How does adding/removing first strike as a combat trick work?

Asked by zelian12 8 years ago

Can I attack with Archetype of Courage and Roon of the Hidden Realm and then blink archetype between first strike and normal damage to effectively give room double strike?

Can I use an instant like Sure Strike on an opponents creature between first strike and normal damage to effectively fog that creature?

Draugo says... Accepted answer #1

Answer to both questions is no.

The game handles first strike and double strike by first checking before combat damage step for creatures that have either of those abilities. If at least one creature participating in combat is found to have either ability then only creatures with those abilities deal damage in the normal combat damage step. Then, if there are still creatures that have not dealt damage or that have double strike, a second combat damage step is created and all creatures that have not yet dealt damage or that have double strike deal combat damage.

This means that giving a creature first strike after the first combat damage step doesn't do anything, they deal damage as normal since they have not yet dealt damage. Also giving double strike to a creature that did not have it, or did not have first strike, doesn't make that creature deal damage twice if it's given after the first damage step.

October 5, 2015 2:06 a.m.