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Combat Damage vs. Ability Damage in Magic: The Gathering

The simple answer is a resounding no: Combat damage and ability damage are fundamentally different in Magic: The Gathering. Combat damage stems directly from creatures battling in the combat phase, while ability damage comes from spells or abilities. Understanding this distinction is crucial for mastering the game’s mechanics and strategic depth. One involves creatures crashing into each other, while the other involves leveraging spells and special powers. Let’s delve deeper.

Understanding Combat Damage

Defining Combat Damage

Combat damage is damage dealt by attacking and blocking creatures during the combat damage step of the combat phase. It’s a direct result of creatures engaging in battle. The amount of combat damage a creature deals is equal to its power stat. This damage is applied simultaneously by all participating creatures, making it a critical moment in the game. The key takeaway is that combat damage only comes from creatures actively engaged in the combat phase.

How Combat Damage Works

The combat phase unfolds in several steps:

Beginning of Combat Step: This is where players can cast spells and activate abilities before attackers are declared.
Declare Attackers Step: The active player (the player whose turn it is) declares which creatures will attack.
Declare Blockers Step: The defending player chooses which of their creatures, if any, will block the attacking creatures.
Combat Damage Step: This is where creatures deal damage to each other based on their power. Damage is assigned and dealt simultaneously.
End of Combat Step: Players can cast spells and activate abilities after combat damage has been dealt.

During the Combat Damage Step, each attacking creature that isn’t blocked deals damage to the player or planeswalker it’s attacking. Blocked creatures deal damage to the creatures blocking them, following any damage assignment rules (e.g., a creature with trample can deal excess damage to the defending player after assigning lethal damage to its blocker).

Understanding Ability Damage

Defining Ability Damage

Ability damage encompasses any damage dealt by a source other than a creature during the combat damage step. This includes damage dealt by spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities. Examples include:

Direct damage spells like “Lightning Bolt.”
Abilities like “Prodigal Pyromancer’s” tap ability.
Damage from triggered abilities, such as “Goblin Chainwhirler’s” enters-the-battlefield ability.

The key is that the source of the damage isn’t a creature directly participating in combat.

How Ability Damage Works

Ability damage is typically dealt based on the specific wording of the spell or ability. It may target a creature, player, planeswalker, or even a battle. Unlike combat damage, ability damage often uses the stack, allowing players to respond to the spell or ability before the damage is dealt. This opens up opportunities for counterspells, damage prevention, and other interactions. The CMC of a spell is used to determine how much damage Vial Smasher the Fierce deals.

Key Differences Summarized

Feature	Combat Damage	Ability Damage
——————-	———————————————————————————-	———————————————————————————-
Source	Attacking and blocking creatures during the combat damage step	Spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities
Timing	Combat Damage Step of the Combat Phase	Can occur at any time (depending on the ability)
Stack Usage	Does not use the stack; damage is dealt simultaneously	Typically uses the stack, allowing players to respond
Damage Amount	Equal to the creature’s power	Determined by the spell or ability
Interaction	Limited interaction beyond damage prevention	More interaction through counterspells, redirection, and damage prevention

Why the Distinction Matters

Understanding the difference between combat damage and ability damage is critical for several reasons:

Card Interactions: Many cards specifically reference either “combat damage” or “non-combat damage,” and their effects only apply to the correct type of damage.
Strategic Planning: Knowing how damage is dealt allows you to make informed decisions about attacking, blocking, and using spells or abilities.
Rules Comprehension: It’s a fundamental aspect of the game’s rules and how different card types interact.
Commander: In commander, commander damage is damage dealt to a player by a specific commander and must be noted throughout the game.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the differences and nuances of combat damage and ability damage:

Does infect damage count as combat damage?

Yes, infect modifies the result of combat damage, but it is still combat damage. A creature with infect dealing combat damage to a player causes that player to receive poison counters instead of losing life.
Does trample work with ability damage?

No, trample only applies to combat damage. Trample allows excess combat damage, beyond what’s needed to destroy a blocking creature, to be dealt to the player or planeswalker that creature is defending.
If I prevent all combat damage, does that also prevent ability damage?

No, preventing all combat damage only prevents damage dealt by creatures during the combat damage step. Ability damage would still be applied.
Does first strike affect ability damage?

No, first strike only affects combat damage. Creatures with first strike deal combat damage before creatures without first strike. This doesn’t impact ability damage at all.
Can I respond to combat damage?

No, you cannot respond during the combat damage step. Damage is dealt simultaneously and does not use the stack. You can respond before the combat damage step (e.g., during the declare blockers step) or after the combat damage step (e.g., during the end of combat step).
If a creature has deathtouch, does it affect ability damage it deals?

No, deathtouch only applies to combat damage. If a creature with deathtouch deals combat damage to another creature, that creature is destroyed, regardless of the amount of damage dealt (as long as it’s greater than zero).
Is commander damage considered combat damage?

Yes, commander damage is a specific type of combat damage. It’s the combat damage dealt to a player by a commander.
Does indestructible prevent ability damage?

Indestructible prevents destruction by damage (both combat and non-combat) and “destroy” effects. However, it doesn’t prevent the damage from being dealt, which can still be relevant for effects that trigger upon damage.
Can a battle take combat damage?

A battle can be attacked by creatures and can take combat damage during the combat phase.
What happens if a creature with infect is blocked by a creature with indestructible?

The creature with infect still deals combat damage to the indestructible creature. The indestructible creature takes the damage, but it is not destroyed due to its indestructible ability. However, the infect damage applies in the form of -1/-1 counters. If the creature gets enough -1/-1 counters to lower its toughness to zero, it dies as a state-based action.
Does toxic count as combat damage?

Yes, toxic modifies the result of combat damage, similar to infect. A creature with toxic deals combat damage as usual, and if that damage is dealt to a player, that player receives the specified number of poison counters in addition to life loss from the damage.
Can I use a damage prevention spell to prevent ability damage?

Yes, if the damage prevention spell specifies that it prevents damage from a particular source or type of damage, it can be used to prevent ability damage. Some spells might prevent “the next 3 damage,” regardless of the source.
Does lifelink work with ability damage?

Some abilities that deal damage also grant lifelink. For instance, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord’s +1 ability makes a Vampire deal damage and grants lifelink, allowing you to gain life equal to the damage dealt. Lifelink is dependent on the damage being dealt by the specified source.
If I gain control of my opponent’s commander, does it still deal commander damage to them?

Yes, if you gain control of your opponent’s commander and it deals combat damage to your opponent, it still counts as commander damage from that specific commander. Players must track commander damage separately for each commander.
Can triggered abilities deal combat damage? No, triggered abilities themselves cannot deal combat damage. Combat damage is specifically dealt by creatures during the combat damage step. However, triggered abilities can be activated in response to combat damage being dealt, or after combat damage has been dealt, to produce various effects depending on their specific instructions.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the nuances between combat damage and ability damage is key to becoming a successful Magic: The Gathering player. It affects everything from deck building to in-game decision making. As you continue your journey, always refer back to these fundamentals to solidify your understanding. For further exploration of game-based learning and the educational aspects of games like Magic: The Gathering, explore the resources available at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Is combat damage the same as ability damage?