Does Annihilator Work with Double Strike?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, creatures with annihilator are feared for their ability to sacrifice permanents as soon as they attack. However, when a creature with double strike comes into play, the question arises: Does annihilator work with double strike? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the rules and regulations of Magic: The Gathering to provide a definitive answer.
Direct Answer: No, Annihilator Does Not Work with Double Strike
According to Magic: The Gathering’s official rules, annihilator triggers only once, during the Declare Attackers step, when the creature attacks. This means that annihilator will not trigger twice with double strike, which is a separate ability that triggers during the first strike and regular damage steps.
Explanation
To understand why annihilator doesn’t work with double strike, let’s break down the rules step by step:
- Annihilator is a triggered ability that triggers when the creature attacks.
- When a creature with annihilator attacks, the game goes through the Declare Attackers step, where the controller of the creature declares how many permanents to sacrifice.
- Double strike is a separate ability that changes the combat damage steps.
- With double strike, the creature deals damage during the first strike damage step and again during the regular damage step.
As we can see, annihilator only triggers once during the Declare Attackers step, whereas double strike triggers multiple times during the combat damage steps. This means that annihilator will not be triggered again during the subsequent damage steps, making it incompatible with double strike.
Comparison with First Strike
For those who might be wondering, annihilator does work with first strike. First strike is another ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage as soon as it attacks. Since first strike doesn’t change the combat damage steps, annihilator can still trigger once during the Declare Attackers step.
Tips and Tricks
- Remember that annihilator only triggers when the creature attacks, not when it deals combat damage.
- Double strike is a separate ability that can be used in combination with other abilities, such as trample or menace.
- When playing a creature with annihilator and double strike, prioritize attacking early in the game to get the most value out of your annihilator trigger.
Conclusion
In conclusion, annihilator does not work with double strike in Magic: The Gathering. Annihilator triggers only once during the Declare Attackers step, whereas double strike changes the combat damage steps. By understanding the rules and interactions of these abilities, players can make informed decisions and craft powerful decks that take advantage of these unique mechanics.