Difference between revisions of "Combat Basics"

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=== Creature Ordering ===
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{{Infobox portals}}
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Creatures generally will fill the three creature slots in the order they are cast.  There are 3 creature slots and the "First" slot is always on the bottom.
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On each player's turns, their creatures attack, and some number of them may become blocked by opposing creatures.  A blocked creature trades damage with its blocker, potentially killing one or both of them.  An unblocked creature deals damage to the opposing Planeswalker.
  
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There are a few exceptions to this:
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=== Creature slots ===
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Each player has three creature slots. Their order is from bottom to top (the "first" slot is on the bottom). Both attacking and blocking relies on this creature slot order.  Creatures generally fill the creature slots in the order they are cast.  There are a few exceptions to this:
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* A creature with {{Ability|Defender}} reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}} in it.
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* A creature with {{Ability|Reach}} reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}} or {{Ability|Reach}} in it.
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* A creature with {{Ability|Vigilance}} reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Vigilance}} in it.
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* A creature with {{Ability|Bravery}} moves to the first slot during combat on its controller's turn.
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* Temporary effects that grant or remove {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Vigilance}} reorder a creature until that effect wears off, at which point, the order reverts using the rules above.
  
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* Creatures with {{Ability|Defender}} will reorder to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}} in it.
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Temporary effects which gain control of opposing creatures can sometimes use creature slots beyond 3.
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* Creatures with {{Ability|Reach}} will reorder to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}} or {{Ability|Reach}} in it.
 
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* Creatures with {{Ability|Vigilance}} will reorder to the first slot that does not have a creature with {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Vigilance}} in it.
 
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* Temporary effects that grant {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Vigilance}} will reorder a creature until that effect wears off, at which point, the order will revert using the rules above.
 
  
 
=== Attacking ===
 
=== Attacking ===
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Any non-{{Ability|Disable|Disabled}} creature with a power greater than 0 will attack during the combat phase.  The creatures attack in the order of the slot they are in.
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A player's creatures attack each turn in the order of the slot they are in.  Generally, all creatures attack, however a creature doesn't attack if any of the following is true:
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* It was brought into play this turn and doesn't have {{Ability|Haste}}.
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* It is {{Ability|Disable|Disabled}}.
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* It has the {{Ability|Can't Attack}} ability.
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* It has a power of 0.
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Generally, an attacking creature always attacks the opposing Planeswalker, unless a blocker gets in its way.  The exception is an attacking creature with {{Ability|Berserker}}, which attacks an opposing creature instead, forcing that creature to block it.
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* A {{Ability|Berserker}} with {{Ability|Flying}} attacks the first opposing creature, if any.
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* A {{Ability|Berskerer}} without {{Ability|Flying}} attacks the first opposing creature without {{Ability|Flying}}, if any.
  
 
=== Blocking ===
 
=== Blocking ===
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When a creature attacks, it is blocked by the first eligible defending creature.  A defending creature is any non-{{Ability|Disable|Disabled}} creature with {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}} or {{Ability|Vigilance}}.
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In general, an attacking creature gets blocked by the first non-{{Ability|Disable|Disabled}} opposing creature with one of the {{Ability|Defender}}, {{Ability|Reach}} or {{Ability|Vigilance}} abilities. However:
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* If the attacking creature has {{Ability|Unblockable}}, then it bypasses all blockers.
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* If the creature has {{Ability|Unblockable}}, then it will bypass all blockers.
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* If the attacking creature has {{Ability|Menace}}, then it bypasses blocking if there is only one opposing creature which could block it.  (If more than one creature could block it, it's blocked as normal by the first blocker.)
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* If the creature has {{Ability|Menace}}, then it will bypass blocking if there is only one eligible defending creature, otherwise it will be blocked by the first defending creature.
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* If the attacking creature has {{Ability|Flying}}, it can only be blocked by a defending creature having either {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Flying}} combined with {{Ability|Defender}} or {{Ability|Vigilance}}.
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* To block a creature with {{Ability|Flying}}, a defending creature must have either {{Ability|Reach}}, or {{Ability|Flying}} as well as {{Ability|Defender}} or {{Ability|Vigilance}}.
 
  
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=== Trample ===
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== When a creature is blocked ==
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{{Ability|Trample}} damage is applied after enough damage is applied to match the toughness of the defending creature.
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In general, when a creature is blocked, it trades damage with its blocker.  That is, the attacking creature deals damage equal to its power to its blocker, and the blocking creature deals damage equal to its power to the attacker.  This can change depending on various [[Abilities]] of the attacker or the blocker.
  
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'''Example:''' A creature with a toughness of 5 is hit by a trampling creature with a power of 8, in this case, 5 damage will be applied to the defending creature and the remaining 3 damage will be applied to the defending Planeswalker.
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===Trample===
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An attacking creature with {{Ability|Trample}} can split its damage between a blocking creature and the opposing Planeswalker.  Instead of applying all of its power as damage to the blocking creature, only enough damage is assigned to match the toughness of the defending creature. Any remaining damage is assigned to the opposing Planeswalker.
  
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This is true even if that creature has {{Ability|Prevent Damage}} or other effects that keep it from dying when taking damage.
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'''Example:''' A creature with a toughness of 5 blocks a creature with Trample and a power of 8.  5 damage will be applied to the defending creature, and the remaining 3 damage will be applied to the defending Planeswalker.
  
