High Priest of Penance

[Jehrad]

If high priest dies, will his removal effect be able to remove another attacking creature from combat before that creatures damage has been dealt?

[Keyeto]

I'm afraid not. All damage is dealt at once, and you don't get a chance to pick off one monster in between the damage assigning and the damage dealing. An excerpt from the Comprehensive Rules:

510.2. Second, all combat damage thats 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 its dealt.

RESOLVED

[Gorzo]

Assuming the  {High Priest of Penance} dies as a result of normal combat, then its exactly as Keyoto has perfectly described.

There are a couple of exceptions though:
- If it dies as the result of first strike or double-strike, it will die before the "normal" combat damage phase and be able to add its destroy trigger to the stack as it dies during the "first strike phase." If this happens, you will be able to destroy another creature before the non-first-strikers can hit.
- if you or your opponent kill the priest prior to the combat damage phase with something like a {searing spear}, then you'll get to destroy a target.

[Malleo]

I'm afraid not. All damage is dealt at once, and you don't get a chance to pick off one monster in between the damage assigning and the damage dealing. An excerpt from the Comprehensive Rules:

510.2. Second, all combat damage thats 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 its dealt.

Then its ability is almost worthless since it's a 1/1, unless you use it in a specific way

[Mintkid219]

Not at all. His ability allows you to destroy a permanent. Permanent-destroy is incredibly powerful: the catch-all removal.

Non-land

[NyghtHawk]

Not at all. His ability allows you to destroy a permanent. Permanent-destroy is incredibly powerful: the catch-all removal.

Non-land

Even being non land, two mana destroy anything else is pretty strong.

[Bookmeister]

It also can cause your opponent not to attack when he/she otherwise would, this is also very powerful!

[MementoMori]

I run a few in an exalted deck. Opponents get a choice of blocking and losing a permanent (or two, if their blocker won't survive) or eating a bunch of damage.

[Redrighthand]

Not to mention that you could make him indestructible and then throw damage spells or abilities at him to destroy multiple permanents.