Thundermaw Hellkite is a creature that got me really excited when I first saw it, because it comes into play and takes all of your opponent’s flying blockers out of the way. This was before I saw that Deadly Recluse was being reprinted. 🙁

Anyway, there’s one thing that might be confusing about his third ability, and that’s ʺwhat happens if the damage is prevented?ʺ The short answer is that if the damage that would be dealt to a creature with flying is prevented, that creature will still be tapped, because the part of the ability that taps the creature only cares if it’s a creature with flying that your opponent controls, not whether or not any damage was dealt. Similarly, if that damage is redirected to another creature, the creature with flying will be tapped, not necessarily the creature that ultimately was dealt the damage.

The confusion comes from what “those creatures” means, which in this case is: “creatures with flying your opponents control.” If it meant “creatures dealt damage this way,” it would say that instead.

Today’s Rules Tip written by
Jess Dunks, Level 2 judge from Fairfield, CA
(P.S. You get two tips today, because I didn’t get around to posting this yesterday! – Josh)