If you have first strike or double strike, you deal combat damage in the first damage step. If you have double strike or you don’t have first strike, you deal combat damage in the second combat damage step. Right?

Well, for the most part, yes. However, it’s a little more complex than that. Lemme ‘splain…

If any creatures with first strike or double strike are in combat as the combat damage step begins, a second “regular” combat damage step is created, to immediately follow the now-first combat damage step. The list of creatures that get to deal damage in that step are those that have first strike or double strike at that moment. Sure, that makes sense, and nothing gets confusing there.

But what if something happens during that first combat damage step that makes it so one of your creatures no longer has first strike or double strike? Maybe your Hanweir Lancer or Bonescythe Sliver died from first strike damage.

Which creatures deal damage in the second combat damage step? Logically, the ones that don’t have first strike, and the ones that have double strike. But wait… if a creature had first strike and lost it, does it get to deal damage in the “regular” damage step just like a double-striker? What about a creature that had double strike but lost it? Does it essentially get to deal damage twice anyway, since it’s a creature without first strike in the “regular” (second) damage step? Well that just doesn’t make sense, does it??

Luckily, the rules planned around this possibility. The actual list of creatures that can deal damage in the second step are “Any creatures that currently have double strike and any creatures that didn’t have first strike or double strike as the first combat damage step began.” So basically, any creature that didn’t already get to assign damage this turn will get to do that… since losing an ability like first strike shouldn’t somehow make you stronger in combat!

Similarly, if you wait until after damage in the first step then give first strike to a creature before the second damage step, that doesn’t somehow make it get lost in a time loop where it doesn’t get to deal damage since it “missed its chance” in the first damage step while it didn’t have first strike… The end result is the same as if it never had first strike at all, and it will still get to assign damage in the second damage step. Gaining an ability like first strike shouldn’t somehow make you weaker in combat!

Today’s Rules Tip written by Josh Stansfield