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{{Infobox keyword
{{Infobox keyword
| name = Last strike
| first = Unstable
| last = Unstable
| type = Static
| type = Static
| reminder = This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.
| reminder = This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.<ref name="FAQ">{{DailyRef|news/unstable-faqawaslfaqpaftidawabiajtbt-2017-11-22|Unstable FAQAWASLFAQPAFTIDAWABIAJTBT|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 22, 2017}}</ref>
| stats =  
| stats = {{stats|B=1|R=1}}
| searchtype = fulloracle
}}
}}
'''Last strike''' is a [[static ability]] featured in ''[[Unstable]]''.<ref name="Scraps 2">{{DailyRef|making-magic/unstable-scraps-part-2-2017-12-04|Unstable Scraps, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 4, 2017}}</ref>


'''Last strike''' is a theoretical [[static ability]] which has been discussed by [[R&D]], but has never been printed. [[Mark Rosewater]] tried to put Last Strike into [[Future Sight]] on a [[Futureshifted|future-shifted]] card and was stopped by the ''Magic'' [[rules]] Manager at the time, [[Mark Gottlieb]],<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/82838993490/i-think-triple-strike-is-very-possible-in-magic|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=I think triple strike is very possible in Magic...|date=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref name="worth">{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100429190403/do-you-ever-think-that-there-might-be-a-second|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Do you ever think that there might be a second strike mechanic?|date=October 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name="after">{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100521681718/what-are-these-questions-about-last-strike|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=What are these questions about "Last Strike" referring to?|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/128524147298/where-is-last-strike-on-the-scale-is-it-dead-or|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Where is "Last Strike" on the scale?|date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> due to rule rewriting issues.<ref name="after"/>
==Description==
Last strike means it happens after normal damage,<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/128529699163/so-how-exactly-would-last-strike-work-and-what|title=So how exactly would last strike work?|September 6, 2015}}</ref> just the opposite of [[First strike]].<ref name="after"/> It is flavorful downside.<ref name="what">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100483890658/whats-the-point-of-last-strike-it-sounds-like|title=What's the point of Last Strike?|October 20, 2014}}</ref>


== Description ==
[[Mark Rosewater]] created it to allow the [[Triple strike]] mechanic to be a thing.<ref name="after"/><ref name="what"/> He knows that there are some tricky ways to circumvent the rules to make last strike work and he says those ways also make triple strike work.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100482751328/why-not-just-have-last-strike-simply-read-all|title=Why not just have last strike simply read "all creatures blocking or blocked by this creature gain first strike until end of combat"?|October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/101509725233/with-regards-to-last-strike-couldnt-a-creature|title=Couldn't a creature with "Creatures blocking or blocked by this creature have first strike" work?|November 1, 2014}}</ref>
Last strike means it happens after normal damage,<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/128529699163/so-how-exactly-would-last-strike-work-and-what|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=So how exactly would last strike work?|date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> just the opposite of [[First strike]].<ref name="after"/> It is flavorful downside<ref name="what">{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100483890658/whats-the-point-of-last-strike-it-sounds-like|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=What's the point of Last Strike?|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref> but it is not clear in what color would it be.<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/121542679793/wouldnt-last-strike-be-much-more-flavourful-in|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Wouldn't last strike be much more flavourful in white?|date=June 14, 2015}}</ref> The problem with this mechanic is that it adds more complexity and it needs a great work on the rules.<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/37698444930/what-makes-last-strike-so-different-from-first|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=What makes last strike so different from first strike?|date=December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100558267458/the-only-reason-that-i-have-herd-thus-far-as-to|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=The only reason that I have herd thus far as to why we haven't yet seen last strike is...|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref> Back during Future Sight set design, it was not worth the rules rewriting it would require just to create one or two cards.<ref name="worth"/>


