Combat, Step by Step

Guides · beginner

Combat is the most interactive part of most Magic turns. Here's exactly what happens.

The phases inside combat

1. Beginning of combat. Triggers happen. Anyone can cast instants. This is the last chance to tap a creature down to prevent it from attacking.
2. Declare attackers. Active player picks attackers. Tapped creatures can't attack. Creatures with summoning sickness (came in this turn) can't attack unless they have haste.
3. Declare blockers. Defending players pick blockers. Then the attacker assigns damage order for each creature being multi-blocked.
4. First strike damage (if any). Only creatures with first strike or double strike deal damage now.
5. Combat damage. Everyone else deals damage. Damage is dealt simultaneously.
6. End of combat. Triggers happen. "Until end of combat" effects expire.

What "deals damage" actually means

When a creature deals combat damage, it puts that much damage as a "wound" on the target. After damage, state-based actions check: if a creature has lethal damage marked on it, it dies.

Two creatures fighting is just both creatures dealing damage simultaneously. A 3/3 vs a 2/4: the 2/4 dies (3 damage = lethal), but the 3/3 also takes 2 damage and survives (it had 3 toughness). The 3/3 keeps the 2 damage marked on it until cleanup.

The most common new-player questions

• "Does my creature take damage if it's blocked?" Yes. Both attacker and blockers deal damage to each other.
• "Can I block multiple creatures with one creature?" No, one blocker can only block one attacker. The reverse works: many creatures can block one attacker.
• "Can I assign damage however I want when I'm being multi-blocked?" No. The attacker (you) sets the damage assignment order during declare blockers, and then must assign at least lethal damage to the first blocker before any to the second, and so on.
• "What happens to damage at end of turn?" It's wiped during the cleanup step, which is part of the ending phase. Until then, damage is "remembered."

Trample, deathtouch, first strike

These three modifiers change combat math significantly. See the Keywords tab for each.

Tips

• Don't be afraid to attack into a board where you might lose your creature. Sometimes pulling out a removal spell or trading is worth it.
• Always pause after declare attackers to ask: "anything from the table before blockers?"
• Combat is the easiest place to learn the priority system, because both players have priority every step.