacking player chooses the order the defender will assign damage to the attackers. First B, then A.
Not for deciding which blocking creature (A, B or C) does its damage first as all combat damage is dealt simultaneously.
509.3 doesn't apply to either of your scenarios as in both there is only one attacking creature being blocked by any one blocker.
But lets take your second scenario and reverse it
If they attack with Drogskol Captain, 2/2, and Aurora Eidolon, 2/2 with boost from the captain to 3/3, and I block both with a Two-Headed Dragon, 4/4, if I choose to do damage to the captain first and the Eidolon second, then two damage is assigned and dealt to each, the dragon dies, the captain dies making the spirit a 2/2 again with 2 damage marked on it and killing it the next time SBAs are checked. Edit: typos and clarification
Hope that helps.
What is defined as assigning lethal damage? if one of the creatures blocking is indestructible, or pro creatures, can I still assign lethal damage?
and with deathtouch, I only have to assign 1 damage to each creature, correct?
Lethal damage is damage equal to the creature's toughness. When assigning lethal damage, you consider damage already marked on the creature and damage being assigned to it by other creatures on the same damage assigning action.
You don't consider effects that prevent damage or saves the creature from being destroyed by it. Those apply later, when damage is dealt as assigned (a separated turn-based action) or when state-based actions are performed.
Any amount of damage is lethal if the source has deathtouch, so yes, only 1 point is enough assigning.
EDIT: big rules quote
2nd EDIT: bold on the relevant parts and itallics on the examples.
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 701.12, "Regenerate") and during the cleanup step (see rule 514.2).
510.1. First, the active player announces how each attacking creature assigns its combat damage, then the defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns its combat damage. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. A player assigns a creature's combat damage according to the following rules:
510.1a. Each attacking creature and each blocking creature assigns combat damage equal to its power. Creatures that would assign 0 or less damage this way don't assign combat damage at all.
(...)
510.1c. A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage. If exactly one creature is blocking it, it assigns all its combat damage to that creature. If two or more creatures are blocking it, it assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. This may allow the blocked creature to divide its combat damage. However, it can't assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless, when combat damage assignments are complete, each creature that precedes that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage. When checking for assigned lethal damage, take into account damage already marked on the creature and damage from other creatures that's being assigned during the same combat damage step, but not any abilities or effects that might change the amount of damage that's actually dealt. An amount of damage that's greater than a creature's lethal damage may be assigned to it.
Example: The damage assignment order of an attacking Vastwood Gorger (a 5/6 creature) is Pride Guardian (a 0/3 creature) then Llanowar Elves (a 1/1 creature). Vastwood Gorger can assign 3 damage to the Guardian and 2 damage to the Elves, 4 damage to the Guardian and 1 damage to the Elves, or 5 damage to the Guardian.
Example: The damage assignment order of an attacking Vastwood Gorger (a 5/6 creature) is Pride Guardian (a 0/3 creature) then Llanowar Elves (a 1/1 creature). During the declare blockers step, the defending player casts Giant Growth targeting Pride Guardian, which gives it +3/+3 until end of turn. Vastwood Gorger must assign its 5 damage to the Guardian.
Example: The damage assignment order of an attacking Vastwood Gorger (a 5/6 creature) is Pride Guardian (a 0/3 creature) then Llanowar Elves (a 1/1 creature). During the declare blockers step, the defending player casts Mending Hands targeting Pride Guardian, which prevents the next 4 damage that would be dealt to it. Vastwood Gorger can assign 3 damage to the Guardian and 2 damage to the Elves, 4 damage to the Guardian and 1 damage to the Elves, or 5 damage to the Guardian.
Example: The damage assignment order of an attacking Enormous Baloth (a 7/7 creature) is Trained Armodon (a 3/3 creature) that already has 2 damage marked on it, then Foriysian Brigade (a 2/4 creature that can block an additional creature), then Silverback Ape (a 5/5 creature). The damage assignment order of an attacking Durkwood Boars (a 4/4 creature) is the same Foriysian Brigade, then Goblin Piker (a 2/1 creature). Among other possibilities, the active player may have the Baloth assign 1 damage to the Armodon, 1 damage to the Brigade, and 5 damage to the Ape, and have the Boars assign 3 damage to the Brigade and 1 damage to the Piker.
*(there's a similar rule for blockers assigning damage)*
510.2. Second, all combat damage that's been assigned is dealt simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. No player has the chance to cast spells or activate abilities between the time combat damage is assigned and the time it's dealt. This is a change from previous rules.
509.3. Third, for each blocking creature, the defending player announces that creature's damage assignment order, which consists of the creatures it's blocking in an order of that player's choice. (During the combat damage step, a blocking creature can't assign combat damage to a creature it's blocking unless each creature ahead of that blocked creature in its order is assigned lethal damage.) This turn-based action doesn't use the stack.
if I attack with a 1/6 and they block with three 2/2 creatures, since I can not assign lethal damage to the first creature in my damage assignment order, does this mean two of their creatures can't assign damage?
