Does first strike survive Deathtouch?

Does First Strike Survive Deathtouch?

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, two powerful abilities, First Strike and Deathtouch, can have a significant impact on the outcome of a battle. But do they interact with each other in a way that could change the game? Let’s dive into the rules and find out.

What is First Strike?

First Strike is a static ability that allows a creature to deal its combat damage first, before its opponent’s creatures can block it. This means that if a creature with First Strike is attacking, it will deal its damage first, and then the defending player can block it if they choose to. First Strike is a game-changer in combat, as it allows a player to take out an opponent’s creature before it can even react.

What is Deathtouch?

Deathtouch is another static ability that causes a creature to kill any creature it deals damage to, unless that creature is indestructible. This means that if a creature with Deathtouch is attacking, it will kill any creature that tries to block it, unless that creature has the indestructible ability.

Does First Strike Survive Deathtouch?

So, what happens when a creature with First Strike is attacked by a creature with Deathtouch? Can the First Strike creature survive the attack and still deal its damage? The answer is yes.

According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, a creature with First Strike will still deal its combat damage first, even if the opponent’s creature has Deathtouch. This means that the First Strike creature will deal its damage, and then the Deathtouch creature will kill the First Strike creature, if it chooses to.

Why Does First Strike Survive Deathtouch?

The reason why First Strike survives Deathtouch is that First Strike is a static ability that is applied before combat damage is dealt. Deathtouch, on the other hand, is a triggered ability that is applied when combat damage is dealt.

In other words, First Strike is applied before the combat damage is dealt, so it gets to deal its damage first. Deathtouch is then applied after the combat damage is dealt, so it kills the First Strike creature after it has already dealt its damage.

Example

Let’s say we have a creature with First Strike, such as a Goblin Piledriver, attacking an opponent’s creature with Deathtouch, such as a Vampire’s Bite. The Goblin Piledriver will deal its combat damage first, dealing 3 damage to the opponent’s creature. The opponent’s creature will then kill the Goblin Piledriver with its Deathtouch ability.

Table: Interaction between First Strike and Deathtouch

In summary, First Strike survives Deathtouch because it is a static ability that is applied before combat damage is dealt, while Deathtouch is a triggered ability that is applied after combat damage is dealt. This means that First Strike gets to deal its damage first, and then Deathtouch can kill the First Strike creature if it chooses to.