The Dance of Death: What Happens When Two Creatures Have Deathtouch?
When two creatures with deathtouch clash in combat, or engage in a fight triggered by a spell or ability, the outcome is brutally efficient: both creatures die. The mechanics of deathtouch dictate that any amount of damage a creature deals is enough to destroy the creature it damages, unless that creature has indestructible. Therefore, when two creatures with this lethal ability exchange blows, they effectively trigger each other’s demise. It’s a mutually assured destruction scenario, a stark reminder of the ruthless nature of deathtouch.
Understanding Deathtouch in Detail
To fully grasp the interaction, let’s break down the fundamentals of deathtouch within the game:
- The Essence of Deathtouch: Deathtouch isn’t about the amount of damage, but the effect of the damage. Any damage dealt by a source with deathtouch is considered lethal.
- Combat and “Fight”: It applies both in standard combat where creatures are declared as attackers and blockers, and in situations where creatures “fight” due to the effects of spells or abilities.
- Simultaneous Damage: In both scenarios, damage is typically dealt simultaneously. This means that when two creatures with deathtouch interact, they both deal damage at the same time, triggering their respective deathtouch abilities and leading to both creatures being destroyed.
- Exceptions to the Rule: Only indestructible prevents deathtouch from taking effect. Hexproof, while offering protection from being targeted, does not prevent deathtouch, as deathtouch doesn’t target.
Scenarios Involving Deathtouch
Combat Phase
Imagine Creature A (2/2 with deathtouch) attacks, and Creature B (3/3 with deathtouch) blocks. During the combat damage step, Creature A deals 2 damage to Creature B, and Creature B deals 3 damage to Creature A. Because both creatures have deathtouch, the 2 damage from A is enough to destroy B, and the 3 damage from B is enough to destroy A. Both creatures end up in the graveyard.
Fight Spells and Abilities
Consider a scenario where a spell causes Creature C (1/1 with deathtouch) to fight Creature D (4/4 with deathtouch). Creature C deals 1 damage to Creature D, and Creature D deals 4 damage to Creature C. Again, due to deathtouch, the single point of damage from Creature C is enough to destroy Creature D, and the four points of damage from Creature D are enough to destroy Creature C.
Key Takeaway
The bottom line is that deathtouch creates a situation where even a seemingly weaker creature can take down a much larger threat. When combined with another creature possessing deathtouch, the result is almost always mutual destruction. Understanding this interaction is crucial for making informed decisions during gameplay.
Deathtouch Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Deathtouch work against creatures with Protection?
Protection from a specific quality (like “Protection from Green”) will prevent all damage dealt by sources with that quality. If a creature with deathtouch also has the quality it’s protected from, then deathtouch won’t matter because no damage will be dealt in the first place.
2. If a creature with Deathtouch also has Lifelink, what happens?
The creature with both abilities still deals lethal damage to whatever it damages due to deathtouch. It also gains life equal to the amount of damage it deals due to lifelink. So, if a 2/2 with deathtouch and lifelink deals 2 damage to another creature, that other creature is destroyed, and its controller gains 2 life.
3. Can I assign combat damage from a Deathtouch creature to a Planeswalker?
No. Deathtouch specifically applies to creatures. To damage a Planeswalker with a creature, the attacking player must declare that they are attacking the Planeswalker. However, deathtouch only affects the outcome of damage dealt to creatures. You might need to consider an ability like the one Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence provides.
4. Does Deathtouch affect combat damage dealt to me (the player)?
No. Deathtouch only affects damage dealt to creatures. Damage dealt to a player is unaffected.
5. What happens if a Deathtouch creature is blocked by multiple creatures?
The attacking player can assign damage from their deathtouch creature to the blocking creatures. Even assigning just 1 damage to each blocking creature is enough to destroy them, thanks to deathtouch. The controller of the attacking creature gets to choose the order that damage is assigned to the blockers.
6. If a creature has both First Strike and Deathtouch, is it a guaranteed kill?
Generally, yes. The creature with first strike will deal damage first. Due to deathtouch, any damage it deals is lethal. This will kill the blocking creature before it has a chance to deal damage back.
7. Does Indestructible completely negate Deathtouch?
Yes. A creature with indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage, regardless of whether that damage comes from a source with deathtouch.
8. Can Deathtouch be countered?
Deathtouch is a static ability, not a spell or activated ability. Therefore, it cannot be directly countered by spells or abilities that counter spells or abilities. However, its effect can be negated by things like preventing the damage or by the target having indestructible.
9. Does Deathtouch work with Trample?
Yes! If a creature with deathtouch is blocked and has trample, you only need to assign 1 damage to the blocking creature (because of deathtouch). The remaining damage can then “trample” over and be dealt to the defending player.
10. What about Deathtouch and Infect?
This is a particularly nasty combination. Damage from a source with infect is dealt in the form of poison counters to players and -1/-1 counters to creatures. If a creature has both deathtouch and infect, it will still destroy any creature it damages (due to deathtouch), while also applying -1/-1 counters.
11. My opponent has a creature with Hexproof. Can my Deathtouch creature kill it?
Yes. Hexproof prevents a creature from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. Deathtouch doesn’t target. It’s a static ability that modifies the effect of damage. So, if your deathtouch creature deals damage to their hexproof creature (e.g., in combat), the deathtouch will still destroy it.
12. Does Deathtouch apply if a creature is dealt non-combat damage?
Yes. Deathtouch applies to all damage a creature deals, not just combat damage. If a spell or ability causes your creature with deathtouch to deal damage to another creature, deathtouch still applies and will destroy that creature.
13. If I have multiple creatures with Deathtouch blocking a single attacking creature, how does that work?
The attacking player assigns combat damage to your blockers. They only need to assign 1 damage to each blocker with deathtouch to ensure their destruction. This can force the attacker to spread their damage thin, potentially reducing the damage that gets through to you.
14. Can a creature gain Deathtouch temporarily?
Yes! There are various spells and abilities that can grant a creature deathtouch until the end of the turn. This can create surprise tactical advantages in combat or during the resolution of fight spells. Venom Connoisseur from the original article is a good example.
15. Are there strategies that specifically take advantage of Deathtouch?
Absolutely! Deathtouch synergizes well with other abilities, such as trample, lifelink, and first strike. Building decks that focus on these synergies can be extremely effective. Furthermore, cards that grant deathtouch to all creatures you control can turn even the smallest creatures into significant threats.
Further Exploration
Understanding the intricacies of rules like deathtouch is a critical aspect of mastery in collectible card games. To enhance your knowledge in this area, it is recommended to delve into additional resources such as those provided by the Games Learning Society, which can be found at GamesLearningSociety.org. Exploring these resources will provide additional insights into the application of game mechanics and strategic thinking.
Conclusion
Deathtouch is a potent ability that significantly alters the dynamic of creature combat. Its interaction with other abilities and its impact on strategic decision-making make it a crucial element to understand for any player aiming to excel. Knowing how deathtouch works, especially when multiple creatures possess it, can be the key to victory.