Do Planeswalkers Take Trample Damage? A Comprehensive Guide
As an experienced Magic: The Gathering player and deckbuilder, I often get asked about interactions between trample and planeswalkers. Trample is a classic keyword that changes combat damage assignment rules, while planeswalkers are powerful spell-like permanents introduced years later. Their collision in gameplay can cause some confusion. In this definitive guide, we will dive deep on the nitty-gritty trample vs. planeswalker mechanics to help you master these matchups.
Trample Refresher
First, a quick refresher on how trample works. Trample allows a creature to deal "excess" damage to the defending player during combat when it is blocked. For example, a 6/6 trampler blocked by a 2/2 would deal 2 damage to the blocker, and the remaining 4 trampling over to the defending player. Without trample, the 6/6 would assign 2 damage to the blocker and the rest is ignored.
Key rules:
- Trample damage is only excess beyond lethal to blockers
- All combat damage must be assigned if able
- Trample works against both players and planeswalkers
Now let‘s explore what changes against planeswalkers…
Trample Against Planeswalkers
Planeswalkers can be attacked directly like players. However, all combat damage from a trampler must be assigned to the planeswalker if able, even if it exceeds loyalty. No damage can trample over to the defending player.
For example, let‘s say you attack Chandra, Fire Artisan (4 loyalty) with Bane of the Living, a 10/10 trampler. You must assign all 10 combat damage to Chandra. The 6 excess damage does not spill over to your opponent like it would if Chandra was a player at 4 life.
This remains true even if the planeswalker leaves combat before damage is dealt. Trample only hits players when the ability explicitly states so, like on Thrasta, Tempest‘s Roar.
Putting Trample on Planeswalkers
What happens if you give the planeswalker trample instead? Effects like Rancor that grant trample do not interact with loyalty abilities. There are no rules allowing "excess" loyalty ability damage to spill over to opponents. Trample only matters for combat, which planeswalkers do not participate in.
Deathtouch Interactions
Deathtouch is another classic keyword that can cause planeswalker confusion. Deathtouch allows a creature to destroy any blockers it hits for just 1 damage. However, planeswalkers are not creatures, so deathtouch does not automatically "destroy" them.
Instead, deathtouch creatures will simply deal damage equal to their power to planeswalkers they attack or block. This removes that many loyalty counters.
For example, a 4/4 deathtoucher blocked by a planeswalker at 5 loyalty will simply deal 4 damage, reducing the walker to 1 loyalty rather than destroying it. Of course, combined with trample, deathtouch creatures become extremely potent planeswalker removal!
Using Trample Against Planeswalkers
Now that we understand the basic mechanics, let‘s discuss how to effectively leverage trample against enemy planeswalkers in gameplay and deckbuilding.
Natural Tramplers
Creatures with innate trample are your best options since they get guaranteed value attacking planeswalkers. Premier choices include:
- Questing Beast – 4 power haste trampler that also prevents damage prevention
- Valakut Invoker – 6 power trampler with landfall buffs
- Titanoth Rex – 12 power trample beater
According to MTG Goldfish, these are among the most played tramplers in Standard right now:
| Creature | % of Decks |
|---|---|
| Bonecrusher Giant | 16% |
| Questing Beast | 13% |
| Lovestruck Beast | 11% |
| Elder Gargaroth | 9% |
Trample Buffs
Spells that grant trample are great for pushing damage past planeswalkers. Some top options:
- Rabid Bite – grants trample and pumps power
- Sure Strike – cheap way to give a big creature trample
- Run Amok – trample plus double strike
- Embercleave – powerful equipment granting double strike and trample
I always advise having a mix of natural tramplers along with buffs like these. You don‘t want to rely purely on synergy pieces.
Pump Effects
Pump spells that boost power work very well alongside trample, letting you break through planeswalker loyalty in one massive swing.
- Invigorated Rampage – +4/+2 and trample
- Unleash Fury – +5/+1 and double strike
- Overrun – pumps your whole team, always a blowout
I have ended many games by using Overwhelming Stampede or Overrun on a board full of small tramplers that suddenly become gigantic. One of my favorite tactics!
Direct Damage
While not as efficient as big tramplers, direct damage like Lightning Strike is still useful for picking off planeswalkers with low loyalty. I suggest using spells sparingly to finish off ‘walkers rather than solely relying on them.
Sweepers
Board wipes like Doomskar clear all planeswalkers, but often wipe your own board as well. I try to avoid these unless I‘m specifically playing control.
Deckbuilding Considerations
In terms of deckbuilding and sideboarding, focus on cards that specifically help against planeswalkers:
- Increase trample creature count
- Add more buffs like Sure Strike
- Include planeswalker removal like Despark
- Sideboard counterspells to stop planeswalkers from hitting the battlefield
Also mulligan aggressively for hands with early tramplers or pump spells. Having a large threat apply immediate pressure is critical. Don‘t be afraid to mulligan hands without a solid early curve against opponent‘s likely to run planeswalkers.
Trample vs Planeswalkers – My Experience
In my experience across years of playing Magic, I‘ve found trample paired with pump or equipment to be the most reliable and efficient answer to planeswalkers outside straight removal spells.
I distinctly remember an opponent who cast turn 3 Liliana of the Veil against me multiple games in a PTQ top 8. I kept losing to her fast ultimate tearing my hand apart. After sideboarding, I increased my Giant Growths, Rancors, and creature count. The extra turn 3 tramplers let me quickly pressure Liliana off the board before she ultimated. I took the match and went on to win the tournament!
Trample forces your opponent to defend their planeswalkers. They have to block unfavorably, use removal preemptively, or bounce their own walker to reset loyalty. Even better is ending games before planeswalkers can completely take over. The threat of hasted tramplers like Questing Beast applying immediate pressure is invaluable.
The Trample/Planeswalker Balance
From a game design perspective, trample does help balance the power of planeswalkers by presenting an efficient threat. Planeswalkers have pushed creature combat aside in defining Standard formats before. But overcosted cards like Oko, Thief of Crowns show the risks of pushing them too far.
I think trample is an important release valve against planeswalkers warping the game too much. Printed sparingly on pushed threats, it provides counterplay against what are fundamentally enchantments difficult to interact with. Too much trample can in turn neuter planeswalkers, so it‘s a delicate balance.
But the bottom line is having some efficient, hard-to-block tramplers baselines the format against planeswalker dominance. Questing Beast is a perfect example of a pushed card that clearly answers strong walkers.
References
- Wizards Official Trample Rules
- Reddit Thread on Trample vs Planeswalkers
- MTGGoldfish Standard Meta Stats
- TCGPlayer Planeswalker Damage Rules
Wrapping Up
I hope this guide has given you a deeper understanding of how trample and planeswalker damage assignment works. The interactions have nuance but follow logical rules. Learning these mechanics in detail will level up your gameplay and provide new options in deckbuilding. Trample remains one of the best keywords for pressuring planeswalkers. Combine it with pump, equipment, counters, and removal to keep opposing ‘walkers in check.
What are your favorite cards or strategies for using trample against planeswalkers? Let me know in the comments – I love hearing from readers on how they leverage these damage assignment quirks in creative ways. And stay tuned for my next deep dive!