When do Deathknell abilities resolve during combat?
Ruling: Deathknell abilities resolve at the end of the combat special cleanup, which occurs after units are healed and after attackers have been recalled (if defenders are still present).
Sequence:
- Combat damage is dealt
- Units with lethal damage trigger their Deathknell abilities (added as pending items to the chain)
- Units with lethal damage are moved to the trash
- All surviving units on the battlefield are healed
- Attackers are recalled if defenders are still present
- Combat cleanup ends
- Deathknell triggers resolve
Nuances:
- Because healing occurs before Deathknell abilities resolve, you cannot use Deathknell effects to finish off enemy units that survived combat damage, as they will be healed to full health first.
- Deathknell effects resolve before a player establishes control of the battlefield and potentially conquers it.