The interaction between trample and protection has changed over the
  course of the game.  Nowadays, it's as follows:

  Combat damage happens in two distinct steps, assignment and dealing.
  In assignment, a record is made of the source, destination and amount
  of each piece of combat damage.  If a creature has trample, then
  it's legal to assign some or all of the damage from that creature
  to the defending player, as long as the assignment also assigns
  lethal damage to all creatures blocking the creature with trample.
  Lethal damage is considered as however much damage is needed to make
  up the difference between damage already marked on the creature from
  before the assignment was made, and the toughness of the creature.
  Effects that would alter the amount of damage that actually gets dealt
  are not taken into account at this stage.

  When the damage is dealt, there may be replacements that alter the
  amount of damage or prevent it entirely.  This is where the protection
  can step in and shield the creature.


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