Temple Altisaur — ruling 1

Combat damage can be assigned to other Dinosaurs you control as normal, but most of that damage will be prevented. For example, if a 3/3 Dinosaur you control blocks a 5/5 creature with trample, the attacking player may assign 2 of that creature's combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking and Temple Altisaur will prevent 2 of the 3 damage assigned to the defending Dinosaur.

Temple Altisaur — ruling 2

If multiple sources would deal damage to another Dinosaur you control, all but 1 damage from each of those sources is prevented.

Temple Altisaur — ruling 3

The effects of two Temple Altisaurs won't reduce the damage from one source below 1 damage.

Temple Altisaur — ruling 4

If multiple replacement and/or prevention effects could apply to a Dinosaur you control, you choose the order in which to apply those effects. For example, if another effect will prevent 1 damage that would be dealt to a Dinosaur, you may apply Temple Altisaur's effect to prevent all but 1 of that damage and then apply the other effect to prevent that 1 damage.

Temple Altisaur : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Temple Altisaur 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 a source would deal damage to another Dinosaur you control, prevent all but 1 of that damage.

Complete guide

Temple Altisaur is a formidable protector for any Dinosaur-themed deck, turning massive hits into mere scratches. This prehistoric guardian ensures that your other ancient reptiles remain on the battlefield far longer than your opponents might expect. By limiting the damage from every incoming source, it provides a unique defensive layer that is difficult to break through.

What It Does

Temple Altisaur has a static ability that creates a prevention effect. This effect specifically monitors any source of damage—whether it is a spell, an ability, or combat damage—that targets or hits your other Dinosaurs. It checks how much damage would be dealt and reduces it so that only 1 damage actually reaches your creature.

How It Resolves Step by Step

When a source, such as an attacking creature or a damage spell, would deal damage, the game checks for prevention effects. Temple Altisaur's effect applies immediately as the damage is being dealt. If a source would deal 5 damage, the effect prevents 4 of it, and only 1 damage is marked on your Dinosaur. Note that this applies to each source separately; if three different creatures block your Dinosaur, it will take 1 damage from each, totaling 3 damage.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that having two Temple Altisaurs will reduce damage to 0. Since the ability prevents 'all but 1,' once the first Altisaur reduces the damage to 1, the second Altisaur sees only 1 damage occurring and has nothing further to prevent. Additionally, remember that Temple Altisaur does not protect itself; it only protects other Dinosaurs you control.

When to Play It

This card is best played when you have a board presence of high-toughness Dinosaurs that you want to keep alive through combat or board wipes. It is especially effective against 'burn' spells and creatures with high power but no trample, as it forces the opponent to find multiple sources of damage to take down a single threat.

Interaction examples

Protecting Your Ancient Guardians

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Dinosaur' as its creature type, Roaming Throne becomes a Dinosaur. If an opponent targets Roaming Throne with a spell that deals 5 damage, Temple Altisaur's ability recognizes the Throne as a Dinosaur and prevents 4 of that damage. The Roaming Throne only takes 1 damage. Note that Roaming Throne's ability to double triggers does not affect Temple Altisaur, as the Altisaur has a static replacement effect, not a triggered ability.

Combat with Non-Dinosaur Chump Blockers

Solemn Simulacrum

If you control Temple Altisaur and Solemn Simulacrum, and an opponent casts a spell that deals 4 damage to all creatures, the results differ for each. Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem and not a Dinosaur, so it takes the full 4 damage and dies (triggering its draw ability). Temple Altisaur also takes the full 4 damage because its ability only protects 'another' Dinosaur. If you had a third creature that was a Dinosaur, it would only take 1 damage.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Temple Altisaur

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1January 19, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
Combat damage can be assigned to other Dinosaurs you control as normal, but most of that damage will be prevented. For example, if a 3/3 Dinosaur you control blocks a 5/5 creature with trample, the attacking player may assign 2 of that creature's combat damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking and Temple Altisaur will prevent 2 of the 3 damage assigned to the defending Dinosaur.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2January 19, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple sources would deal damage to another Dinosaur you control, all but 1 damage from each of those sources is prevented.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3January 19, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
The effects of two Temple Altisaurs won't reduce the damage from one source below 1 damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4January 19, 2018· Wizards of the Coast
If multiple replacement and/or prevention effects could apply to a Dinosaur you control, you choose the order in which to apply those effects. For example, if another effect will prevent 1 damage that would be dealt to a Dinosaur, you may apply Temple Altisaur's effect to prevent all but 1 of that damage and then apply the other effect to prevent that 1 damage.
No other card is named in this ruling.