Do You Get Priority After First Strike?
First strike is a powerful keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows creatures to deal damage during the combat damage step. But one of the most common questions about first strike is: do you get priority after first strike?
Direct Answer
According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, all players get priority after the first strike damage step. This means that after your creature has dealt its first strike damage, the game returns to the normal priority mechanism, allowing all players to take individual turns again.
When Does First Strike Happen?
To understand why all players get priority after first strike, it’s essential to understand when first strike happens during the combat phase. First strike occurs during the combat damage step, after the "declare blockers" step. This is a crucial part of the combat phase, as it’s when creatures deal damage to each other.
Why Do We Get Priority Again?
After the first strike damage step, the game returns to the normal priority mechanism because the game needs to resolve any triggers, effects, or abilities that may have been triggered by the first strike damage. Additionally, it allows players to take individual turns again to play lands, cast spells, or attack with their creatures.
Key Point: First strike only deals damage during the first strike damage step. After this step, the game continues as normal, with players taking individual turns and playing lands, casting spells, or attacking with their creatures.
The Priority Flow
Here’s a step-by-step illustration of the priority flow during the combat phase, with first strike:
- Declare blockers: Players declare blockers for the combat.
- First strike damage step: The first strike damage step begins, and creatures with first strike deal damage to their blockers or opponents.
- First strike resolution: After the first strike damage step, the game resolves any triggers, effects, or abilities triggered by the first strike damage.
- Priority returns: All players get priority again, allowing them to take individual turns to play lands, cast spells, or attack with their creatures.
Example Scenario
Suppose you have a 3/3 creature with first strike and you attack with it. Your opponent blocks with a 2/2 creature. During the first strike damage step, your 3/3 creature deals 1 damage to your opponent’s 2/2 creature. After the first strike damage step, the game resolves any triggers, effects, or abilities triggered by the first strike damage. Then, all players get priority again, and you can take an individual turn to play lands, cast spells, or attack with other creatures.
Conclusion
In summary, all players get priority after first strike because the game needs to resolve any triggers, effects, or abilities triggered by the first strike damage. This is a crucial part of the combat phase, as it allows players to take individual turns again to play lands, cast spells, or attack with their creatures.
Key Takeaways
- First strike only deals damage during the first strike damage step.
- All players get priority after the first strike damage step.
- The game resolves any triggers, effects, or abilities triggered by the first strike damage before returning to the normal priority mechanism.
By understanding the rules surrounding first strike, you’ll be better equipped to navigate complex combat situations and make informed decisions on the battlefield.