Attacking and blocking
Combat decides most games. Learn who can attack, who can block, and how the damage falls.
7 min read
After this guide you can
- Resolve a block of one attacker by two creatures, with the damage split.
- Say which creatures can attack and which can block on a board.
Worked example: A.I.M. Scientists attacks
A.I.M. Scientists3/3
Attacking taps the creature, unless it has vigilance.
Agent of Atlas2/2not blocking yet
A.I.M. Scientists3/3
Blocking taps nothing. Only an untapped creature can block.
Agent of Atlas2/2Blocking A.I.M. Scientists
A.I.M. Scientists3/3 takes 2 damage A.I.M. Scientists survives
All the damage happens at the same time.
Agent of Atlas2/2takes 3 damageAgent of Atlas dies
1 / 3
Declare attackers. You choose A.I.M. Scientists, a 3/3, and tap it to attack.
Declare blockers. Your opponent blocks with Agent of Atlas, a 2/2. Blocking taps nothing.
Combat damage. Each creature deals damage equal to its power, at the same time. Agent of Atlas takes 3 and dies. A.I.M. Scientists takes 2 and survives.
A.I.M. Scientists, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak. Agent of Atlas, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Michael Machira. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
Combat has five steps: beginning of combat, declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage, and end of combat.
CR 506.1
An attacking creature must be untapped, and it becomes tapped when it attacks unless it has vigilance.
CR 508.1a, 508.1f
An untapped creature can block one attacker. Blocking does not tap the blocker, and several creatures can block the same attacker.
CR 509.1a
All combat damage in a step is dealt at the same time, so a creature that takes lethal damage still deals its own.
CR 510.2
A creature with damage equal to or greater than its toughness is destroyed.
CR 704.5g
Who can attack, and who can block
- Only the player whose turn it is attacks.
- An attacker must be untapped, and you must have controlled it since the start of your turn.
- Any untapped creature can block, also one that arrived this turn.
- One creature blocks one attacker. Several creatures can block the same attacker.
A creature cannot attack or use a tap ability unless its controller has controlled it since the start of their most recent turn. It can still block.
CR 302.6, 508.1a, 509.1a
A creature with haste can attack and use tap abilities on the turn it comes under your control.
CR 702.10b, 702.10c
Worked example: two creatures block one attacker
- A.I.M. ScientistsCreature — Human Scientist Villain · 3/3
- Agent of AtlasCreature — Human Spy Hero · 2/2
Kree CommandosCreature — Kree Soldier Villain · 2/1
A.I.M. Scientists, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak. Agent of Atlas, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Michael Machira. Kree Commandos, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Aaron J. Riley. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
- 1A.I.M. Scientists, a 3/3, attacks. Agent of Atlas, a 2/2, and Kree Commandos, a 2/1, both block it.
- 2You control the attacker, so you split its 3 damage. Give 2 to Agent of Atlas and 1 to Kree Commandos, so each takes damage equal to its toughness.
- 3At the same time, the blockers deal 2 + 2 = 4 damage to A.I.M. Scientists.
- 4All three creatures die.
An attacker blocked by two or more creatures divides its damage among them as its controller chooses. The defending player does not choose.
CR 510.1c
Your turn: split the damage
- A.I.M. ScientistsCreature — Human Scientist Villain · 3/3
- Agent of AtlasCreature — Human Spy Hero · 2/2
Llanowar ElvesCreature — Elf Druid · 1/1
A.I.M. Scientists, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak. Agent of Atlas, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Michael Machira. Llanowar Elves, Foundations, illustrated by Kev Walker. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
A.I.M. Scientists, a 3/3, attacks. Agent of Atlas, a 2/2, and Llanowar Elves, a 1/1, both block it.