Do You Get Priority After First Strike? A Deep Dive into MTG’s Combat Phase
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Yes, you absolutely get priority after the first strike combat damage step in Magic: The Gathering. This is a crucial aspect of the game’s rules, allowing players to react to the results of the first strike damage before the regular combat damage step occurs. Understanding this priority window is key to executing complex strategies and maximizing your plays.
Understanding Priority in the Combat Phase
The combat phase in MTG is broken down into several steps: Beginning of Combat, Declare Attackers, Declare Blockers, First Strike Combat Damage (if applicable), Regular Combat Damage, and End of Combat. Priority, the ability to cast spells or activate abilities, is passed between players during most of these steps.
After the first strike combat damage step, priority is passed to the active player (the player whose turn it is). Once the active player has a chance to act, they can pass priority to the non-active player. Only when both players consecutively pass priority does the game move on to the next step (the regular combat damage step).
This is where the strategic depth comes in. Did your first striker take down a key blocker? You can now cast a spell to further weaken your opponent’s defenses, buff your attacking creatures, or even remove another blocker entirely. Conversely, if your opponent’s first striker crippled your defense, you have the opportunity to respond before the rest of the attacking creatures deal their damage.
The Significance of Priority After First Strike
The priority window after the first strike combat damage step is not merely a technicality; it’s a critical decision point.
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Removal Spells: If a creature with first strike was able to eliminate a key blocker, you can use a removal spell to eliminate another, opening the way for your remaining attackers.
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Combat Tricks: You can cast spells that boost your creatures’ power or toughness, potentially changing the outcome of the remaining combat.
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Saving Your Creatures: If your creature with first strike is in danger of being killed in the regular combat damage step, you can use a spell to save it.
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Exploiting Weaknesses: Damage dealt during the first strike step remains marked on the creatures that received it. You can use this to your advantage, targeting already weakened creatures with further spells or abilities.
Scenario Example
Let’s imagine you’re attacking with a 2/2 with first strike, and your opponent blocks with a 3/3.
- First Strike Damage Step: Your 2/2 deals 2 damage to the 3/3, leaving it at 3/1.
- Priority Passed: You now receive priority. Knowing the 3/3 will kill your 2/2 in the next combat damage step, you could cast a spell like Giant Growth to give your 2/2 +3/+3, turning it into a 5/5. This would kill the 3/3 and save your creature.
- Priority Passed Again: Your opponent gets priority. They could use a removal spell on your now 5/5, negating your Giant Growth and saving their life total.
- Regular Combat Damage Step: If neither player takes action, the 5/5 with First Strike will kill the 3/3.
The ability to act at instant speed after first strike has resolved is a defining feature of MTG’s strategic complexity. Without this window, many key plays would be impossible.
FAQs: First Strike and Priority
1. Does double strike also give me priority after the first damage dealing?
Yes, just like first strike, double strike creates a separate combat damage step where creatures with double strike deal damage. You receive priority after this step, before the regular combat damage step. This allows you to react to the results of the first strike portion of combat.
2. What happens if I pass priority after the first strike damage step?
If you pass priority after the first strike damage step, your opponent then gets the opportunity to cast spells or activate abilities. If they also pass priority, the game moves on to the regular combat damage step.
3. Can I cast a creature with flash after first strike damage is dealt?
Yes, if you have a creature with flash in your hand, you can cast it during the priority window after the first strike damage step. This creature can then potentially block in the regular combat damage step (assuming it’s your opponent’s turn to attack).
4. Does first strike negate deathtouch?
A creature with first strike can defeat a creature with deathtouch before the deathtouch can take effect. If the first strike damage kills the deathtouch creature, the deathtouch creature deals no damage in the regular combat damage step.
5. How does trample interact with first strike?
If a creature with first strike and trample deals enough damage to its blocker to destroy it, any excess damage is dealt to the defending player. This happens during the first strike combat damage step. If the blocker survives the first strike step, then trample damage is assigned during the regular combat damage step.
6. What if both creatures have first strike?
If both creatures involved in combat have first strike, they both deal damage simultaneously during the first strike combat damage step. Then, you both receive priority after damage has been dealt.
7. Can I use an ability that puts a creature onto the battlefield tapped and blocking after the first strike damage step?
No. The Declare Blockers step is long past. You can only use an ability that puts a creature onto the battlefield at instant speed in that priority window if it does not require it to block, as blocking must be declared before the First Strike Combat Damage Step.
8. How does first strike work with indestructible creatures?
Indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed by damage. Therefore, even if a creature with first strike deals damage to an indestructible creature, the indestructible creature will survive and still deal damage in the regular combat damage step (if applicable).
9. If a creature with double strike is blocked, how many combat damage steps are there?
When a creature with double strike is blocked, there are still only two combat damage steps: the first strike combat damage step and the regular combat damage step. The creature with double strike deals damage in both steps.
10. Does First Strike Trigger Blocking?
Yes, First/Double strike works both on attacks and blocks.
11. If I use a fight spell after the first strike combat damage step, does first strike apply?
No. Spells or abilities that cause creatures to fight do not deal combat damage. Therefore, first strike and double strike abilities do not apply to damage dealt in a fight.
12. Can I activate an ability that deals damage to a creature after the first strike damage step?
Yes, you can activate an ability that deals damage to a creature during the priority window after the first strike damage step. This can be a powerful way to finish off a creature that was weakened during the first strike combat damage step.
13. Can you stack first strike?
No. Multiple instances of first strike on the same creature are redundant.
14. Does first strike work on multiple blockers?
Yes, an attacking creature with first strike can divide its damage among all declared blockers during the first strike combat damage step.
15. How do you deal with first strike in MTG?
The simplest answer to this question is to have a blocker with more toughness than the power of the first strike creature. You can block a first strike attacker and destroy them if the blocking creature survives and, on the second damage step, has enough power to destroy the attacking creature.
Conclusion
Understanding priority after the first strike combat damage step is crucial for mastering MTG. It allows you to react strategically to the results of the initial combat, turning the tide of battle in your favor. By understanding the complexities of the combat phase and priority, you can elevate your gameplay to a whole new level. Learning these and other crucial game concepts is easier when you have access to quality resources! Check out the Games Learning Society and their valuable research at GamesLearningSociety.org.