Serra Avatar, Double Strike and Lifelink
Asked by clockworkcactus 11 years ago
If I have True Conviction out, giving my creatures Double Strike and Lifelink, Serra Avatar would be the same power and toughness for both attacks, right? I thought this was the case because the gaining life will go on the stack which won't have a chance to resolve until after combat damage is assigned, but there was some confusion at the last EDH game.
On a similar note (and from the same game), if Serra Avatar 's first attack would deal enough damage to drop an opponent to zero life or less, the second attack still happens since the player wouldn't lose until state-based actions are checked, correct? Or am I way off base with this one?
Thanks in advance for any help.
clockworkcactus says... #2
I see. I didn't know state-based actions were checked between the two damage steps. Thanks!
January 7, 2014 10:26 p.m.
drpeppercan says... #3
I know that the old slith cards like Slith Firewalker got a +1/+1 put on them before the second strike resolved if they were given double strike through being equipped with Fireshrieker , I would think that Serra Avatar would work the same way, but I'm not 100% on that.
January 7, 2014 10:26 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
Lifelink is a static ability. It happens immediately and doesn't use the stack.
January 7, 2014 11:55 p.m.
clockworkcactus says... #5
I'm just starting to get the hang of the finer points of Magic rules so that's good to know. Thanks!
acbooster says... Accepted answer #1
When dealing with First/Double Strike, damage is handled in two different instances and SBA are checked between them. Your Serra Avatar would deal the first strike damage gaining you life, and increasing its power for the second bout of damage. Likewise, if the first attack would kill your opponent, the game would end before normal damage would be dealt.
This is also why Markov Blademaster hits for 1, gets a counter, hits for 2, then gets another counter in a single attack.
January 7, 2014 10:24 p.m.