What is the rule for combat damage in magic?

What is the Rule for Combat Damage in Magic?

In Magic: The Gathering, combat damage is a crucial aspect of the game that determines how creatures interact with each other during combat. Understanding the rules of combat damage is essential for building a winning strategy and navigating the intricacies of the game.

What is Combat Damage?

Combat damage refers to the damage dealt to a player’s life total by a creature during the combat phase. It is the result of a creature’s power being applied to the defending player’s life total. Combat damage is unique in that it is the only type of damage that can be dealt during the combat phase.

How is Combat Damage Dealt?

Combat damage is dealt in a specific order:

1. Declare Attackers: The attacking player declares which creatures they will attack with.
2. Declare Blockers: The defending player declares which creatures they will block with.
3. Assign Damage: The controller of the attacking creature assigns the damage to the blocking creature(s).
4. Deal Damage: The attacking creature deals the assigned damage to the blocking creature(s).

Multiple Blockers

When a creature attacks and is blocked by multiple creatures, the damage is assigned to each blocking creature in the order they were declared. The attacking creature must assign at least lethal damage to the first blocking creature. Any remaining damage can be divided among the other blocking creatures.

Double Strike

A creature with double strike deals its damage twice during the combat phase. This means that it will deal its full combat damage, and then again as a second, separate instance of combat damage. Double strike can have a significant impact on the game, as it allows creatures to deal more damage than usual.

Combat Damage Triggers

Combat damage triggers are abilities that activate when a creature deals combat damage to a player. These triggers can be very powerful, as they can create additional effects or even generate card advantage. For example, a creature that says "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you gain 2 life" would trigger each time it deals combat damage.

Combat Damage with Multiple Abilities

When a creature has multiple abilities that trigger on combat damage, the order in which they trigger is important. Abilities that trigger on combat damage are typically triggered in the order they were declared.

Conclusion

Combat damage is a critical aspect of Magic: The Gathering, and understanding the rules surrounding it is essential for success in the game. From declaring attackers and blockers to assigning and dealing damage, there are many nuances to navigate. By mastering the rules of combat damage, you can build a stronger and more effective deck, and improve your overall gameplay.

Additional Tips and Considerations

• Prioritize: When declaring attackers and blockers, prioritize creatures with the most potential for damage.
• Block accordingly: When blocking, choose creatures that can withstand the most damage.
• Use combat damage triggers strategically: Triggering combat damage abilities at the right time can be crucial to turning the tide of the game.
• Keep your opponent’s life total in mind: When deciding whether to attack or block, consider the opponent’s life total and how it might impact the game.

Table: Combat Damage Order

References

• Wizards of the Coast. (n.d.). Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules. Retrieved from https://magic.wizards.com/en/content/comprehensive-rules
• Vintage Is The New Old. (n.d.). FAQ: Combat. Retrieved from https://www.vintageisthenewold.com/faq/combat