Deathtouch, first strike, double blocks

[Jlamb5]

I ran into a scenario at my LGS that was very weird.

My opponent attacked with a {silverblade paladin}, which was soulbound.  She activated {vault of the archangel} giving it deathtouch (and lifelink). I double blocked with a {restoration angel} and a 5/5 wurm token. Can she assign one damage each due to the deathtouch?  This was a strange scenario that I had never seen before. I know you have to deal lethal and I'm now starting to feel that one damage should be enough, but wanted some clarification.

[Paraluke]

If you read 510.1c, it says you need to assign lethal damage to first blocker before you can do so to the second.

However, having death touch would be effectively dealing lethal damage. So the double strike  first strike portion will kill the first creature, while the regular strike will kill the second. It is not a matter of dealing one damage each, but the double strike.

If the death touch creature does not have double strike, I believe it can only deal 2 damage to the first creature, effectively dealing lethal damage due to death touch.

From rules:
510.1c: ...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.

702.2b: Any nonzero amount of combat damage assigned to a creature by a source with deathtouch is considered to be lethal damage, regardless of that creature's toughness. See rules 510.1c-d.

[Paraluke]

Lets wait for the experts.

[Giggle the Draco Genius]

Yes as far as I am aware with those 2 rules combined, you could effectively kill both creatures with the first strike of the double strike. Just be aware that since it doesn't have trample no damage will be dealt to the defending player

[Kaleo42]

I have arrived and would like to remind you if you are unsure then it's generally best not to answer.

Double strike: deals first strike and normal combat damage.

Deathtouch: any amount of damage dealt to a creature it considered lethal.

Trample: any remaining damage after assigning lethal to all blockers may be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker.

{wasteland viper} attacks with {rancor} and is paired with {silverblade paladin}.

{restoration angel} and {tree of redemption} are assigned as blockers.

Wastelands controller assigns 3 points of damage as they choose. Before dividing this damage though lethal must be assigned to one blocker, then the next blocker, and only then can it be assigned to the player. Deathtouch DOES MAKE ANY AMOUNT OF DAMAGE "LETHAL" allowing 1 point to be put on each blocker and 1 on the player.

That 1 point of deathtouch kills both blockers and the defending player loses one life.

In normal combat damage assigning since all blockers have been removed and trample is present all 3 points may be assigned to the defending player.

[Piotr]

There were multiple threads before that got resolved where we decided that you had to assign lethal normal combat damage before deathtouch kicked in.  Did the rules change?

Citation needed.

[MisterJH]

If you have deathtouch, 1 point of damage is lethal damage. So a deathtouch first striker can kill both of your creatures in the first stike combat damage by assigning 1 point to each, yes.

[MisterJH]

Ive read in multiple places that deathtouch+trample is so efficient because you can assign 1 damage and trample the rest... I dont have citation atm but its what ive always seen/been told/played by

[ChrisRodriguez]

Ive read in multiple places that deathtouch+trample is so efficient because you can assign 1 damage and trample the rest... I dont have citation atm but its what ive always seen/been told/played by

This is true

[Kaleo42]

Dillon from Rogue T3ch uses this in both selesnya and naya auras for the kill. {Wasteland viper}'s bloof rush makes even your best blocks pointless.

[Agarrita80]

Ive read in multiple places that deathtouch+trample is so efficient because you can assign 1 damage and trample the rest... I dont have citation atm but its what ive always seen/been told/played by

Are you sure? I thought you still have to deal lethal to blocking creature before you can trample over it to opponent

[Mentonin]

Ive read in multiple places that deathtouch+trample is so efficient because you can assign 1 damage and trample the rest... I dont have citation atm but its what ive always seen/been told/played by

Are you sure? I thought you still have to deal lethal to blocking creature before you can trample over it to opponent

You have to deal lethal damage indeed. Death touch makes one damage = lethal for you though, meaning you need to assign 1 damage per blocker. I'll be back with the ruling in a moment

[MisterJH]

Ive read in multiple places that deathtouch+trample is so efficient because you can assign 1 damage and trample the rest... I dont have citation atm but its what ive always seen/been told/played by

Are you sure? I thought you still have to deal lethal to blocking creature before you can trample over it to opponent

Yes

[Mentonin]

702.2b: Any nonzero amount of combat damage assigned to a creature by a source with deathtouch is considered to be lethal damage, regardless of that creature's toughness. See rules 510.1c-d.

[Agarrita80]

But you have to get passed the creatures big butt first