Elspeth’s smite
Elspeth’s Smite does not allow continuation of attack. For example:
3/3 attacks….
Opponent counters with 3/3…
I cast Elspeth’s Smite and destroy opponent’s 3/3…
My 3/3 then does not follow through with damage to opponent.
Have noticed this multiple times, both in my deck and when opponent plays” E’sS”
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[Deleted User] commented
Once blocked an attacker stays blocked, no matter what happens to its blockers, and cannot deal combat damage to the player or planeswalker it attacked, unless it has trample or a similar ability allowing it to do so. This is basic combat rules, not a bug.
509.1h An attacking creature with one or more creatures declared as blockers for it becomes a
blocked creature; one with no creatures declared as blockers for it becomes an unblocked
creature. This remains unchanged until the creature is removed from combat, an effect says that
it becomes blocked or unblocked, or the combat phase ends, whichever comes first. A creature
remains blocked even if all the creatures blocking it are removed from combat.510.1c A blocked creature assigns its combat damage to the creatures blocking it. If no creatures are
currently blocking it (if, for example, they were destroyed or removed from combat), it assigns
no combat damage [...]