First strike
| First Strike | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type | Static |
| Introduced | Alpha |
| Last used | Evergreen |
| Reminder Text | First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) |
| Statistics |
238 cards  41.2%  1.3%  8.8%  26.9%  2.1%  1.7%  0.8%  3.8%  0.8%  2.1%  0.4%  3.8%  2.9%  3.4% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"First Strike" | |
First strike is an evergreen keyword ability that changes the rules for combat by adding an additional combat damage step.
Description
A creature with first strike deals combat damage before creatures without first strike. The ability usually represents a creature's exceptional speed or skill; or possession of long range weapons, such as spears, lances, or bows. The most common creature types to have first strike are Knights and Soldiers.
History
First strike has been in Magic since the original Alpha set.[1] First strike has appeared in all colors, but is primarily placed in white and red. It is tertiary in black.[2][3]
Fresh Faced Recruit from Guilds of Ravnica is R&D experimenting with creatures that just give first strike offensively.[4][5] Play Design enjoys it more when used offensively. Defensively it can just shut down combat.[6]
Rules
Examples
Example
Anaba Bodyguard 
Creature — Minotaur
2/3
First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
Enchantments that grant just First Strike
One creature
All your creatures
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 31, 2012). "Which colors are primary, secondary and tertiary on first strike?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 13, 2019). "I want to ask about the card I got judge calls about.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 9, 2019). "Is full-fledged First Strike falling out of favor with Wizards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 9, 2019). "Whats wrong with first strike that Wizards isnt liking it as much recently?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
External links
- A Planeswalker's Primer for Magic 2010: First Strike and Double Strike (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
- Gavin Verhey (March 23, 2017). "Striking First". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.