When Kayn has Doran's Shield (Tank) and moves for the 2nd time in a turn, does Tank still apply to him?

Question

Accepted Answer

If Kayn’s text makes them unable to be dealt damage after moving twice (as in the example given in the rules), then the Tank granted by Doran's Shield does not force damage to be assigned to them while they can't be dealt damage. The unit is exempt from mandatory assignment while it cannot be dealt damage.

No. While Kayn can’t be dealt damage from having moved twice this turn, the Tank requirement from Doran's Shield is ignored for assignment purposes — the unit is exempt from mandatory assignment.

Check whether Kayn’s ability currently makes them unable to be dealt damage (e.g., “If I have moved twice this turn, I don't take damage”). [460.2.c.9] Confirm that Doran's Shield has granted Kayn the Tank keyword (so Tank is a characteristic on the unit). [815.1.b] [815.3] Because Kayn cannot be dealt damage, treat them as exempt from any mandatory damage-assignment requirements; no amount of damage can be considered lethal to them for assignment purposes. [460.2.c.9] Therefore, during combat damage assignment, you do not have to assign lethal damage to Kayn before assigning to other non-Tank units while the 'can't take damage' effect applies. [815.1.b] [460.2.c.9]

If Kayn's 'can't take damage' effect only applies in certain zones or only outside combat, you must check whether the effect is active at the time of assignment; only when the unit truly "cannot be dealt damage" is it exempt from Tank assignment [460.2.c.9]. Also note that Tank remains a characteristic of the unit and can be referenced by other effects even while it’s being ignored for damage assignment [815.3].

Tank is a keyword that functionally reads "I must be assigned lethal damage before any other unit with the same controller as me that does not have [Tank] during the Combat Damage step." [815.1.b] That means under normal circumstances a unit with Tank must be included in the ordering of lethal-damage assignment before non-Tank units. However, the rules explicitly state that if a unit cannot be dealt damage, then no amount of damage can be considered lethal and such a unit is exempt from any considerations of mandatory assignment. The rules even use Kayn, Unleashed as the example: “If I have moved twice this turn, I don't take damage.” While Kayn can’t take damage, it is ignored for the purposes of assigning lethal damage in combat. [460.2.c.9] Therefore, if Kayn has moved twice this turn and is currently unable to be dealt damage, the Tank from Doran's Shield does not force you to assign lethal damage to Kayn first — they are exempt from the mandatory assignment while the "can't be dealt damage" effect is active. Note that Tank still exists as a characteristic on the unit and can be referenced by other game effects, but it is ignored for assignment when the unit cannot take damage. [815.3]