Oathbearer. 2c 1d 1p 2hp Warrior "If this unit would be destroyed, instead put it face down as a development."

My question is, does his ability kick in after damage is assigned but before damage is dealt? The ability is a constant effect. It doesn't have to be announced. It just happens.

If the ability kicks in before damage is actually dealt, then the oathbearer becomes a development after absorbing two assigned damage and before any spill over damage is dealt to the capital, and increasing the HP value of the zone accordingly.

What do you think, Entropy?

I'd say no. An example with another constant effect : The Boar Boyz.

Let's say I attack my opponent with 2 Boar Boyz, he defends with his units. Assign phase : I put 2 damage tokens on his units, he does the same. So my boar boyz "would have been dealt damage" and then immediatly gain both 2P I could assign right now.

IMO, we should read "Instead of destroying this unit, put it as a development", it would be clearer.

Except that Boar Boyz's wording is looking at the current state, unlike the Oathbreaker who is keyed off an upcoming, non-current event. BB's don't care about assigned or dealt damage, they only look if damage is already on a unit or not. Oathbreaker is similar to Altar of Khaine.

qwertyuiop said:

I'd say no as well, as Dam said, because they act just like Altar of Khaine. They have to get assigned fatal damage, and then their ability acts sort of like a replacement effect. When they would go to the discard, they instead become a development. I don't see a reason to assume they turn into a development before damage is applied.

Thanks for the input, guys.