Can giving first strike prevent combat damage?
Asked by chosenone124 5 years ago
My opponent has a Dire Fleet Neckbreaker and Rigging Runner. I have Zetalpa, Primal Dawn and 2 life. If I block Neckbreaker, kill it with first strike, then Sure Strike the Rigging Runner, will it prevent all damage?
chosenone124 says... #2
magicsheep My question is about first strike damage interactions.
December 28, 2018 11:04 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #3
Rigging Runner already has first strike, so let's say it was something like Fanatical Firebrand instead.
No, that won't work. It's due to the specific way the rules for combat damage are written. In the "first strike" combat damage step, creatures with first strike and double strike deal damage. Then in the "regular" combat damage step, creatures with double strike and any other creatures that didn't have first strike or double strike for the "first strike" step will deal damage. Giving a creature first strike right before "normal" damage won't make it miss its chance to deal damage.
510.4 If at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike (see rule 702.7) or double strike (see rule 702.4) 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.
December 29, 2018 12:12 p.m.
This will not work. During the First Strike Combat Damage Step, you will gain priority and be allowed to cast Sure Strike. If you grant a creature (in this case, an opponent's creature) First Strike after First Strike damage, but before regular combat damage, it will deal damage during the regular combat damage step, per rule 702.7c.
Rule 702.7c Giving first strike to a creature without it after combat damage has already been dealt in the first combat damage step won’t preclude that creature from assigning combat damage in the second combat damage step. Removing first strike from a creature after it has already dealt combat damage in the first combat damage step won’t allow it to also assign combat damage in the second combat damage step (unless the creature has double strike).
magicsheep says... #1
No, as Zetalpa, Primal Dawn cannot block two creatures. You block the Dire Fleet Neckbreaker and kill it, but using Sure Strike won’t affect the toughness of the Rigging Runner. Thus, you would take a lethal amount of damage (which depends on whether the Rigging Runner had a +1/+1 counter on it).
December 28, 2018 10:54 p.m.