Question about first-strike and double-strike interactions.

Asked by AdwinBalkar 2 years ago

So, I was curious about what happens if a card with first-strike is given the Double-strike effect. Does it mean that both strikes hit first? Does it even do anything? Cause I know that with double strike the first strike hits first and the the second strike hits at the same time, and First-strike means that your attack strikes first. So just wondering how those two effects work with eachother.

Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1

Double Strike and First Strike work by adding a second Combat Damage Step, only accessible to creatures with Double/First strike (or Triple strike, but that is only in Unsets, so is not relevant in most instances).

Basically, instead of the combat phase going:

  1. Beginning of Combat Step
  2. Declare Attackers Step
  3. Declare Blockers Step
  4. Combat Damage Step
  5. End of Combat Step

It goes:

  1. Beginning of Combat Step
  2. Declare Attackers Step
  3. Declare Blockers Step
  4. First/Double Strike Damage Step
  5. Regular Combat Damage Step
  6. End of Combat Step

If a creature has both, it will function as if the creature just has double strike--both first and double strike unlock the First Strike Damage Step, but, since they are in the same damage step, the creature only deals the damage the one time. Then, since they have double strike, they will deal damage in the Regular Combat Damage Step as well.

As a note, the second strike in Double Strike does not hit at the same time--it hits in a completely different step.

May 10, 2021 9:14 p.m. Edited.

Gidgetimer says... #2

It is just normal double strike. First strike means that your creature does damage on the first strike combat damage step. Double strike means it does damage on both combat damage steps. There is no third combat damage step created in normal magic.

(Silver bordered "un" sets have last strike. It is a third combat damage step, but still does not change how double strike and first strike interact.)

May 10, 2021 9:15 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #3

Caerwyn I think that by "at the same time" they meant "at the same time as normal damage".

May 10, 2021 9:16 p.m.

AdwinBalkar says... #4

Caerwyn So, if a creature has double-strike, then First-strike doesn't do anything to it, right?

May 10, 2021 11:12 p.m.

Caerwyn says... #5

Correct* the first strike add nothing to the double strike.

(*Conceivably there could be a card that cares about creatures with first strike, not double strike, so the creature having both could do something tangible, but that (a) would not change the fact that you would still only do damage only two times, and (b) that card does not currently exist.)

May 11, 2021 1:26 a.m.

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