For Tryndamere, Barbarian's ability that triggers on conquering after an attack with 5+ exceeding damage, what sources of damage count toward the 'assigned damage' requirement?

Question

Accepted Answer

Ruling: Only combat damage assigned during the combat damage step counts toward Tryndamere's exceeding damage requirement. Spell damage does not count, even if cast during combat.

Sequence:
- Spells (like Hidden Blade) resolve before combat damage is assigned
- Combat damage is resolved last
- Tryndamere must be present in the combat and conquer
- You need to damage at least one unit in the combat damage step with at least 5 exceeding damage in that step

Nuances:
- You can use spells to damage units before combat, reducing the amount of combat damage needed to reach 5 exceeding damage
- Direct kill spells like Hidden Blade resolve before combat damage, so they don't contribute to the exceeding damage calculation