First Strike Death Touch
Asked by -Orvos- 11 years ago
Is first strike death touch really as scary as it sounds?
Example. Im playing against my friend who has a 64/64 Primordial Hydra and I have a Phyrexian Crusader and a Death Baron out. If my friend attacks with his almighty Primordial Hydra and my first strike death touch Phyrexian Crusader blocks it, will the Primordial Hydra die before it gets to assign any damage? Im pretty sure deathtouch is a SBA and would be counted after first strike damage was dealt but I just want clarification.
A creature with first strike and deathtouch will kill any creatures it is in combat with before they can deal damage, unless the creature it is blocking or blocked by also has first strike. Specifically, deathtouch means "Any amount of damage this creature deals is considered lethal damage" (paraphrased). The Crusader would kill the Hydra before the Hydra could even deal damage.
Note that deathtouch does not involve state-based actions (SBAs) at all. It simply adds an additional effect to the damage.
December 3, 2013 4:13 a.m.
Ah, Absinthman is correct. I forgot that creatures were indeed destroyed as a state-based action. My bad.
Absinthman says... Accepted answer #1
Deathtouch means that only one point of damage from the source with deathtouch is considered lethal damage. First strike (and double strike) creates a separate first strike combat damage step in which said creature deals its combat damage before creatures without first strike or double strike. In that step, your Phyrexian Crusader will deal its combat damage to the Hydra. After that, before anybody gets priority, state-based actions are checked and the game will see that the Hydra has lethal damage marked on it. The rules will destroy it before it has a chance to deal its combat damage.
Short answer: Yes, it is as scary as it sounds. This combination makes your creature able to kill anything it touches that doesn't have first strike or double strike, and live to tell the tale.
December 3, 2013 4:11 a.m.