Does double strike work while blocking?

Does Double Strike Work While Blocking?

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, Double Strike is a powerful keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice per combat phase. But what happens when a Double Strike creature is blocked by an opponent? Does the Double Strike ability still kick in, or does it get cancelled by the blocking creature? In this article, we’ll delve into the rules and mechanics of Double Strike and blocking to find out.

Direct Answer: Yes, Double Strike Works While Blocking

To answer the question directly, yes, Double Strike does work while blocking. When a Double Strike creature is blocked by an opponent, it will deal combat damage to the blocking creature during both the first strike step and the second combat damage step. This means that the Double Strike creature will deal its damage twice, just like it would if it weren’t blocked.

How Double Strike Works

For those who may not be familiar with Double Strike, here’s a quick refresher: Double Strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice per combat phase. This means that the creature will deal its damage once during the first strike step, and again during the second combat damage step. If a creature has Double Strike and is unblocked, it will deal its damage twice, with the first strike damage going to the opponent’s life total and the second combat damage going to the opponent’s life total.

Blocking and Combat Damage

Now, let’s talk about blocking and combat damage. When a creature is blocked, the blocking creature absorbs the damage dealt to it by the attacking creature. The attacking creature still deals its damage, but it’s redirected to the blocking creature instead of the opponent’s life total. This means that if a Double Strike creature is blocked, the blocking creature will absorb the damage dealt by the Double Strike creature during both the first strike step and the second combat damage step.

Examples of Double Strike and Blocking

To illustrate how Double Strike works while blocking, let’s look at a few examples:

• Example 1: A creature with Double Strike attacks and is blocked by a 2/2 creature. The Double Strike creature deals 2 damage to the 2/2 creature during the first strike step, and then deals an additional 2 damage to the 2/2 creature during the second combat damage step.
• Example 2: A creature with Double Strike attacks and is blocked by a 3/3 creature. The Double Strike creature deals 3 damage to the 3/3 creature during the first strike step, and then deals an additional 3 damage to the 3/3 creature during the second combat damage step.
• Example 3: A creature with Double Strike attacks and is unblocked. The Double Strike creature deals 4 damage to the opponent’s life total during the first strike step, and then deals an additional 4 damage to the opponent’s life total during the second combat damage step.

Consequences of Double Strike While Blocking

So what are the consequences of Double Strike while blocking? When a Double Strike creature is blocked, the blocking creature will be destroyed if its toughness is equal to or less than the total damage dealt to it. This means that if a Double Strike creature is blocked and its damage is not absorbed by the blocking creature, the blocking creature will be destroyed.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, Double Strike does work while blocking. When a Double Strike creature is blocked, it will deal its damage to the blocking creature during both the first strike step and the second combat damage step. This means that the Double Strike creature will deal its damage twice, with the first strike damage going to the blocking creature and the second combat damage going to the blocking creature. This powerful ability can be a game-changer in Magic: The Gathering, so make sure to take it into account when building your decks and playing your matches.

Common Questions

• Does Double Strike work while blocking?: Yes, Double Strike does work while blocking.
• How does Double Strike work while blocking?: When a Double Strike creature is blocked, it deals its damage to the blocking creature during both the first strike step and the second combat damage step.
• What are the consequences of Double Strike while blocking?: The blocking creature will be destroyed if its toughness is equal to or less than the total damage dealt to it.

Additional Resources

For more information on Double Strike and Magic: The Gathering, be sure to check out the official Magic: The Gathering website and the Magic: The Gathering Rules Committee. You can also find plenty of resources on online communities and forums dedicated to the game.