Decoding Double Strike: Can a Creature Truly Have It Twice in Magic: The Gathering?
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The short and sweet answer is: no, a creature cannot effectively have double strike twice. Multiple instances of double strike on the same creature are redundant. The rules of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) state that if a creature already has double strike, giving it double strike again does not change its functionality (C.R. 702.4e). It’s like pouring water into a glass that’s already full – it just overflows, achieving nothing more. While you can certainly attempt to give a creature double strike multiple times via spells or abilities, the game recognizes only one instance of the ability.
Understanding Double Strike: A Deep Dive
To fully grasp why multiple instances of double strike are redundant, let’s break down what double strike actually does. A creature with double strike deals combat damage in two separate combat damage steps:
- First Strike Combat Damage Step: In this step, creatures with first strike or double strike assign and deal their combat damage.
- Regular Combat Damage Step: After the first strike damage step concludes, all remaining creatures (including those with double strike) assign and deal their combat damage.
Therefore, a creature with double strike essentially gets to participate in both combat damage steps, dealing its power’s worth of damage in each. Giving it another instance of double strike doesn’t add a third damage step or any additional damage; it still only deals damage in those two designated phases. This is because the rules are designed to prevent abilities from stacking redundantly. This is a way that Games Learning Society would approve of, as the game values clear and concise rules.
Double Strike Synergies and Misconceptions
The real fun with double strike comes from combining it with other abilities and understanding how it interacts in various combat scenarios. Many new players mistakenly believe that if a creature with double strike kills its blocker in the first strike damage step, it will then deal damage to the defending player during the regular combat damage step. However, unless the attacker has trample and excess damage to assign after lethal damage to all blockers, this isn’t the case. Once blocked, always blocked!
Double strike synergizes fantastically with abilities like deathtouch (any amount of damage is lethal) and trample (excess damage is dealt to the defending player). Imagine a creature with double strike, deathtouch, and a power of 1. It will deal lethal damage to any creature blocking it in the first damage step, and if it’s unblocked, it will deal one damage to the opponent in both the first strike and regular combat damage steps.
Double Strike FAQs: Answering Your Burning Questions
Here’s a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding double strike to further clarify its mechanics and interactions:
1. Does giving double strike to a creature with first strike do anything?
Yes. If a creature only has first strike, giving it double strike makes it deal damage in both the first strike and the regular combat damage steps, effectively giving it two opportunities to deal damage.
2. If a creature has both first strike and double strike, is it better than just having double strike?
No. A creature with both abilities functions identically to a creature with only double strike. The first strike ability becomes redundant.
3. Does combat damage trigger twice with double strike?
Absolutely! Creatures with double strike deal combat damage twice, triggering any abilities that key off combat damage twice.
4. How does double strike interact with trample?
Trample and double strike work excellently together. If a creature with double strike has trample and deals lethal damage to its blocker in the first strike combat damage step, any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player. In the regular combat damage step, it can assign all of its damage to the defending player again.
5. Does deathtouch work with double strike?
Yes. With deathtouch, any damage dealt by the creature is considered lethal. If a creature with double strike and deathtouch is blocked, it only needs to deal 1 damage in the first damage step to destroy the blocking creature, potentially allowing it to deal all of its damage to the defending player in the second damage step if it has trample.
6. Can a creature with double strike be blocked?
Yes. If a creature with double strike is blocked, it remains blocked even if the blocking creature dies in the first strike damage step. The creature won’t suddenly become unblocked and deal damage to the defending player unless it also has trample with excess damage.
7. Does double strike work with fight spells?
No. Double strike only affects combat damage. Damage dealt during a “fight” effect is not considered combat damage, so abilities like first strike or double strike won’t have any effect.
8. How does double strike work with multiple blockers?
The creature with double strike must assign at least lethal damage to each blocker in the order they were declared. If the first blocker in order receives lethal damage in the first strike combat damage step, any remaining damage can be assigned to the subsequent blockers in the regular combat damage step. It must assign lethal damage to each blocking creature before assigning damage to any creature behind them.
9. Do equipment abilities (like Sword of Fire and Ice) trigger twice with double strike?
Yes, if the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player twice due to double strike, the triggered abilities of the equipment will trigger twice.
10. If a creature with double strike attacks a planeswalker, does the planeswalker take damage twice?
Yes, if the creature with double strike is unblocked and attacks a planeswalker, the planeswalker will take damage twice, once in each combat damage step.
11. What happens if a double strike creature is blocked by an indestructible creature?
The indestructible creature will survive both combat damage steps. The creature with double strike deals damage in both the first strike and regular combat damage steps, but indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed by damage.
12. Can you tap a creature with double strike after it’s declared as an attacker to prevent it from dealing damage?
No. Tapping a creature that has already been declared as an attacker does not remove it from combat or prevent its combat damage. The creature will still deal damage as normal.
13. Does deathtouch go through indestructible?
No. Since indestructible prevents destruction by damage and deathtouch attempts to destroy a creature when it deals damage, indestructible will prevent deathtouch from working.
14. Is double strike just always better than first strike?
Generally, yes. A creature with double strike is almost always superior to one with only first strike, as it essentially gets two chances to deal damage.
15. What if my double strike creature is blocked and then the blocker is removed from combat before damage?
Even if the blocker is removed from combat after being declared as a blocker but before damage is dealt, the attacking creature is still considered blocked. It won’t deal combat damage to the defending player unless it has trample.
Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Double Strike
Double strike is a powerful and versatile ability in Magic: The Gathering, offering significant advantages in combat. While you can’t stack it on top of itself, understanding how it interacts with other abilities and combat scenarios is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness. So, embrace the double damage and use it wisely! Consider learning more about how games like Magic: The Gathering and their rulesets influence learning through GamesLearningSociety.org.