Does Double Strike Count as 2 Combat Damage?
Double strike is a popular keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice during the combat phase. This ability has sparked a lot of debate among players about whether it counts as 2 instances of combat damage. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of double strike and explore the answer to this question.
Direct Answer:
No, double strike does not count as 2 instances of combat damage. Declaring a creature to attack only happens once per combat phase, no matter how often it deals combat damage. While a creature with double strike may deal damage twice, it is still considered one instance of combat damage.
Understanding Double Strike
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s take a closer look at what double strike does. When a creature with double strike attacks, it deals combat damage twice: once during the first combat damage step and again during the second combat damage step. This allows the creature to deal more damage than a regular creature, making it a powerful ability in the right circumstances.
How Combat Damage Works
To understand how double strike interacts with combat damage, let’s break down the combat phase:
- First Combat Damage Step: Creatures with first strike deal combat damage during this step. Creatures without first strike deal combat damage during this step if they haven’t already dealt damage.
- Second Combat Damage Step: Creatures with neither first strike nor double strike deal combat damage during this step.
Double Strike and Combat Damage
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get back to the question at hand. When a creature with double strike deals combat damage, it does so twice, but it is still considered one instance of combat damage. This is because the combat phase only allows for one declaration of attacking, regardless of how many times a creature deals damage.
Example Scenarios
To illustrate this point, let’s look at a few example scenarios:
- Scenario 1: A creature with double strike attacks and deals 2 damage to the opponent’s creature. In this case, the creature has dealt 2 damage, but it is still considered one instance of combat damage.
- Scenario 2: A creature with double strike attacks and deals 2 damage to the opponent’s creature. The opponent’s creature has first strike and deals 1 damage to the attacking creature. In this case, the creature with double strike has dealt 2 damage, but it is still considered one instance of combat damage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, double strike does not count as 2 instances of combat damage. While a creature with double strike may deal damage twice, it is still considered one instance of combat damage. This is because the combat phase only allows for one declaration of attacking, regardless of how many times a creature deals damage.
Key Takeaways:
- Double strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice.
- Declaring a creature to attack only happens once per combat phase, no matter how often it deals combat damage.
- Double strike does not count as 2 instances of combat damage.
Additional Resources:
For more information on double strike and combat damage, be sure to check out the official Magic: The Gathering website or consult a comprehensive rulebook.