response to assign damage?

[particle]

so when is the propper time for me as attacking player to assign damage to blockers? is it right at beginning of damage step or before so it can be responded to?

[Gorzo]

The proper order of combat is as follows:

-Declare end of main phase/enter combat phase.
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

-Attackers (all of them) are declared. Attacking creatures without vigilance are tapped as this occurs.
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

-Blockers (all of them) are declared/assigned. If multiple blockers block one creature, blocking order is determined by the Attacking player.
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

-First Strike damage is dealt. (Ignore this step if no first/double strikers are present.)
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

-Combat damage is dealt.
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

-End of Combat/Declare beginning of 2nd main phase.
-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.
-Non-Active player may cast instant-speed spells/abilities, then passes priority.

The combat phase ends.

[particle]

so the "blocking order" thing? thats assigning damage to creatures?

[Gorzo]

If I'm understanding your meaning of assigning damage, yes. During the declare blockers phase, once the blocking player assigns his blockers, that's usually the end of it. The assignment of damage is automatic (with the exception of multiple blockers on 1 attacking creature, and with trample). The attacking creature assigns its damage (equal to its power) to the blocking creature (or to the defending player if left unblocked), and the blocking creature assigns its (equal to its power) to the attacking creature it is blocking.


If you're an older player (pre-6th edition) this can be a source of confusion, because the rules have changed a lot since then. Combat damage no longer uses the stack, damage order for multiple blockers has changed, etc.

If I'm not getting what you mean, though, toss an example or two at me, I (or more likely someone else since I'm about to go to sleep) will get you the answer/description you need

[particle]

sorry, should have stated the game situation.
basically i had a large creature attacking. defending player double blocks, one creature is {ill-tempered cyclops}, not monstrous. can his creature become monstrous after damage is assigned but before it is dealt?

[particle]

my level two judge explained it so nevermind, but thanks for the help.

[Gorzo]

For the record (or anyone else seeking this answer):

Attacker would assign the order in which his creature would deal damage to each blocker, as a part of the blockers step (blocking order). Monstrous may be activated after blockers, and blocking order would remain the same, though lethal damage must be dealt to each blocker before moving to the next. Keyeto happens to have just posted this very ruling for a different reason in another thread, so I'm just gonna steal it...

510.1c: A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns no combat damage. 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.

[particle]

thanks again for the thorough answer.