Combat flow and damage
Steps of Combat, and the order damage is assigned, Tank first and Backline last. Written for rules effective 2026-10-16.
Before Combat
Combat is Staged when Units of two opposing players are at a battlefield. With an empty chain and no Showdown or Combat elsewhere, it begins in a cleanup.
Before Combat
With more than one staged Combat, the Turn Player decides which resolves first.
Before Combat
A Combat is always between exactly two players. In modes with more players, a battlefield with a staged or ongoing Combat is an invalid destination for everyone else.
Step 1, Combat Showdown
Start of combat effects happen. The Attacker is the player whose Units applied Contested. The other player is the Defender. Units take their controller's designation.
Rule 466.2.b · Rule 466.2.c.1 · Rule 466.2.c.2 · Rule 466.2.c.3
Step 1, Combat Showdown
The Attacker gains Focus if the Showdown opens as part of the Combat. If a Showdown was already going on, the player who has Focus keeps it.
Rule 466.2.c.1.a · Rule 466.2.c.1.b
Step 1, Combat Showdown
Triggered abilities this causes go on the chain Attacker first, then non-Defenders in turn order, then the Defender.
Step 2, Combat Damage
This step happens only if both Attacking and Defending Units remain at the battlefield. Add up the current Might of all Attackers and of all Defenders.
Rule 467.1 · Rule 467.2 · Rule 467.2.a · Rule 467.2.b
Step 2, Combat Damage
Starting with the Attacker, each player assigns damage equal to their total Might among the other player's Units. Assigning is not dealing. All damage is dealt at the same time.
Rule 467.2.c · Rule 467.2.c.1 · Rule 467.2.c.1.a
Step 2, Combat Damage
Give a Unit lethal damage in full before the next one. Never more than lethal on a Unit unless no other Units remain.
Rule 467.2.c.3 · Rule 467.2.c.4
Step 2, Combat Damage
Order: Tank first, then Units with no such ability, then Backline last. Several Units with the same priority can be assigned in any order.
Rule 467.2.c.6 · Rule 467.2.c.7 · Rule 815.1.b · Rule 826.3
Step 2, Combat Damage
A Unit that cannot be dealt damage is skipped when working out what must be assigned.
Step 3, Resolution
A Combat cleanup runs. Units are healed, and Attackers present are recalled if Defenders are still there.
Rule 468.1.a · Rule 468.1.a.1 · Rule 468.1.a.2
Step 3, Resolution
A player wins the Combat if they are the only one with Units left at the battlefield, and loses if they are the only one without. There is no result if Attackers were recalled in the Combat Cleanup, if both players have Units there, or if neither does.
Rule 468.3.a · Rule 468.3.b · Rule 468.3.d
Step 3, Resolution
No result with both players still having Units? A Showdown and a Combat are staged there again.
Step 3, Resolution
If nothing is staged there, the player with Units remaining establishes control. That is a Conquer if they have not scored the battlefield this turn.
Step 3, Resolution
Combat ends. Attacker and Defender designations are removed and "this combat" effects expire.