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in: Keywords/Static, Glossary

Double strike

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Double Strike
Mtga double strike.png
Keyword Ability
Type Static
Introduced Legions
Last Used Evergreen
Reminder Text Double strike (This creature deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.)
Statistics
130 cards
{W} 36.9% {U} 1.5% {B} 0.8% {R} 33.1% {G} 0.8% {W/U} 0.8% {R/G} 6.2% {W/B} 1.5% {R/W} 10.8% {M} 3.8% {artifact symbol} 2.3% {land symbol} 1.5%
Scryfall Search
oracle:"Double Strike"

Double strike is an evergreen keyword ability that allows a creature to deal combat damage twice per combat phase — once during the first combat damage step, along with any creatures that have first strike, and again during the second combat damage step along with creatures that have neither keyword.

It appears primarily in Red and in White, the two combat-trained colors already proficient with first strike.[1] Even among cards that aren't red nor white, all but one (Planar Chaos card Jodah's Avenger) still require {R/W} in some way to utilize double strike.

History[]

Double strike was designed by Wayne Alward, a player who submitted it as a mechanic for the first You Make the Card promotion. Double strike was rejected for the card, which would later become Forgotten Ancient because the mechanic didn't fit within Green's segment of the color wheel. Nonetheless, several R&D members were impressed with the design's elegance. Thus, double strike was adopted into Magic, upon which it became evergreen almost immediately.[2][3]

Double strike premiered in Legions, with the cards Ridgetop Raptor and Rockshard Elemental. It remains an evergreen mechanic as of today.[4]

Ikoria Commander introduced double strike counters.

Rules[]

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (July 23, 2021—Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)

Double Strike
A keyword ability that lets a creature deal its combat damage twice. See rule 702.4, “Double Strike.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (July 23, 2021—Adventures in the Forgotten Realms)

  • 702.4. Double Strike
    • 702.4a Double strike is a static ability that modifies the rules for the combat damage step. (See rule 510, “Combat Damage Step.”)
    • 702.4b If at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 702.7) or double strike as the combat damage step begins, the only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are those with first strike or double strike. After that step, instead of proceeding to the end of combat step, the phase gets a second combat damage step. The only creatures that assign combat damage in that step are the remaining attackers and blockers that had neither first strike nor double strike as the first combat damage step began, as well as the remaining attackers and blockers that currently have double strike. After that step, the phase proceeds to the end of combat step.
    • 702.4c Removing double strike from a creature during the first combat damage step will stop it from assigning combat damage in the second combat damage step.
    • 702.4d Giving double strike to a creature with first strike after it has already dealt combat damage in the first combat damage step will allow the creature to assign combat damage in the second combat damage step.
    • 702.4e Multiple instances of double strike on the same creature are redundant.

Rulings[]

  • Double strike isn't first strike. Effects that make a creature lose first strike won't make it lose double strike.
  • Creatures with double strike and creatures with first strike deal combat damage in the first combat damage step.
  • All creatures that didn't assign combat damage in the first combat damage step assign combat damage in the second combat damage step. In addition, all creatures with double strike assign combat damage again in the second step.
  • If a creature has both double strike and trample, the combat damage it assigned during the first combat damage step will be considered when determining how much damage can trample through in the second combat damage step.

Examples[]

Example

Boros Swiftblade {R}{W}
Creature — Human Soldier
1/2
Double strike (This creature deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.)

Cards that grant double strike[]

Planeswalkers
Sorceries (until end of turn)
Instants (until end of turn)
Creatures
Auras (enchanted creature)
Enchantments (your creatures)
Equipment (equipped creature)
Land ({T} until end of turn)
Planes

External links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Randy Buehler (2003 January 17). "Double Damage, Double Fun". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 22, 2018). "How Trivial". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2015 June 08). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
 
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