Based on a question posted by a fellow L2 on a facebook rules group, I need some verification on the following.

Archangel of Thune reads: “Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.”

The gatherer rulings state that “A creature with lifelink dealing combat damage is a single life-gaining event. For example, if two creatures you control with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, Archangel of Thune’s ability will trigger twice. However, if a single creature with lifelink deals combat damage to multiple creatures, players, and/or planeswalkers at the same time (perhaps because it has trample or was blocked by more than one creature), the ability will trigger only once.”

However, I'm not entirely sure if it works the same way with Boros Reckoner or not. Boros Reckoner reads “Whenever Boros Reckoner is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.”

Now, a creature dealing damage is a single event, but I think that a creature being dealt damage (even if it is from multiple sources at the same time) is also a single event. Am I right in this reasoning?

Edit test

Edited Yukio Victoria (Aug. 31, 2014 05:34:51 PM)

The Reckoner's ability will only trigger once.

We have this rule that covers life gain:

118.9. Some triggered abilities are written, "Whenever gains life, . . . .“ Such abilities are treated as though they are written, ”Whenever a source causes to gain life, . . . .“ If a player gains 0 life, no life gain event has occurred, and these abilities won't trigger.
Example: A player controls Ajani's Pridemate, which reads ”Whenever you gain life, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Ajani's Pridemate," and two creatures with lifelink. The creatures with lifelink deal combat damage simultaneously. Ajani's Pridemate's ability triggers twice.

Because of this rule, if three creatures with lifelink deal combat damage at the same time, the Archangel will see that as three different sources of life gain, so its ability will trigger three times.

There is no similar rule for damage, however. The Reckoner is just looking for it to be damage, and all combat damage is dealt at the same time (barring effects like first or double strike). For example, if an attacking Reckoner is blocked by five 2/2s, you'll get one Reckoner trigger that deals 10 damage, not five Reckoner triggers that deal 2 damage each.

Nathan Long
Wizards.Com Boards NetRep