First strike

First strike is an evergreen keyword ability that changes the rules for combat by adding an additional combat damage step.

Description
A creature with first strike deals combat damage before creatures without first strike. The ability usually represents a creature's exceptional speed or skill; or possession of long range weapons, such as spears, lances, or bows. The most common creature types to have first strike are Knights and Soldiers.

History
First strike has been in Magic since the original Alpha set. First strike has appeared in all colors, but is primarily placed in white and red. It is tertiary in black.

Fresh Faced Recruit from Guilds of Ravnica is R&D experimenting with creatures that just give first strike offensively. Play Design enjoys it more when used offensively. Defensively it can just shut down combat.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced first strike counters.

Firstest strike
The mythical card Throat Wolf was rumored to have firstest strike. Throat Wolf was finally printed with firstest strike as a test card in the Mystery Booster set (This creature deals combat damage before creatures with first stike).

Enchantments that grant just First Strike
One creature All your creatures
 * Lance
 * Lashknife
 * Reflexes
 * Knighthood