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=== First Strike ===
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The Planeswalker receives the excess damage even if the blocking creature has {{Ability|Prevent Damage}} or other effects that keep it from dying when taking damage.
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{{Ability|First Strike}} damage occurs first, then there is a check for whether one of the two creatures in combat would die prior to the second creature applying any damage.
 
  
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=== Double Strike ===
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===First Strike===
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{{Ability|Double Strike}} applies damage in both the First Strike and normal combat damage phases.  In [[MtGPQ]], trample damage applies to both the first and second strike of a double strike creature, even if the defending creature would die from the initial First Strike damage. An attacking creature with Double Strike is not considered to attack twice per combat round; it attacks once, but it deals damage twice.
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If either the attacker or blocker (or both) has {{Ability|First Strike}}, then the first strike damage occurs first, then there is a check for whether one of the two creatures in combat would die prior to the second creature applying any damage. If a creature without {{Ability|First Strike}} dies during the first strike attack phase, it doesn't retaliate: it does not damage the other creature, and if it has {{Ability|Deathtouch}}, the effect does not trigger.
  
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=== Berserker ===
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===Double Strike===
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A creature with {{Ability|Berserker}} will seek to attack the first eligible creature that the defending player has, even if that creature does not have any defending skills.  In this way, a {{Ability|Flying}} creature with {{Ability|Berserker}} can attack a non-flying creature, but a non-flying creature cannot attack a flying one.
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{{Ability|Double Strike}} applies damage in both the First Strike and normal combat damage phases.  In [[MtGPQ]], trample damage applies to both the first and second strike of a double strike creature, even if the defending creature would die from the initial First Strike damage.  An attacking creature with Double Strike is not considered to attack twice per combat round; it attacks once, but deals damage twice.
  
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{{Game concepts}}
 
[[Category:Guide]]
 
[[Category:Guide]]

Latest revision as of 01:36, 29 November 2022

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On each player's turns, their creatures attack, and some number of them may become blocked by opposing creatures. A blocked creature trades damage with its blocker, potentially killing one or both of them. An unblocked creature deals damage to the opposing Planeswalker.

Creature slots

Each player has three creature slots. Their order is from bottom to top (the "first" slot is on the bottom). Both attacking and blocking relies on this creature slot order. Creatures generally fill the creature slots in the order they are cast. There are a few exceptions to this:

  • A creature with Defender Defender reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with Defender Defender in it.
  • A creature with Reach Reach reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with Defender Defender or Reach Reach in it.
  • A creature with Vigilance Vigilance reorders to the first slot that does not have a creature with Defender Defender, Reach Reach, or Vigilance Vigilance in it.
  • A creature with Bravery Bravery moves to the first slot during combat on its controller's turn.
  • Temporary effects that grant or remove Defender Defender, Reach Reach, or Vigilance Vigilance reorder a creature until that effect wears off, at which point, the order reverts using the rules above.

Temporary effects which gain control of opposing creatures can sometimes use creature slots beyond 3.

Attacking

A player's creatures attack each turn in the order of the slot they are in. Generally, all creatures attack, however a creature doesn't attack if any of the following is true:

  • It was brought into play this turn and doesn't have Haste Haste.
  • It is Disabled.
  • It has the Can't Attack ability.
  • It has a power of 0.

Generally, an attacking creature always attacks the opposing Planeswalker, unless a blocker gets in its way. The exception is an attacking creature with Berserker Berserker, which attacks an opposing creature instead, forcing that creature to block it.

Blocking

In general, an attacking creature gets blocked by the first non-Disabled opposing creature with one of the Defender Defender, Reach Reach or Vigilance Vigilance abilities. However:

  • If the attacking creature has Unblockable Unblockable, then it bypasses all blockers.
  • If the attacking creature has Menace Menace, then it bypasses blocking if there is only one opposing creature which could block it. (If more than one creature could block it, it's blocked as normal by the first blocker.)
  • If the attacking creature has Flying Flying, it can only be blocked by a defending creature having either Reach Reach, or Flying Flying combined with Defender Defender or Vigilance Vigilance.

When a creature is blocked

In general, when a creature is blocked, it trades damage with its blocker. That is, the attacking creature deals damage equal to its power to its blocker, and the blocking creature deals damage equal to its power to the attacker. This can change depending on various Abilities of the attacker or the blocker.

Trample

An attacking creature with Trample Trample can split its damage between a blocking creature and the opposing Planeswalker. Instead of applying all of its power as damage to the blocking creature, only enough damage is assigned to match the toughness of the defending creature. Any remaining damage is assigned to the opposing Planeswalker.

Example: A creature with a toughness of 5 blocks a creature with Trample and a power of 8. 5 damage will be applied to the defending creature, and the remaining 3 damage will be applied to the defending Planeswalker.

The Planeswalker receives the excess damage even if the blocking creature has Prevent Damage Prevent Damage or other effects that keep it from dying when taking damage.

First Strike

If either the attacker or blocker (or both) has First Strike First Strike, then the first strike damage occurs first, then there is a check for whether one of the two creatures in combat would die prior to the second creature applying any damage. If a creature without First Strike First Strike dies during the first strike attack phase, it doesn't retaliate: it does not damage the other creature, and if it has Deathtouch Deathtouch, the effect does not trigger.

Double Strike

Double Strike Double Strike applies damage in both the First Strike and normal combat damage phases. In MtGPQ, trample damage applies to both the first and second strike of a double strike creature, even if the defending creature would die from the initial First Strike damage. An attacking creature with Double Strike is not considered to attack twice per combat round; it attacks once, but deals damage twice.

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