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Mastering First Strike: A Comprehensive Guide to Combat Advantage

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First strike allows a creature to assign combat damage in a separate, earlier damage step than creatures without it. This “first strike damage step” occurs before the normal combat damage step. Creatures with first strike or double strike deal their damage first. If a creature with first strike deals enough damage to destroy its blocker, the blocker won’t deal damage back. This offers a significant advantage in combat.

Understanding the Mechanics of First Strike

The heart of first strike lies in creating an additional combat damage step. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

Declare Attackers and Blockers: The combat phase begins as usual, with players declaring attackers and blockers.
First Strike Combat Damage Step: This is where first strike shines. All creatures with first strike or double strike assign and deal their combat damage simultaneously. This is crucial. If a creature with first strike deals lethal damage to its blocker during this step, the blocker is destroyed and won’t deal any damage in the normal combat damage step.
Priority: After the first strike damage is dealt, players get priority. This means they can cast instants, activate abilities, and take other actions before the game moves on.
Normal Combat Damage Step: If any creatures are still alive after the first strike combat damage step, the normal combat damage step occurs. Creatures without first strike (or double strike) and any surviving creatures with double strike assign and deal their damage now.
End of Combat: The combat phase concludes.

An Illustrative Example:

Imagine a 3/3 creature with first strike attacking and being blocked by a 3/3 creature without first strike.

During the first strike combat damage step, the 3/3 with first strike deals 3 damage to the blocker.
If 3 damage is enough to kill the blocker, it is destroyed.
Because the blocker is dead, it cannot deal any damage back during the normal combat damage step. The attacker survives unscathed.

Now, imagine a 2/2 with First Strike is blocked by a 3/3 creature without First Strike.

During the first strike combat damage step, the 2/2 with first strike deals 2 damage to the blocker.
The blocker is not dead, so we move to the normal combat damage step.
The 3/3 blocker deals 3 damage to the 2/2 with First Strike, thus killing it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About First Strike

Here are some of the most common questions about first strike, answered in detail:

1. Does First Strike deal damage twice?

No. First strike doesn’t cause a creature to deal damage twice. It simply shifts the timing of its damage to an earlier step. The creature still only deals its combat damage once (unless it also has double strike, which we’ll discuss later).

2. How does first strike interact with Deathtouch?

This is a crucial interaction. If a creature with first strike blocks a creature with deathtouch, the first strike creature deals damage first. If that damage is enough to destroy the deathtouch creature, the deathtouch creature won’t deal any damage back. This completely negates the deathtouch ability.

3. Can I cast instants between first strike damage and regular damage?

Yes! After the first strike combat damage step, all players get priority. This means you can cast instants, activate abilities, or even cast creatures with flash before the normal combat damage step. This can drastically change the outcome of combat.

4. What happens if a creature with double strike kills its blocker in the first strike step?

If a creature with double strike deals lethal damage to its blocker during the first strike combat damage step, the blocker is destroyed. Because the blocker is dead, it cannot deal any damage back during the normal combat damage step. The double strike creature then deals its damage again in the normal combat damage step, but since it no longer has a blocker, it will deal the combat damage to the defending player.

5. Does first strike work when defending?

Yes, absolutely. First strike applies both when attacking and blocking. If a creature with first strike is blocking an attacking creature, it deals its damage in the first strike combat damage step.

6. Does first strike affect fight spells?

No, first strike does not affect fight spells. Fight spells don’t cause combat damage. They simply instruct two creatures to deal damage to each other equal to their power.

7. What is the advantage of first strike?

The advantage of first strike is that it allows a creature to potentially destroy its blocker before the blocker can deal damage. This can lead to favorable combat outcomes and prevent your creature from being destroyed.

8. How does first strike compare to double strike?

First strike allows a creature to deal damage in the first strike combat damage step only. Double strike allows a creature to deal damage in both the first strike combat damage step and the normal combat damage step. Double strike essentially gives a creature two combat damage phases.

9. Does indestructible prevent Deathtouch if the attacker has First Strike?

Yes, Indestructible creatures ignore deathtouch. Deathtouch normally destroys a creature when it takes damage, but indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed. A creature with First Strike that is indestructible will destroy the creature with Deathtouch before taking any damage, allowing it to survive.

10. Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch if the attacker has First Strike?

No, Hexproof doesn’t stop Deathtouch if the attacker has First Strike. Hexproof means the creature can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponent controls. Deathtouch doesn’t target, so Hexproof doesn’t prevent it. However, if the defending creature with First Strike destroys the creature with Deathtouch before being damaged, Hexproof wouldn’t matter in this scenario.

11. Can you ninjutsu after first strike damage?

If a creature in combat has first strike or double strike, you can activate the ninjutsu ability during the first-strike combat damage step. The Ninja will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step, even if it has first strike. The creature will deal combat damage during the regular combat damage step.

12. Who wins first strike vs Deathtouch?

The creature with First Strike wins against Deathtouch if it deals enough damage to kill the Deathtouch creature during the First Strike damage step. This prevents the Deathtouch creature from dealing damage in the normal combat damage step, thus avoiding the lethal effect.

13. Does first strike trigger blocking?

Yes, first strike works both on attacks and blocks. It still applies combat damage first, potentially killing the attacking creature and leaving your creature safe.

14. Is First Strike damage combat damage?

Yes, first strike damage is combat damage. The only difference is that it’s dealt in a separate, earlier combat damage step than normal.

15. How does first strike work when defending?

When defending with a creature with first strike, the damage step is divided into two parts: the first strike damage step and the regular damage step. All damage happens simultaneously at the beginning of these steps. If your First Strike creature can deal enough damage to the attacking creature during the First Strike damage step, the attacking creature will not deal damage to your defending creature in the regular damage step.

Strategic Considerations and Deck Building

Understanding first strike is not just about knowing the rules; it’s about leveraging it strategically. Consider these points when building decks and making in-game decisions:

Efficient Removal: First strike can act as pseudo-removal. A creature with first strike can often take out an opposing creature without taking damage in return.
Combat Tricks: Instants that boost power or grant temporary abilities can amplify the effectiveness of first strike creatures.
Synergy with Equipment: Equipment that grants power or additional abilities can make a first strike creature even more formidable.
Deck Archetypes: Decks focused on aggressive strategies often utilize first strike to gain early advantages and push through damage.

Beyond the Basics: Exploring Advanced Interactions

While the core mechanics of first strike are straightforward, there are some more nuanced interactions to be aware of:

Multiple Instances of First Strike: Having multiple instances of first strike on the same creature doesn’t provide any additional benefit. The ability doesn’t stack.
Loss of First Strike: If a creature loses first strike after the first strike combat damage step, it won’t deal damage in the normal combat damage step (unless it also has double strike).

The beauty of Magic: The Gathering lies in the complex interplay of its rules and abilities. Mastering first strike is a significant step towards becoming a more skilled player. By understanding its mechanics, interactions, and strategic applications, you can gain a decisive edge in your games. To further enhance your understanding of games and their educational potential, explore resources at the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Remember, the more you learn, the more rewarding the game becomes!