Does Double Strike Deal Damage to a Player if Blocked?
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No, double strike does not automatically cause damage to be dealt to a player if the creature with double strike is blocked. A common misconception among newer Magic: The Gathering players is that if a creature with double strike is blocked, and it defeats the blocker during the first strike damage step, the remaining damage somehow “tramples” over to the player. This is incorrect unless the creature also has the trample ability and sufficient damage to assign beyond what is needed to kill the blocking creature. Without trample, all combat damage from a blocked creature with double strike is absorbed by the blocker(s), even if they die during the first strike damage step.
Think of it this way: blocking is an active choice made by the defending player to intercept the attacker. The purpose of blocking is to protect themselves, their planeswalkers, or their Battle. Even if the blocker is destroyed in the process, the defending player has successfully achieved that protection.
Understanding Double Strike and Combat Damage
To fully understand why double strike doesn’t automatically translate to damage against a player when blocked, we need to dissect the combat damage steps in Magic: The Gathering:
- Declare Attackers: The active player chooses which creatures they control will attack.
- Declare Blockers: The defending player chooses which creatures they control will block the attacking creatures.
- First Strike Combat Damage Step: Creatures with first strike or double strike deal their combat damage simultaneously.
- Normal Combat Damage Step: Creatures without first strike or double strike, and creatures with double strike (again), deal their combat damage simultaneously.
- End of Combat Step: Cleanup and triggered abilities resolve.
If a creature with double strike is blocked, it will deal damage in both the first strike and the normal combat damage steps. If the blocker survives the first strike damage step, the creature with double strike must assign its damage to the blocker again during the normal combat damage step. Only if the creature has trample can excess damage be assigned to the defending player, and even then, only after lethal damage has been assigned to each blocker.
The Importance of Trample
Trample is the keyword ability that does allow excess combat damage to be assigned to the defending player. If a creature with both double strike and trample is blocked, the damage assignment proceeds as follows:
- First Strike Damage Step: The attacking player assigns lethal damage to the blocker. Any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player.
- Normal Combat Damage Step: If the blocker survived the first strike damage step, the attacker must assign lethal damage to the blocker again. Any remaining damage can be assigned to the defending player.
Without trample, all damage must be assigned to the blocker, regardless of whether it survives the first strike damage step.
Common Scenarios and Examples
Let’s consider some practical scenarios:
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Scenario 1: A 3/3 creature with double strike is blocked by a 2/2 creature. During the first strike damage step, the 3/3 deals 3 damage to the 2/2, destroying it. Because the 3/3 does not have trample, no damage is dealt to the defending player.
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Scenario 2: A 3/3 creature with double strike and trample is blocked by a 2/2 creature. During the first strike damage step, the 3/3 deals 2 damage to the 2/2 (lethal damage). The remaining 1 damage can be assigned to the defending player.
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Scenario 3: A 3/3 creature with double strike is blocked by a 4/4 creature. During the first strike damage step, the 3/3 deals 3 damage to the 4/4. During the normal combat damage step, the 3/3 deals another 3 damage to the 4/4. The 4/4 survives, and no damage is dealt to the player.
Strategic Implications
Understanding this interaction between double strike, blocking, and trample is crucial for strategic play in Magic: The Gathering. Knowing when and how to utilize these abilities can significantly impact the outcome of a game. Combining double strike with trample can create powerful offensive threats that are difficult to block effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does double strike work while blocking?
Yes, double strike functions while blocking. A creature with double strike that is blocking will deal combat damage in both the first strike damage step and the normal combat damage step. This can be a powerful defensive tool.
2. Can a creature with double strike block multiple creatures?
No, a creature can only block one attacking creature unless it has an ability that allows it to block additional creatures. Double strike doesn’t grant the ability to block multiple attackers.
3. What happens if a creature with first strike blocks a creature with double strike?
During the first strike damage step, both creatures will deal damage simultaneously. The creature with double strike will then deal damage again during the normal combat damage step.
4. If a creature has both first strike and double strike, how does it deal damage?
A creature with both first strike and double strike deals damage only during the first strike combat damage step and the normal combat damage step. The first strike ability is redundant because double strike already encompasses it.
5. Does deathtouch work with double strike?
Yes, deathtouch works with double strike. If a creature with both double strike and deathtouch deals damage to a creature, that creature is immediately destroyed, regardless of its toughness. This applies in both combat damage steps.
6. Can multiple creatures block a creature with double strike?
Yes, multiple creatures can block a single attacking creature with double strike. The attacking player assigns damage to the blockers as they choose, keeping in mind that they must assign lethal damage before moving on to the next blocker.
7. Does hexproof stop a creature with double strike and deathtouch?
Hexproof prevents a creature from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. Double strike and deathtouch are static abilities that apply during combat damage. Therefore, hexproof will not stop a creature with double strike and deathtouch from destroying the hexproof creature if combat damage is dealt.
8. If a creature with double strike kills a blocker with its first strike damage, does it then hit the player?
No, unless the creature also has trample. Without trample, all combat damage is assigned to the blocker, even if it dies during the first strike damage step.
9. How does trample interact with double strike and multiple blockers?
The attacking player must assign lethal damage to each blocker before assigning any damage to the defending player. With double strike and trample, this happens in both combat damage steps.
10. Is double strike also considered first strike?
Double strike is not first strike. While creatures with double strike deal damage in the first strike combat damage step, effects that remove first strike don’t affect double strike.
11. Does blocking deal damage in MTG?
Yes, blocking is a key part of combat damage in MTG. When a creature blocks, both the attacker and the blocker(s) deal combat damage to each other (with first strike and double strike considerations).
12. What happens if a creature with double strike is blocked by a creature with indestructible?
The creature with double strike will deal damage in both combat damage steps. The indestructible creature will take the damage but will not be destroyed. No damage is dealt to the player unless trample is also involved.
13. Can you give a real-world example of how the Games Learning Society would apply to a game scenario where a player misinterprets how double strike works?
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explores how games can be used for educational purposes. A scenario where a player consistently misinterprets how double strike damage works could be used as a case study to design a Magic: The Gathering tutorial or game mode. This tutorial could focus on clarifying damage assignment rules and reinforcing understanding of the double strike mechanic.
14. If I double block a double strike, is it effective?
Double blocking a creature with double strike can be an effective strategy, especially if your blockers have high toughness or abilities that mitigate damage. You distribute damage, and absorb more of the incoming attack.
15. Does double strike count as dealing combat damage to a player for triggered abilities?
No, double strike itself doesn’t directly equate to dealing combat damage to a player unless trample is involved. The damage must actually reach the player for those abilities to trigger.