Double Strike and Trample
Had to do some corrections! Here’s is the correct video! Enjoy! #mtg #magicthegathering #wizardsofthecoast #mtgrules #mtgcommunity
Wow, can we talk about how confusing combat can get in Magic: The Gathering sometimes? I don't know about you, but for the longest time, the interaction between Double Strike and Trample was a total headache for me. I've seen so many games where players (myself included!) got these rules wrong, leading to awkward re-dos or missed lethal damage. That's why I really wanted to dive deep and share my understanding, especially after going over CR 702.4 and making sure I had all the details right! First, let's break down each ability by itself. What is Double Strike? This one's pretty straightforward once you get it. A creature with Double Strike essentially deals combat damage twice in a single combat phase. It deals its damage during the first strike damage step, and then again during the normal combat damage step. So, if your creature has 2 power and Double Strike, it would deal 2 damage during first strike, and then another 2 damage during normal combat, totaling 4 damage. If it had 3 power, it would be 3 + 3 for 6 damage. It's a fantastic way to punch through defenses! A key thing to remember is that Double Strike works whether your creature is attacking or blocking. If a blocking creature has Double Strike, it will deal its damage twice to the attacking creature(s) it's blocking. However, one common misconception is whether 'does double strike double attack triggers'. It doesn't! Attack triggers only happen once when the creature is declared as an attacker. Damage triggers, however, will happen twice if applicable. Also, having multiple instances of Double Strike doesn't stack; it's redundant. A creature just deals damage during both steps, regardless of how many times it gained the ability. What is Trample? Trample lets your big creatures push through blockers and deal excess damage directly to the defending player or planeswalker. Here’s the gist: if your creature with Trample is blocked, you assign lethal damage to the blocking creature(s) first. Any remaining damage can then be assigned to the defending player or planeswalker. For example, if a 5/5 creature with Trample attacks and is blocked by a 2/2, you assign 2 damage to the blocker (lethal), and the remaining 3 damage "tramples over" to the opponent. If there's No Blocker, all the damage goes to the opponent, of course! The Mighty Combo: Double Strike and Trample Together! This is where it gets really interesting! When a creature has both Double Strike and Trample, both abilities apply to each damage step. This means your creature can potentially deal excess damage *twice*. Let's say you have a 3/3 creature with Double Strike and Trample attacking, and it's blocked by a 1/1 creature. First Strike Damage Step: Your 3/3 assigns 1 damage to the 1/1 blocker (lethal damage). The remaining 2 damage "tramples over" to the defending player/planeswalker. The 1/1 blocker dies. Normal Combat Damage Step: Since the blocker is no longer on the battlefield (it died in the first strike step), your 3/3 creature has no blockers. Because it has Trample, all 3 of its power is assigned as damage directly to the defending player/planeswalker. In total, your opponent took 2 damage from the first strike step and 3 damage from the normal combat step, for a grand total of 5 damage! This interaction is incredibly powerful. It makes even smaller creatures with this combo a huge threat. What if there are multiple blockers? Let's say your 3/3 Double Strike Trample attacks and is blocked by a 1/1 and a 2/2. First Strike Damage Step: You must assign lethal damage across the blockers first. So, 1 damage to the 1/1, and 2 damage to the 2/2. Total damage assigned to blockers is 3. Since your attacking creature only has 3 power, there's no excess damage to trample over in this step. Both the 1/1 and the 2/2 blockers die. Normal Combat Damage Step: Again, since all blockers are gone, your 3/3 creature assigns all its 3 damage directly to the defending player/planeswalker due to Trample. Total damage to opponent: 3 damage. Understanding these nuances can really elevate your game. It’s not just about knowing the rules but anticipating how creatures with these abilities will impact the battlefield. Practice makes perfect, and I hope this breakdown helps you feel more confident in your MTG combat decisions!






































































