Blocked Stays Blocked
Judge Level 1You kill the blocker before damage — and your attacker still hits nothing.
Cards involved
Attack and block
You attack with Hill Giant (3/3), your opponent blocks with Grizzly Bears (2/2).
509.1First, the defending player declares blockers. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. To declare blockers, the defending player follows the steps below, in order. If at any point during the declaration of blockers, the defending player is unable to comply with any of the steps listed below, the declaration is illegal; the game returns to the moment before the declaration (see rule 733, “Handling Illegal Actions”).
You want to push damage through
After blockers are declared, you cast Shock at the Bears — the plan: blocker gone, 3 damage to the opponent.
What happens?
Does the plan work?
The Bears will die before the damage step. Does your opponent take the 3 damage?
Pick an answer to continue.
510.1cA 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 divided as its controller chooses among them.
702.19dIf an attacking creature with trample or trample over planeswalkers is blocked, but there are no creatures blocking it when damage is assigned, its damage is assigned to the defending player and/or planeswalker as though all blocking creatures have been assigned lethal damage.
Shock resolves
The Bears die. Your opponent still got what they wanted: the block stands.
Combat damage: nothing happens
The blocked Giant assigns no damage. Rule of thumb: killing the blocker doesn't push damage through — that's what trample is for.
510.1cA 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 divided as its controller chooses among them.
Stack
Hill Giant
Your 3/3 attacker
Grizzly Bears
Your opponent's 2/2 blocker
Shock
Target: the Bears
The stack is empty.
Battlefield
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