Elvish Archers vs 2 Coral Merfolk

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The Fluff
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Post by The Fluff » 1 year ago

Hi, for example an opponent attacks with an Elvish Archers. I then block with two Coral Merfolk. Would the two coral merfolk die, or just one?

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by WizardMN » 1 year ago
The two Merfolk would both die while the Archers would live. The Archers has 2 power to deal and can deal 1 damage to each Merfolk since 1 damage is lethal to them. First Strike only really changes the fact that the Archers won't be dealt damage in return since it gets to kill the blockers first. If the situation was the same, but without First Strike involved, everything would die.
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Post by WizardMN » 1 year ago

The two Merfolk would both die while the Archers would live. The Archers has 2 power to deal and can deal 1 damage to each Merfolk since 1 damage is lethal to them. First Strike only really changes the fact that the Archers won't be dealt damage in return since it gets to kill the blockers first. If the situation was the same, but without First Strike involved, everything would die.

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Post by Argus » 1 year ago

The Fluff wrote:
1 year ago
Hi, for example an opponent attacks with an Elvish Archers. I then block with two Coral Merfolk. Would the two coral merfolk die, or just one?
Attacker's choice.

Right after you declare your blockers, your opponent declares a damage assignment order for the Elvish Archers (so that you know where to point something like a Samite Healer). Then, in the first combat damage step, they have two options for how to assign and deal the 2 damage from the Elvish Archers:
  1. 2 damage to the Coral Merfolk they declared as the "first" recipient of its combat damage.
  2. 1 damage to the Coral Merfolk they declared as "first" and 1 damage to the Coral Merfolk they declared as "second".
If they choose option A, only that Coral Merfolk dies, and then the second Coral Merfolk will kill the Elvish Archers in the second combat damage step. If they choose option B, both Coral Merfolk are destroyed by lethal combat damage, and then nothing will happen in the second combat damage step.
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.
Why bother with mere rulings when so many answers can be found in the Rules?

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Post by The Fluff » 1 year ago

thanks both for the detailed reply. Well, in the actual game.. my cousin used giant growth on the archers, causing a 2 for 1 and I lost that game. After learning info on this thread, he actually did not need the giant growth, it would have been a 2 for 0. lol

will be bringing out the beginner decks when my cousins come to our Christmas party. So the situation might happen again. Glad I asked here for info.
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want to play a uw control deck in modern, but don't have Jace or snapcaster? please come visit us at the Emeria thread

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