Warriors of WakandaHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Trample

Warriors of Wakanda features the Trample keyword, which changes how combat damage is assigned. When this creature is blocked, it must first assign what is considered 'lethal damage' to all creatures blocking it. Any remaining damage can then be assigned directly to the player or planeswalker it was originally attacking. This makes it difficult for opponents to simply 'chump block' with weak creatures to prevent all life loss.

Combat Resolution Step by Step

First, you declare Warriors of Wakanda as an attacker. If the opponent declares blockers, you must assign at least enough damage to each blocker to equal its toughness (accounting for any damage already marked on it). Once lethal damage is assigned to all blockers, you can choose to carry the excess over to the defending player. Note that you can choose to assign more than lethal damage to a blocker if you wish, though you usually want to maximize damage to the opponent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One common mistake is forgetting that Trample is mandatory for damage calculation but flexible in distribution. If a blocker is removed from combat after being declared but before damage is dealt (for example, via a sacrifice effect), Warriors of Wakanda will still deal its full power to the defending player because there is no toughness left to overcome. Also, remember that Trample only works when attacking; it provides no benefit when Warriors of Wakanda is blocking an opponent's creature.

When to Play Warriors of Wakanda

This card is best utilized in aggressive or midrange decks that want to maintain pressure. Because it is a Human and a Warrior, it may also benefit from tribal synergies provided by other cards in your deck. It is particularly effective against 'go-wide' strategies that rely on many 1/1 creatures, as Warriors of Wakanda can easily step over them to reduce the opponent's life total.

Interaction examples

Overcoming the Sad Robot

Solemn Simulacrum

If you attack with Warriors of Wakanda and your opponent blocks with Solemn Simulacrum, you only need to assign 2 damage to the Solemn Simulacrum (its toughness). The remaining 1 damage from Warriors of Wakanda's 3 power travels through to the opponent. The opponent will still get to draw a card from the Solemn Simulacrum's death trigger, but they still take damage.

Pushing Through Small Blockers

Eternal Witness

When Warriors of Wakanda is blocked by Eternal Witness, which has a toughness of 1, you assign 1 damage to the Witness and 2 damage to the defending player. Even though the opponent may have gained value by returning a card with Eternal Witness earlier, their life total is no longer safe behind a small creature.