Magic: The Gathering - What Is Trample?

Magic: The Gathering's quirky rules allow a tiny mouse to block a colossal mutant. However, many large creatures possess the "trample" ability, letting them overpower smaller blockers. This guide delves into the intricacies of trample, a long-standing keyword ability.

Understanding Trample

Trample, a core Magic keyword since Alpha, represents large creatures overpowering smaller opponents. It allows creatures to assign excess damage to the defending player, planeswalker, or battle after eliminating blockers. For example, a 12/12 creature blocked by a 1/1 creature assigns 1 damage to the blocker and the remaining 11 to the player.

Crucially, lethal damage must be dealt to all blockers before excess damage is assigned. Twelve 1/1 creatures would completely block a 12/12 trampling creature.

A creature with both trample and deathtouch deals lethal damage (1 damage) to a blocker, then assigns the rest to the defending player. This holds true even if the blocker has indestructible; lethal damage only needs to be sufficient to kill, disregarding other abilities. If a blocker is removed from combat, the trampling creature deals damage as if unblocked.

While prevalent on green creatures, trample appears across all colors, often on large creatures or smaller ones with self-buffing abilities.

Trample Over Planeswalkers

Introduced in Modern Horizons 2, "trample over planeswalkers" allows creatures to destroy planeswalkers with power exceeding their loyalty and deal excess damage to the controller. Thrasta, Tempest's Roar, possessing both trample and trample over planeswalkers, exemplifies this: it can destroy a blocker, then the planeswalker, and finally deal remaining damage to the controller.

Non-Creature Trample

Initially experimented with in un-sets (like Unstable's Super-Duper Death Ray), a non-creature trample variant later appeared in legal sets as Flame Spill. This functions similarly, assigning excess damage to the controller after dealing damage to a creature.

Utilizing Trample

Trample is an evasion ability, allowing damage to opponents even with blockers. Green decks, often lacking flying or unblockable creatures, rely heavily on trample. Combining trample with other evasion (flying), first strike, or deathtouch significantly enhances its effectiveness. Double strike also synergizes exceptionally well, ensuring full damage even after destroying a blocker.

Trample is generally beneficial on any attacking creature, but particularly powerful when combined with buffs.

Top Trample Cards

Many cards feature trample, but here are some standouts:

Blightsteel Colossus, an 11/11 with trample, infect, and indestructible, is a potent threat.

Vigor, while a 6/6, empowers other creatures, making it a valuable asset in "go-wide" strategies.

Thrasta, Tempest's Roar, a 7/7 with trample and trample over planeswalkers, is a formidable attacker.

Primeval Titan, a powerful land-fetching creature, benefits greatly from its trample ability. (Banned in Commander)

Atarka, World Render, with flying, trample, and double strike, is an overwhelming attacker.

Hellkite Tyrant, with flying and trample, steals artifacts and can lead to victory.

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