Does Deathtouch Stop Double Strike?
In Magic: The Gathering, creatures with deathtouch and double strike abilities can be intimidating to opponents. But how do these two abilities interact with each other? In this article, we’ll dive into the details of deathtouch and double strike and explore the answer to this question.
What is Deathtouch?
Deathtouch is a keyword ability that allows a creature to destroy any creature it deals combat damage to. This means that if a creature with deathtouch deals damage to another creature, that creature will be sent to the graveyard immediately.
What is Double Strike?
Double strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice during the combat phase. This means that the creature will deal damage first during the first combat damage step, and then again during the second combat damage step.
Does Deathtouch Stop Double Strike?
The answer to this question is simple: no, deathtouch does not stop double strike. When a creature with deathtouch deals damage to a creature with double strike, the creature with double strike will still deal damage during the second combat damage step.
Here’s an example:
- A 3/3 creature with deathtouch attacks a 2/2 creature with double strike.
- During the first combat damage step, the 3/3 creature deals 2 damage to the 2/2 creature.
- The 2/2 creature with double strike deals 1 damage to the 3/3 creature during the first combat damage step.
- The 3/3 creature with deathtouch deals 1 damage to the 2/2 creature during the second combat damage step, killing it.
- The 3/3 creature with double strike deals 1 final damage to the 2/2 creature, destroying it.
As you can see, the deathtouch ability only triggered once, during the second combat damage step. The double strike ability still functioned as normal, dealing damage during both combat damage steps.
Key Points to Remember
- Deathtouch only triggers when a creature deals damage to another creature.
- Double strike allows a creature to deal damage twice during the combat phase.
- Deathtouch and double strike are separate abilities that do not interact with each other in a way that would stop one or the other from functioning.
- When a creature with deathtouch deals damage to a creature with double strike, the double strike ability will still function as normal.
Strategies and Interactions
Now that we’ve answered the question of whether deathtouch stops double strike, let’s explore some strategies and interactions to keep in mind:
- Combinations: Creatures with both deathtouch and double strike can be especially powerful. These creatures can deal damage twice during combat and destroy any creature they hit.
- Blocking: When blocking with a creature, keep in mind that deathtouch only triggers when the blocking creature deals damage to the attacking creature. If the attacking creature has double strike, it will still deal damage during the second combat damage step, even if it’s blocked.
- Lifelink: Creatures with lifelink can gain life when dealing damage, even if they have deathtouch. This can be an interesting interaction to consider when building a deck.
Conclusion
In conclusion, deathtouch and double strike are two powerful abilities that can be used to great effect in Magic: The Gathering. While deathtouch allows creatures to destroy any creature they deal damage to, double strike allows creatures to deal damage twice during combat. These abilities do not interact with each other in a way that would stop one or the other from functioning, and can be combined in interesting ways to create powerful strategies.