Combat Damage

[StarOrc]

I was recently in a draft and an odd situation came up.

I attack with my Moss Kami and my opponent blocks with his Orochi Ranger and 2 1/2 Guys. I have a Split-Tail Miko on the table and a white mana available. Is it possible for me to prevent the damage that the Orochi Ranger would do the the Moss Kami?

We asked a bunch of people around the store and no one could fully explain how damage resolved or even stacked and how where the damage came from were kept track of. Can anyone explain how this situation would work? Or exactly how the damage resolution works?

Thanks

Corey

[LotusHead]

rule 306 states that combat damage from the critters go on the stack as one big lump effect.  Miko's ability prevents the next two points of damage.  I am sure that you want to prevent the two form the "bad news" guy, and you couldn't care less about the vanilla damage.

The rule doesn't really explain what to do in your situation, but usually, the active player (you) gets to resolve stuff in an order favorable to you, yes? Of the 4 damage that your dude will take, you wanna prevent the next two it would take.  Since all four are like one big lump sum, I am assuming that you, the active player (and controler of Miko maybe) would be able to prevent the 2 that the Ranger did, as opposed to 2 out of a random 4 dealt to it.

JUDGE! We need a ruling!

[Tristal]

As the prevention shield goes off, you choose which source you'd like to prevent.  You can choose the Orochi Ranger's two damage, and if you do, its ability won't trigger.

[StarOrc]

Are you sure that I choose the source? Miko's ability says "Prevent the next two damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn"

I just wanted to make sure. Also if you know this for sure do you think you could point me to a rulling or something that I could show someone else so that I have "proof".

Thanks

Corey

[Jebus]

Here is the relevant rule:

419.7b Some prevention effects refer to a specific amount of damage—for example, “Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.” These work like shields. Each 1 damage that would be dealt to the “shielded” creature or player is prevented. Preventing 1 damage reduces the remaining shield by 1. If damage would be dealt to the shielded creature or player by two or more sources at the same time, the player or the controller of the creature chooses which damage the shield prevents first. Once the shield has been reduced to 0, any remaining damage is dealt normally. Such effects count only the amount of damage; the number of events or sources dealing it doesn’t matter.

You, as the controller of the creature being damaged, get to chose which damage is prevented.