Combat is one of the main parts of Magic! With most decks winning with creatures dealing damage, it is key to understand how combat works!

If a creature is blocked, it is forever blocked, until combat is over. This means that cards like Arrows of Justice still would work after the combat damage step, but not during the second main phase. It also means that if a you block a creature and the blocker is sacrificed or destroyed before combat damage, the attacker doesn’t suddenly become unblocked, and it won’t get to deal damage to the player.

Now, this is very important with creatures that have double strike. Although a creature with double strike may destroy a blocker on the first strike, the regular strike does not go to the defending player or planeswalker. In fact, the creature would not deal damage in the second damage step, as there is nothing to receive the damage. In short, your hard working Mirran Crusader gets to take a break for destroying phyrexian supporters with his first strike!

Note: If a creature has trample, all combat damage would be dealt to the defending player or planeswalker if there isn’t a blocker when it comes time to deal damage.

Today’s Rules Tip written by James Arriola