What is the Deathtouch Damage Rule?
The Deathtouch damage rule is a static ability in Magic: The Gathering that causes any amount of damage dealt by a creature with Deathtouch to be lethal damage, meaning that if a creature with Deathtouch deals any amount of damage to another creature, that creature will be destroyed, regardless of its toughness. This rule applies to all damage dealt by a creature with Deathtouch, including combat damage and non-combat damage, and is a key component of many strategies in the game.
Understanding Deathtouch
To fully understand the Deathtouch damage rule, it’s essential to consider various scenarios and interactions with other abilities and effects in the game. The following FAQs provide additional information and clarification on how Deathtouch works in different situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Does Deathtouch Assign Damage?
Deathtouch allows the controller of the creature with Deathtouch to assign damage to blockers as they choose, but the damage must still be assigned in a way that is consistent with the normal rules for assigning combat damage.
2. Does Deathtouch Work with 0 Damage?
No, a creature with 0 power assigns no combat damage, and therefore Deathtouch does not apply in this case, as there is no damage being dealt.
3. What is Deathtouch?
Deathtouch is a static ability that causes any amount of damage dealt by a creature to be lethal damage, meaning that the creature being dealt damage will be destroyed if it is not indestructible.
4. Does Hexproof Stop Deathtouch?
No, Hexproof does not prevent Deathtouch, as Deathtouch does not target the creature being dealt damage.
5. Does First Strike Negate Deathtouch?
Yes, if a creature with First Strike deals enough damage to kill a creature with Deathtouch, the creature with Deathtouch will be destroyed before it has a chance to deal damage, effectively negating Deathtouch.
6. Do Board Wipes Affect Indestructible Creatures?
It depends on the specific board wipe. If the board wipe destroys or deals damage to creatures, indestructible creatures will not be affected. However, if the board wipe exiles or gives -X/-X to creatures, indestructible creatures will be affected.
7. Does Double Strike Beat Deathtouch?
Yes, if a creature with Double Strike blocks a creature with Deathtouch, the creature with Double Strike will deal damage during the first strike damage step, potentially killing the creature with Deathtouch before it can deal damage.
8. Does Regenerate Beat Deathtouch?
Yes, if a creature is dealt damage by a creature with Deathtouch, but has regenerate, the controller of the creature only needs to pay the regeneration cost once to prevent the creature from being destroyed.
9. Does Protection Stop Deathtouch?
Yes, protection from a specific color will prevent damage dealt by creatures of that color from being dealt, including Deathtouch.
10. Does Prevent Damage Stop Deathtouch?
Yes, if damage is prevented, Deathtouch will not apply, as Deathtouch requires damage to be dealt to the creature.
11. Does Deathtouch Work During Fight?
Yes, Deathtouch works during fight, as fight deals damage simultaneously and is dealt by the creatures themselves.
12. Does Deathtouch Beat Trample?
No, Deathtouch does not prevent a creature with trample from dealing damage to the defending player, as trample allows excess damage to be dealt to the defending player.
13. What Happens if You Block with Deathtouch?
Unless one of the creatures has First Strike or Double Strike, the creature with Deathtouch will destroy the creature it is blocking, and the blocking creature will destroy the creature with Deathtouch if its power is higher than the toughness of the creature with Deathtouch.
14. Can You Give a Planeswalker Deathtouch?
No, Planeswalkers are not creatures, so they cannot have Deathtouch.
15. Does Deathtouch Bypass Indestructible?
No, Deathtouch does not bypass indestructible, as indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed by lethal damage, including Deathtouch.
By understanding the Deathtouch damage rule and how it interacts with other abilities and effects in the game, players can make more informed decisions and develop effective strategies to outmaneuver their opponents.