How Does Double Strike Work?
Double strike is a popular and powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice during the combat damage step. In this article, we’ll explore how double strike works and what it means for your gameplay.
How Does Double Strike Work?
Double Strike as an Extension of First Strike
Double strike is an extension of first strike, which allows a creature to deal combat damage before any other creatures. When a creature with double strike attacks, it assigns its combat damage in both the first strike damage step and the regular combat damage step.
Dealing Combat Damage Twice
When a creature with double strike attacks, it deals combat damage twice. The first time it deals damage is during the first strike damage step, and the second time it deals damage is during the regular combat damage step. This means that if a creature with double strike is unblocked, it will deal twice the amount of combat damage to the opponent.
Blocking and Double Strike
When a creature with double strike is blocked, it is still considered to be blocked, even if it deals damage twice. The blocker will still receive the first instance of damage, and the creature with double strike will deal the second instance of damage to the opponent.
Double Strike and Deathtouch
Do Prevent Combat Damage Stop Death Touch?
Technically Deathtouch says that "any amount of damage dealt by a source is enough to kill the creature receiving the damage", implying that the damage has to be dealt in the first place and "Prevent all combat damage" should counter that.
How Do Prevent Combat Damage and Deathtouch Interact?
If a creature with Deathtouch is blocked by a creature with Prevent all combat damage, the Deathtouch ability would prevent the creature from being killed because the damage is prevented. However, the creature with Deathtouch would still deal damage to the blocker, and the blocker would receive the first instance of damage.
Double Strike and Trample
Do You Have to Double Block Double Strike?
If a creature with double strike is unblocked, it will deal twice the amount of combat damage to the opponent. If a creature with trample is unblocked, it will deal excess damage to the opponent. When a creature with double strike and trample is unblocked, it will deal twice the amount of combat damage to the opponent, and then deal excess damage to the opponent.
Example Scenario
- A 3/3 creature with double strike and trample is unblocked.
- The opponent has 2 life left.
- The creature deals 3 damage to the opponent during the first strike damage step.
- The creature deals 3 damage to the opponent during the regular combat damage step.
- The excess 1 damage is dealt to the opponent because the creature has trample.
Do You Have to Double Block?
No, you do not have to double block a creature with double strike. You can block the creature with a single creature, and the creature with double strike will still deal damage twice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, double strike is a powerful ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice during the combat damage step. It is an extension of first strike, and it deals damage to the opponent twice. When a creature with double strike is blocked, it is still considered to be blocked, and the blocker will receive the first instance of damage. If a creature with double strike and trample is unblocked, it will deal twice the amount of combat damage to the opponent, and then deal excess damage to the opponent.