First strike

First Strike
Sample Card
Reminder Text
Reminder Text	First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
Info
Type	Static (Ability Word)
Introduced	Origins
Last used	Aether Revolt

First strike is a static ability that creates an additional combat damage step. Creatures with first strike (and double strike) deal combat damage before other creatures.

Ingame Description

Attacking and blocking creatures that have first strike and double strike deal combat damage before other creatures. Then, all creatures except those with first strike deal combat damage.
Creatures that have double strike deal combat damage twice each combat.
It's possible for a creature to be destroyed before it can deal its combat damage.

Color Distribution

First strike can often be found on and creatures.

Skill Quest

You can play the skill quest "First Strike" to see how this game concept works.

Normally, all attacking and blocking creatures deal combat damage at the same time. However, a creature with first strike deals its combat damage first, before creatures without first strike. This means a creature with first strike can often destroy an enemy creature before that creature gets the chance to hit back.
Well done! First strike is advantageous on both offense and defense.

Comprehensive Rules

702.7. First Strike

702.7a First strike is a static ability that modifies the rules for the combat damage step. (See rule 510, “Combat Damage Step.”)

702.7b If at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike 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.

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 prevent 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).

702.7d Multiple instances of first strike on the same creature are redundant.

First strike Cardlist

36 results
	Abandon Reason (3) Instant Up to two target creatures each get +1/+0 and gain first strike until end of turn. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
	Aether Chaser (2) Creature — Human Artificer (2/1) First strike When Aether Chaser enters the battlefield, you get (two energy counters). Whenever Aether Chaser attacks, you may pay . If you do, create a 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature token.
	Akroan Sergeant (3) Creature — Human Soldier (2/2) First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.) Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.)
	Angelic Destiny (4) Enchantment — Aura Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +4/+4, has flying and first strike, and is an Angel in addition to its other types. When enchanted creature dies, return Angelic Destiny to its owner's hand.
	Ashmouth Blade (1) Artifact — Equipment Equipped creature gets +3/+3 and has first strike. Equip
	Borrowed Hostility (1) Instant Escalate (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.) Choose one or both — • Target creature gets +3/+0 until end of turn. • Target creature gains first strike until end of turn.
	Brisela, Voice of Nightmares (11) Legendary Creature — Eldrazi Angel (9/10) Flying, first strike, vigilance, lifelink Your opponents can't cast spells with converted mana cost 3 or less.
	Brisela, Voice of Nightmares (11) Legendary Creature — Eldrazi Angel (9/10) Flying, first strike, vigilance, lifelink Your opponents can't cast spells with converted mana cost 3 or less.
	Cartouche of Solidarity (1) Enchantment — Aura Cartouche Enchant creature you control When Cartouche of Solidarity enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 white Warrior creature token with vigilance. Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has first strike.
	Combustible Gearhulk (6) Artifact Creature — Construct (6/6) First strike When Combustible Gearhulk enters the battlefield, target opponent may have you draw three cards. If the player doesn't, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then Combustible Gearhulk deals damage to that player equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards.
	Consul's Lieutenant (2) Creature — Human Soldier (2/1) First strike Renown 1 (When this creature deals combat damage to a player, if it isn't renowned, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes renowned.) Whenever Consul's Lieutenant attacks, if it's renowned, other attacking creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
	Flayer Drone (3) Creature — Eldrazi Drone (3/1) Devoid (This card has no color.) First strike Whenever another colorless creature enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life.
	Gearshift Ace (2) Creature — Dwarf Pilot (2/1) First strike Whenever Gearshift Ace crews a Vehicle, that Vehicle gains first strike until end of turn.
	Gisela, the Broken Blade (4) Legendary Creature — Angel Horror (4/3) Flying, first strike, lifelink At the beginning of your end step, if you both own and control Gisela, the Broken Blade and a creature named Bruna, the Fading Light, exile them, then meld them into Brisela, Voice of Nightmares.
	Gurmag Swiftwing (2) Creature — Bat (1/2) Flying, first strike, haste
	Hope Against Hope (3) Enchantment — Aura Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each creature you control. As long as enchanted creature is a Human, it has first strike.
	It That Rides as One (2) Creature — Eldrazi Horror (4/4) First strike, trample, lifelink
	Kari Zev, Skyship Raider (2) Legendary Creature — Human Pirate (1/3) First strike, menace Whenever Kari Zev, Skyship Raider attacks, create a legendary 2/1 red Monkey creature token named Ragavan that's tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat.
	Knight of the White Orchid (2) Creature — Human Knight (2/2) First strike When Knight of the White Orchid enters the battlefield, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
	Kor Bladewhirl (2) Creature — Kor Soldier Ally (2/2) Rally — Whenever Kor Bladewhirl or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, creatures you control gain first strike until end of turn.
	Kor Scythemaster (3) Creature — Kor Soldier Ally (3/1) Kor Scythemaster has first strike as long as it's attacking.
	Lone Rider (2) Creature — Human Knight (1/1) First strike, lifelink At the beginning of the end step, if you gained 3 or more life this turn, transform Lone Rider.
	Looming Spires (0) Land Looming Spires enters the battlefield tapped. When Looming Spires enters the battlefield, target creature gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn. : Add to your mana pool.
	Neheb, the Worthy (3) Legendary Creature — Minotaur Warrior (2/2) First strike Other Minotaurs you control have first strike. As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, Minotaurs you control get +2/+0. Whenever Neheb, the Worthy deals combat damage to a player, each player discards a card.
	Ondu Greathorn (4) Creature — Beast (2/3) First strike Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Ondu Greathorn gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
	Paranoid Parish-Blade (3) Creature — Human Soldier (3/2) Delirium — Paranoid Parish-Blade gets +1/+0 and has first strike as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
	Razorfoot Griffin (4) Creature — Griffin (2/2) Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.) First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
	Reckless Racer (3) Creature — Human Pilot (2/3) First strike Whenever Reckless Racer becomes tapped, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
	Rhet-Crop Spearmaster (3) Creature — Human Warrior (3/1) You may exert Rhet-Crop Spearmaster as it attacks. When you do, it gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. (An exerted creature won't untap during your next untap step.)
	Scourge Wolf (2) Creature — Wolf Horror (2/2) First strike Delirium — Scourge Wolf has double strike as long as there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
	Siege Modification (3) Enchantment — Aura Enchant creature or Vehicle As long as enchanted permanent is a Vehicle, it's a creature in addition to its other types. Enchanted creature gets +3/+0 and has first strike.
	Stensia Masquerade (3) Enchantment Attacking creatures you control have first strike. Whenever a Vampire you control deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it. Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
	Thalia, Heretic Cathar (3) Legendary Creature — Human Soldier (3/2) First strike Creatures and nonbasic lands your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
	Toolcraft Exemplar (1) Creature — Dwarf Artificer (1/1) At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you control an artifact, Toolcraft Exemplar gets +2/+1 until end of turn. If you control three or more artifacts, it also gains first strike until end of turn.
	Veteran Warleader (3) Creature — Human Soldier Ally (*/*) Veteran Warleader's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control. Tap another untapped Ally you control: Veteran Warleader gains your choice of first strike, vigilance, or trample until end of turn.
	Zada's Commando (2) Creature — Goblin Archer Ally (2/1) First strike Cohort — , Tap an untapped Ally you control: Zada's Commando deals 1 damage to target opponent.