Mark Rosewater created it to allow the [[Triple strike]] mechanic be a thing.<ref name="after"/><ref name="what"/> He knows that are some tricky ways to circumvent the rules to make Last strike work, but he wants that these ways also make Triple strike work.<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100482751328/why-not-just-have-last-strike-simply-read-all|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Why not just have last strike simply read "all creatures blocking or blocked by this creature gain first strike until end of combat"?|date=October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/101509725233/with-regards-to-last-strike-couldnt-a-creature|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Couldn't a creature with "Creatures blocking or blocked by this creature have first strike" work?|date=November 1, 2014}}</ref>
==History==
Long before the keywording, there were some cards that attempted to portray the idea of anti-first-strike - <c>Mammoth Harness</c>, <c>Goblin Flotilla</c>, and <c>Spitting Slug</c>. The idea was to give their opposing combatant first strike, which is close to but not exactly how Last Strike would work.


Despite the concerns, Mark Rosewater still hopes to use the mechanic in a future set.<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/134303965903/will-triple-strike-ever-be-a-thing|title=Blogatog|tumblr-title=Will triple strike ever be a thing?|date=November 30, 2015}}</ref>
Rosewater tried to put Last Strike into ''[[Future Sight]]'' on a [[Futureshifted|future-shifted]] card and was stopped by the ''Magic'' [[rules]] Manager at the time, [[Mark Gottlieb]],<ref name="after">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100521681718/what-are-these-questions-about-last-strike|title=What are these questions about "Last Strike" referring to?|October 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name="worth">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100429190403/do-you-ever-think-that-there-might-be-a-second|title=Do you ever think that there might be a second strike mechanic?|October 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/82838993490/i-think-triple-strike-is-very-possible-in-magic|title=I think triple strike is very possible in Magic...|April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/128524147298/where-is-last-strike-on-the-scale-is-it-dead-or|title=Where is "Last Strike" on the scale?|September 6, 2015}}</ref> due to rule rewriting issues.<ref name="after"/><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/37698444930/what-makes-last-strike-so-different-from-first|title=What makes last strike so different from first strike?|December 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/100558267458/the-only-reason-that-i-have-herd-thus-far-as-to|title=The only reason that I have herd thus far as to why we haven't yet seen last strike is...|October 20, 2014}}</ref> Back during ''Future Sight'' set design, it was not worth the rules rewriting it would require just to create one or two cards.<ref name="worth"/>
 
Until ''Unstable'', it was not clear in what color Last Strike would appear.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/121542679793/wouldnt-last-strike-be-much-more-flavourful-in|title=Wouldn't last strike be much more flavourful in white?|June 14, 2015}}</ref> Even after its release in ''Unstable'', Mark Rosewater believes it is unlikely that Last strike (and Triple strike) will become [[eternal]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/167543441478/is-the-inclusion-of-last-strike-and-triple-strike|title=Is the inclusion of last strike and triple strike in Unstable a concession that they will never make it into black border?|November 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/167543545088/are-triple-strike-and-last-strike-any-closer-to|title=Are Triple Strike and Last Strike any closer to being black borderable today than they were in Future Sight?|November 16, 2017}}</ref>
 
==Examples==
{{examples|<c>Extremely Slow Zombie</c> {{1}}{{B}}<br>Creature - Zombie<br>3/3<br>Last strike ''(This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.)''}}
 
==Trivia==
* If you give Extremely Slow Zombie first strike, it will it deal first and last strike damage (but not regular). This is called "Split Strike" by Mark Rosewater.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/167574593413/if-you-give-extremely-slow-zombie-first-strike|title=If you give Extremely Slow Zombie first strike, will it deal first and last strike damage (but not regular)?|November 16, 2017}}</ref>
** His name for last strike + normal strike is "Molasses Strike".<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/167639323028/if-double-strike-is-first-strike-normal|title=Is there a keyword for normal attacking + last strike? |November 18, 2017}}</ref>


