One Minute Rules: First Strike

Okay, so you've got the quick rundown on First Strike, but let's be real – sometimes you need to dive a bit deeper to truly grasp how it changes the rules for combat. I remember my first few games where I totally misplayed First Strike, thinking it was just 'hitting first.' But it's so much more strategic than that! That 'additional step' the OCR mentioned is absolutely key. When a creature with First Strike is involved, the combat damage step actually gets split into two! First, creatures with First Strike (and Double Strike, but that's another story!) deal their damage. THEN, after that step, if there are still creatures remaining that haven't been dealt lethal damage, and they don't have First Strike, they get to deal their damage in a second combat damage step. This means your 2/2 First Striker can often take down a 3/3 without taking a scratch, which is huge for board advantage! Think about cards like Brightblade Stoat from the OCR results – a creature with First Strike and Lifelink. Not only does it hit first, preventing potential damage to itself, but it also gains you life right away. This combo can be incredibly powerful for stabilizing your board or racing your opponent. What about Deathtouch? A 1/1 with First Strike and Deathtouch can take out any creature, no matter its toughness, before that creature can deal damage back. It’s a brutal combination and definitely something to look out for! One important clarification from the rules (CR 702.7d, as seen in the OCR) is that 'multiple instances' of First Strike on the same creature 'are redundant.' This means if your creature somehow gains First Strike twice, it doesn't give it any extra advantage; it's not 'pseudo double strike.' It just has First Strike, plain and simple. Good to know when you're stacking enchantments or abilities, so you don't waste resources trying to give it redundant abilities! From a strategic perspective, always consider how First Strike affects trades. If you're blocking an opponent's creature that doesn't have First Strike, your First Striker can often trade up, or even survive if its power is equal to or greater than the opponent's creature's toughness. Conversely, if you're attacking into an opponent's creature that does have First Strike, you need to be prepared for your creature to die before it can hit back. Sometimes, it's better to just take the damage or use removal to clear the way. I've learned to play around First Strike by using creatures with high toughness, or giving my creatures indestructible. Or, if I have a bigger creature without First Strike, I might wait until I have a combat trick to boost its toughness or give it First Strike myself. It really changes how you approach combat. Hopefully, this deeper dive helps you make better combat decisions and dominate your MTG games!