Can I Re-Enter First Strike?
Asked by xGuyFawkes 9 years ago
I have a Markov Blademaster that has just dealt it's first/double strike damage phase, it gets its +1/+1 counter and then moves to the combat damage phase. Is it possible to cast Vampiric Fury and move my Markov Blademaster back into the first strike damage phase?
This may be unclear and I will try to clarify as much as possible if needed.
xGuyFawkes says... #2
Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think it was possible, as reading the ruling, but I wanted to make sure it wasn't possible to create another combat phase.
October 1, 2014 3:21 a.m.
xGuyFawkes Just to be pedantic, since Magic is quite strict about the terms used, what you are asking about is combat steps, not phases. Combat as a whole is a phase in a turn and there can be multiple combat phases (each with zero, one or two combat damage steps depending on the creatures taking part in combat).
FancyTuesday says... Accepted answer #1
It is not possible to "go back" in combat damage steps. Giving a creature with Double Strike First Strike is redundant.
510.5 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.
The wording is such that the game won't make any more combat damage steps, it checks for creatures that did not do damage or have Double Strike.
October 1, 2014 3:17 a.m.