How Does Necratog stack with Brawn?

[Cavius The Great]

Can I attack with a Necratog and remove the Brawn in my GY and somehow still have it gain trample? What are the phases I have to take and steps I need, to let it still have trample while removing it from the yard to pump my Necratog?

[Nibble]

I don't believe it's possible. Trample simply modifies the way you are allowed to assign damage, and at the time you are assigning a creature's damage, its power is 'locked in'. Removing trample before assigning damage means you can't assign damage to the player, and pumping the creature after assigning damage doesn't retroactively let you assign more.

[Apollyon]

You can attack with Necratog, stack damage, assign and trample, and then remove Brawn. It will make your guy bigger, but you won't deal any more damage.

There is no way for you to get the benefits of trample and the pump ability. Pumping before damage is assigned will remove Trample, and pumping after damage is assigned will be the scenario I outlined above.