Does First Strike Hit Twice?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, First Strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage before other creatures with no First Strike ability. But does First Strike hit twice? In this article, we’ll dive into the details of First Strike and explore the answer to this question.
What is First Strike?
First Strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage before other creatures with no First Strike ability. This means that if a creature with First Strike is attacking, it will deal its combat damage before any other creatures without First Strike ability. This can be a powerful advantage, especially in situations where you’re facing multiple creatures with no First Strike ability.
Does First Strike Hit Twice?
The short answer is no, First Strike does not hit twice. When a creature with First Strike is attacking, it will deal its combat damage once, before any other creatures without First Strike ability. This is because First Strike is a single ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage before others, but it does not allow it to deal damage twice.
How Does First Strike Work?
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how First Strike works:
- Declare Attackers: During the beginning of combat, players declare which creatures are attacking and which are blocking.
- Assign Combat Damage: After declaring attackers and blockers, players assign combat damage to the opposing player.
- First Strike: If a creature with First Strike is attacking, it deals its combat damage before any other creatures without First Strike ability.
- Regular Combat Damage: After the First Strike creature has dealt its damage, the regular combat damage step begins. During this step, all creatures without First Strike ability deal their combat damage to the opposing player.
What Happens if a Creature Has Both First Strike and Double Strike?
If a creature has both First Strike and Double Strike, it will deal its combat damage twice. This is because Double Strike is a separate ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice, in addition to its regular combat damage. So, if a creature has both First Strike and Double Strike, it will deal its combat damage once during the First Strike step, and then again during the regular combat damage step.
Does Deathtouch Work with First Strike?
Deathtouch is a keyword ability that allows a creature to kill any creature it deals damage to. If a creature with First Strike is attacking a creature with Deathtouch, the Deathtouch creature will kill the First Strike creature, even if the First Strike creature deals its combat damage first. This is because Deathtouch is a separate ability that allows a creature to kill any creature it deals damage to, regardless of when the damage is dealt.
Conclusion
In conclusion, First Strike does not hit twice. It is a single ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage before other creatures without First Strike ability, but it does not allow it to deal damage twice. However, if a creature has both First Strike and Double Strike, it will deal its combat damage twice. Additionally, Deathtouch is a separate ability that allows a creature to kill any creature it deals damage to, regardless of when the damage is dealt.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Does First Strike work with Double Strike?
- A: Yes, First Strike and Double Strike can work together. If a creature has both First Strike and Double Strike, it will deal its combat damage twice.
- Q: Does Deathtouch work with First Strike?
- A: Yes, Deathtouch can work with First Strike. If a creature with First Strike is attacking a creature with Deathtouch, the Deathtouch creature will kill the First Strike creature, even if the First Strike creature deals its combat damage first.
- Q: Can a creature with First Strike block?
- A: Yes, a creature with First Strike can block. However, if it blocks, it will not deal its combat damage during the First Strike step. Instead, it will deal its combat damage during the regular combat damage step.
Table: First Strike and Double Strike
| First Strike | Double Strike | |
|---|---|---|
| Deals combat damage | Once | Twice |
| Works with Deathtouch | Yes | Yes |
| Can block | Yes | Yes |
Bullets: Key Points
- First Strike is a keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage before other creatures without First Strike ability.
- First Strike does not hit twice. It is a single ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage once.
- If a creature has both First Strike and Double Strike, it will deal its combat damage twice.
- Deathtouch is a separate ability that allows a creature to kill any creature it deals damage to, regardless of when the damage is dealt.
- A creature with First Strike can block, but it will not deal its combat damage during the First Strike step.