If Swordsmasters of Hoeth is in the battlefield, the quest is being attacked, and through an effect, I redirect damage that would be dealt to the defenders in quest to the swordsmasters, will the swordsmasters absorb the damage?

Yes, redirected damage is no longer considered combat damage.

Doc9 said:

Why not? It starts as combat damage, so at what point during the redirection does it become non-combat? Assign? Apply? Nothing in the FAQ about damage changing type, you have either combat or non-combat. All you do is redirect from one target to another, type of damage still remains the same IMO.

Dam said:

This is true, but double checking the swordsmaster he says "...damage assigned to the swordmaster..." I take this to mean any combat damage your opponent doesn't assign directly to him gets through his barrier.

â—?Kefkaâ—? said:

Except ALL damage is assigned and applied. Hell, in an Empire/HElf deck, your opponent assigns combat damage to your Warrior Priest and you redirect to your Sword Masters, it still gets assigned, then applied. I don't think who assigns has any bearing, only the type of damage matters.

Doc9 said:

I believe this is wrong. I asked Dormouse about this a few weeks ago and this is his response.

"Redirected damage is still of whatever form that generated it if it happens before the damage has been applied to the unit or zone. Once the damage has successfully made it onto to the unit or zone an effect that moves the damage would make it non-combat damage."

Short of a quote from James, this is pretty definitive confirmation that redirected (not moved) combat damage is still considered combat damage.