Marked damage

Ruling: Marked damage is a per-unit tracked value that doesn't reduce Might — a unit dies only when the damage marked on it is non-zero and ≥ its current Might.

Damage isn't a game object; it's just a number tracked on each unit (Rule 142). The kill check is "lethal damage": non-zero damage equalling or exceeding Might, checked during cleanups (Rule 142.4.b, 323.5). Note the non-zero part — a 0-Might unit still needs at least 1 damage marked to die, so reducing something to 0 Might doesn't kill it by itself.

Marked damage does not shrink a unit's Might: a 4-Might unit with 3 damage still deals 4 in combat and trades with another 4-Might unit. But Might reduction interacts with damage already there — if a unit has 2 damage marked and its Might is dropped to 2, it dies (FAQ #3401). Order doesn't matter; state is just checked.

Damage clears only via Heal, which happens at Combat Cleanup (after Combat Showdowns only — not after a Non-Combat Showdown on an empty battlefield) and at end of turn (Rule 418, 143.3.b). If a save effect removes the damage, that counts as healing, and the unit is undamaged afterward (FAQ #7782).