Does First Strike Deal Damage?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, the First Strike keyword ability can be a powerful tool in a player’s arsenal. But what exactly does it do? In this article, we’ll delve into the details of First Strike and answer the question: Does First Strike deal damage?
First Strike: An Overview
First Strike is a keyword ability that was introduced in the early days of Magic: The Gathering. It allows a creature to deal combat damage before other creatures without First Strike. In other words, a creature with First Strike will always deal its combat damage first, regardless of the creatures it’s up against.
Does First Strike Deal Damage?
So, does First Strike deal damage? The answer is a resounding yes. When a creature with First Strike attacks, it will deal its combat damage to the opposing player, just like any other creature. The difference is that it will deal its damage before any other creatures without First Strike get a chance to attack.
But What About Blockers?
One common question players have about First Strike is what happens when a creature with First Strike is blocked by a creature without First Strike. Does the blocked creature still get to deal its damage?
The answer is yes, even if a creature with First Strike is blocked, it will still deal its combat damage to the opposing player. The block will only prevent the blocked creature from dealing its damage to the opposing player’s life total.
A Closer Look at the Damage Step
To better understand how First Strike works, let’s take a closer look at the damage step. In Magic: The Gathering, the damage step is the part of combat where creatures deal damage to each other. There are two parts to the damage step: the first strike damage step and the regular damage step.
During the first strike damage step, all creatures with First Strike will deal their combat damage to the opposing player. Then, during the regular damage step, all creatures without First Strike will deal their combat damage to the opposing player.
Example Scenarios
Let’s take a look at a few example scenarios to illustrate how First Strike works:
Scenario 1:
- Creature A has 3/3 and First Strike
- Creature B has 2/2 and does not have First Strike
In this scenario, Creature A will deal its combat damage to the opposing player during the first strike damage step. Creature B will then deal its combat damage to the opposing player during the regular damage step.
Scenario 2:
- Creature A has 2/2 and First Strike
- Creature B has 3/3 and does not have First Strike
- Creature C has 1/1 and does not have First Strike
In this scenario, Creature A will deal its combat damage to the opposing player during the first strike damage step. Creature B will then deal its combat damage to the opposing player during the regular damage step. Creature C will deal its combat damage to the opposing player during the regular damage step.
Conclusion
In conclusion, First Strike does deal damage, and it’s an important ability to understand in Magic: The Gathering. Whether you’re playing with creatures that have First Strike or against opponents who have creatures with First Strike, understanding how it works can make all the difference in a game.