First Strike vs. Deathtouch: A Clash of Combat Abilities
Absolutely! First strike is a powerful weapon against deathtouch. A creature with first strike deals its combat damage before creatures without first strike. This means if a creature with first strike deals lethal damage to a creature with deathtouch during the first strike combat damage step, the deathtouch creature dies before it gets to deal any damage back. The first strike creature survives unscathed, having skillfully avoided the deadly touch. It’s a classic case of striking first (and hard) to win the battle.
Understanding the Combat Sequence
To fully grasp how first strike interacts with deathtouch, we need a brief refresher on the combat sequence:
- Beginning of Combat Step: Untap creatures, upkeep costs, etc.
- Declare Attackers Step: You choose which creatures will attack.
- Declare Blockers Step: Your opponent chooses which creatures will block.
- Combat Damage Step (First Strike): Creatures with first strike or double strike deal combat damage.
- Combat Damage Step (Regular): Remaining creatures deal combat damage.
- End of Combat Step: Cleanup and triggered abilities.
The key is that first strike creates an additional combat damage step before the regular one. This gives creatures with first strike a crucial advantage, allowing them to eliminate threats before those threats can retaliate.
How Deathtouch Works
Deathtouch is a static ability that drastically alters the outcome of combat damage. Any amount of damage dealt by a source with deathtouch to a creature is considered lethal damage. Essentially, if a creature with deathtouch hits another creature for even 1 damage, that other creature is destroyed. This makes even small creatures with deathtouch extremely dangerous blockers and attackers.
Indestructible and Deathtouch: An Important Exception
One vital exception to the deathtouch rule is the indestructible ability. A creature with indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage. Therefore, deathtouch has no effect on indestructible creatures. An indestructible creature can block a creature with deathtouch indefinitely without being destroyed. Think of deathtouch as a potent poison, and indestructible as a full-body antidote.
First Strike, Double Strike and Deathtouch: The Ultimate Combination
Combining first strike (or double strike) with deathtouch creates a fearsome attacker. In this scenario, the creature with both abilities deals damage first, automatically destroying the blocking creature with even a single point of damage. The blocking creature doesn’t get to deal any damage back, making this a one-sided victory. Creatures with double strike and deathtouch are even more powerful than creatures with first strike and deathtouch.
FAQs: First Strike and Deathtouch
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of first strike and deathtouch:
1. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?
No, multiple instances of deathtouch do not cancel each other out. Deathtouch isn’t cumulative either. A creature with two instances of deathtouch still only needs to deal 1 damage to destroy another creature.
2. Does Hexproof protect from Deathtouch?
Hexproof prevents a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. Since deathtouch doesn’t target, hexproof does not protect a creature from being destroyed by a creature with deathtouch dealing combat damage to it.
3. Does Indestructible prevent Deathtouch?
Yes, indestructible completely negates the effect of deathtouch. A creature with indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage, regardless of whether that damage comes from a source with deathtouch.
4. Does first strike stop trample?
Yes, but only if the creature with first strike deals lethal damage to the trampling attacker. If the blocker with first strike destroys the trampling attacker in the first strike damage step, no damage will be assigned to the defending player.
5. How does first strike work against indestructible?
First strike doesn’t overcome indestructible. The creature with indestructible will survive the damage dealt by the creature with first strike, even if that damage would normally be lethal.
6. Does fight ignore first strike?
Yes, damage dealt during a fight is not combat damage. Therefore, abilities like first strike and double strike have no effect during a fight. Creatures fight simultaneously, so first strike doesn’t give an edge.
7. Does first strike beat lifelink?
Yes, in the sense that the creature with first strike can potentially destroy the creature with lifelink before it deals damage and gains life. If the creature with first strike deals lethal damage first, the creature with lifelink dies, and no life is gained.
8. Does first strike Deathtouch negate trample?
A creature with deathtouch and first strike effectively “negates” trample in most situations. Because the creature with both abilities deals damage first, it can destroy the blocking creature, preventing any excess damage from being trampling over to the defending player.
9. Does trample carry over Deathtouch?
Deathtouch doesn’t prevent trample unless the creature with deathtouch has first strike or double strike. The trampling attacker must assign lethal damage to the blocker (which is only 1 point of damage if the blocker has deathtouch) before assigning any damage to the defending player.
10. Is double strike also first strike?
While creatures with double strike deal damage in the first strike combat damage step, double strike is not the same as first strike. An effect that removes first strike from a creature will not remove double strike. A creature with double strike deals damage twice, once in the first strike combat damage step and again in the regular combat damage step.
11. Does double strike avoid deathtouch?
Yes, in the same way that first strike avoids deathtouch. If a creature with double strike deals lethal damage to a creature with deathtouch in the first strike combat damage step, the deathtouch creature dies before it can deal damage back.
12. Can I cast an instant after first strike damage?
Yes! After creatures with first strike and double strike deal damage during the first combat damage step, all players receive priority and can cast instants or activate abilities. This is a crucial point where combat situations can dramatically change.
13. Does Deathtouch work on Planeswalkers?
Normally, deathtouch only works on creatures. Damage from a source with deathtouch does not automatically destroy Planeswalkers. However, some specific cards like Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence, let you deal damage to planeswalkers.
14. Does shroud protect from Deathtouch?
Shroud prevents a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities. Since deathtouch doesn’t target, shroud does not protect a creature from being destroyed by a creature with deathtouch dealing combat damage to it.
15. Why would a tapped creature need Deathtouch?
Even a tapped creature with deathtouch can be a deterrent. Deathtouch on tapped creatures makes it difficult for opponents to attack safely. Since they will die if they do attack.
In summary, first strike is an excellent defense against deathtouch, allowing a creature to potentially eliminate the threat before being affected by the deadly touch. Understanding these interactions and the combat sequence is crucial for strategic gameplay.
To delve deeper into the educational aspects of gaming and its potential for learning, explore the resources available at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.