Gloom Surgeon — ruling 1

Combat damage that would be dealt to Gloom Surgeon will be prevented even if you can’t exile that many cards from the top of your library.

Gloom Surgeon — ruling 2

If damage that can’t be prevented (such as the damage Malignus deals) is dealt to Gloom Surgeon, you’ll still exile cards from your library.

Gloom Surgeon : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Gloom Surgeon is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

If combat damage would be dealt to this creature, prevent that damage and exile that many cards from the top of your library.

How it works : Gloom Surgeon

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1May 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
Combat damage that would be dealt to Gloom Surgeon will be prevented even if you can’t exile that many cards from the top of your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2May 1, 2012· Wizards of the Coast
If damage that can’t be prevented (such as the damage Malignus deals) is dealt to Gloom Surgeon, you’ll still exile cards from your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.