== Example ==
{{examples|text=''
*Slow Creature - {{3}}<br>Creature<br>7/7<br>Last strike ''(This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.)''<br>Menace
}}
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Unreleased mechanics]]


{{Keywords and abilities}}
{{Mechanics|misc|state=collapsed}}
{{Acorn|mechanics}}

Latest revision as of 09:29, 2 March 2023

Last strike
Keyword Ability
Type Static
Introduced Unstable
Last used Unstable
Reminder Text Last strike (This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.[1])
Statistics
2 cards
{B} 50% {R} 50%
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"Last strike"

Last strike is a static ability featured in Unstable.[2]

Description

Last strike means it happens after normal damage,[3] just the opposite of First strike.[4] It is flavorful downside.[5]

Mark Rosewater created it to allow the Triple strike mechanic to be a thing.[4][5] He knows that there are some tricky ways to circumvent the rules to make last strike work and he says those ways also make triple strike work.[6][7]

History

Long before the keywording, there were some cards that attempted to portray the idea of anti-first-strike - Mammoth Harness, Goblin Flotilla, and Spitting Slug. The idea was to give their opposing combatant first strike, which is close to but not exactly how Last Strike would work.

Rosewater tried to put Last Strike into Future Sight on a future-shifted card and was stopped by the Magic rules Manager at the time, Mark Gottlieb,[4][8][9][10] due to rule rewriting issues.[4][11][12] Back during Future Sight set design, it was not worth the rules rewriting it would require just to create one or two cards.[8]

Until Unstable, it was not clear in what color Last Strike would appear.[13] Even after its release in Unstable, Mark Rosewater believes it is unlikely that Last strike (and Triple strike) will become eternal.[14][15]

Examples

Example

Extremely Slow Zombie {1}{B}
Creature - Zombie
3/3
Last strike (This creature deals combat damage after creatures without last strike.)

Trivia

  • If you give Extremely Slow Zombie first strike, it will it deal first and last strike damage (but not regular). This is called "Split Strike" by Mark Rosewater.[16]
    • His name for last strike + normal strike is "Molasses Strike".[17]

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (November 22, 2017). "Unstable FAQAWASLFAQPAFTIDAWABIAJTBT". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Mark Rosewater (December 4, 2017). "Unstable Scraps, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (September 6, 2015). "So how exactly would last strike work?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. a b c d Mark Rosewater (October 20, 2014). "What are these questions about "Last Strike" referring to?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. a b Mark Rosewater (October 20, 2014). "What's the point of Last Strike?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  6. Mark Rosewater (October 20, 2014). "Why not just have last strike simply read "all creatures blocking or blocked by this creature gain first strike until end of combat"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. Mark Rosewater (November 1, 2014). "Couldn't a creature with "Creatures blocking or blocked by this creature have first strike" work?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. a b Mark Rosewater (October 19, 2014). "Do you ever think that there might be a second strike mechanic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. Mark Rosewater (April 15, 2014). "I think triple strike is very possible in Magic...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. Mark Rosewater (September 6, 2015). "Where is "Last Strike" on the scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. Mark Rosewater (December 11, 2012). "What makes last strike so different from first strike?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. Mark Rosewater (October 20, 2014). "The only reason that I have herd thus far as to why we haven't yet seen last strike is...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. Mark Rosewater (June 14, 2015). "Wouldn't last strike be much more flavourful in white?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. Mark Rosewater (November 16, 2017). "Is the inclusion of last strike and triple strike in Unstable a concession that they will never make it into black border?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  15. Mark Rosewater (November 16, 2017). "Are Triple Strike and Last Strike any closer to being black borderable today than they were in Future Sight?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  16. Mark Rosewater (November 16, 2017). "If you give Extremely Slow Zombie first strike, will it deal first and last strike damage (but not regular)?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. Mark Rosewater (November 18, 2017). "Is there a keyword for normal attacking + last strike?". Blogatog. Tumblr.