Also, If I attack with a 5/5 and they block with Drogskol Captain and Aurora Eidolon, If i choose the captain first, does it die making the spirit a 2/2 again and killing it next
No each of your opponents creatures will deal 2 damage to your guy and your ceature will deal one damage to one of those creatures. All damage is done at the same time.
You got the right idea here, You can assign three damage to the captain and two to the Aurora. After the captain dies sba will be checked and they will see a creature with two toughness and two damage marked on it and then it will also die.
what does the bold part of 509.3 mean?
Under an old set of rules you used to be able to divide up the combat damage being dealt as you wished.
So if your 5/x creature was being blocked by 5 x/2 you would be able to assign 1 point of damage to each of them and then be able to kill them all off with a pyroclasm or earthquake for 1.
Under the current rules system your 5/x creature has to assign 2 points of damage to the first creature in front of it, then 2 points to the second and final 1 point to the third leaving the 4th and 5th creatures untouched.
- H.L Mencken
I Became insane with long Intervals of horrible Sanity
All Religion, my friend is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination and poetry.
- Edgar Allan Poe
The Crafters' Rules Guru
The point of this is to allow damage-prevention effects to still be relevant* after the rules change (as combat damage don't use the stack anymore, you can't cast something like Shielded Passage in response to it).
Let's say you attack with a 3/6 and it is blocked by three 2/2s.
Old rules: combat damage step starts, you assign 2 damage to a blocker and 1 to another; opponent assigns a total of 6 damage to your attacker; damage goes to the stack, opponent responds with Shielded Passage targeting the one 2/2 that's going to receive 2 damage, your 3/6 dies and all 2/2s survive.
New rules: still at declare blockers step, you announce which 2/2 will be dealt damage first, which one is the second, and which is the third. Opponent casts Shielded Passage on the first. At combat damage step, you must assign 2 damage to the first 2/2, and at most 1 to the second one; all three survive. As your 3/6 receives 6 damage from the blockers, it dies.
New combat rules, but without this specific must-assign-lethal-damage rule: like above, but here you can assign only 1 damage to the first 2/2, and 2 to the second, killing it. Your 3/6 still dies.
*Or, in reality, so that damage prevention on creatures isn't even less relevant than it already is
509.2 is for attacking creatures that are being blocked by more than one blocking creature.
I.E. Attacker A being blocked by Blockers A, B, and C. Attacking player chooses the order the attacker will assign damage to the defenders. First B, then C, then A.
509.3 is for blocking creatures that are blocking more than one attacking creature, Two-Headed Dragon.
I.E. Blocker A blocking Attackers A and B. Attacking player chooses the order the defender will assign damage to the attackers. First B, then A.
Not for deciding which blocking creature (A, B or C) does its damage first as all combat damage is dealt simultaneously.
509.3 doesn't apply to either of your scenarios as in both there is only one attacking creature being blocked by any one blocker.
But lets take your second scenario and reverse it
If they attack with Drogskol Captain, 2/2, and Aurora Eidolon, 2/2 with boost from the captain to 3/3, and I block both with a Two-Headed Dragon, 4/4, if I choose to do damage to the captain first and the Eidolon second, then two damage is assigned and dealt to each, the dragon dies, the captain dies making the spirit a 2/2 again with 2 damage marked on it and killing it the next time SBAs are checked.
Edit: typos and clarification
Hope that helps.
and with deathtouch, I only have to assign 1 damage to each creature, correct?
Lethal damage is damage equal to the creature's toughness. When assigning lethal damage, you consider damage already marked on the creature and damage being assigned to it by other creatures on the same damage assigning action.
You don't consider effects that prevent damage or saves the creature from being destroyed by it. Those apply later, when damage is dealt as assigned (a separated turn-based action) or when state-based actions are performed.
Any amount of damage is lethal if the source has deathtouch, so yes, only 1 point is enough assigning.
EDIT: big rules quote
2nd EDIT: bold on the relevant parts and itallics on the examples.
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 701.12, "Regenerate") and during the cleanup step (see rule 514.2).
510.1. First, the active player announces how each attacking creature assigns its combat damage, then the defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns its combat damage. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. A player assigns a creature's combat damage according to the following rules:
510.1a. Each attacking creature and each blocking creature assigns combat damage equal to its power. Creatures that would assign 0 or less damage this way don't assign combat damage at all.
(...)
510.1c. A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage. If exactly one creature is blocking it, it assigns all its combat damage to that creature. If two or more creatures are blocking it, it assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. This may allow the blocked creature to divide its combat damage. However, it can't assign combat damage to a creature that's blocking it unless, when combat damage assignments are complete, each creature that precedes that blocking creature in its order is assigned lethal damage. When checking for assigned lethal damage, take into account damage already marked on the creature and damage from other creatures that's being assigned during the same combat damage step, but not any abilities or effects that might change the amount of damage that's actually dealt. An amount of damage that's greater than a creature's lethal damage may be assigned to it.
*(there's a similar rule for blockers assigning damage)*
510.2. Second, all combat damage that's been assigned is dealt simultaneously. This turn-based action doesn't use the stack. No player has the chance to cast spells or activate abilities between the time combat damage is assigned and the time it's dealt. This is a change from previous rules.