Does lifelink work twice with double strike?

Yes. The creature deals damage twice, so you gain life twice.

What happens with double strike and trample if the blocker dies in the first step?

In the second step, all of its damage goes to the player or planeswalker you're attacking, since there's no blocker left.

What if both creatures have double strike?

They deal damage at the same time in the first step and, if both are still alive, again at the same time in the second step.

Does double strike work outside of combat?

No. It only changes the combat damage steps. It does nothing for damage from spells or abilities.

Double strike — what does it mean?

Deals both first-strike and regular combat damage, effectively hitting twice.

Double strike appears on 125 cards.

How does Double strike work?

Double strike means a creature deals combat damage twice. As soon as at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike or double strike, combat gets two combat damage steps. In the first, only creatures with first strike or double strike deal damage. In the second, every other creature deals damage, and creatures with double strike deal damage again.

Players get priority between those two steps. A pump spell cast after the first step makes the second hit bigger. Anything that triggers on combat damage, like lifelink or “whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player,” happens twice. If the creature loses double strike during the first step, it won't deal damage in the second.

Watch what happens when the blocker dies in the first step. A blocked creature with no blockers left deals no damage at all in the second step, not even to the player. If it also has trample, all of its damage in the second step goes to the player or planeswalker it's attacking. With deathtouch, the first hit alone is enough to destroy every blocker.

An example at the table

You attack with a 3/3 with double strike. Your opponent blocks with a 2/4. In the first combat damage step, only your creature deals damage: 3 to the 2/4, which survives with 3 damage on a toughness of 4. In the second step, both creatures deal damage at the same time. Your 3/3 deals another 3, for 6 total, and the 2/4 dies. The 2/4 deals 2 to your 3/3, which survives. If the 3/3 had gone unblocked, your opponent would have lost 6 life.

Cards with Double strike

Lizard BladesIllustration: Jason Kang

Zetalpa, Primal DawnIllustration: Chris Rallis

Knuckles the EchidnaIllustration: Tyler Walpole

Bronze GuardianIllustration: Grzegorz Rutkowski Fury

FuryIllustration: Victor Adame Minguez

Common mistakes

Thinking double strike is just double power. It's two separate hits, in two steps, with a window in between where everyone can respond.
Thinking a blocked double striker hits the player in the second step once its blocker is dead. Without trample, it deals no more damage.
Forgetting that a blocker without first strike is still alive after the first step and hits back in the second step, if it survived the first hit.

Frequently asked questions

Does lifelink work twice with double strike?: Yes. The creature deals damage twice, so you gain life twice.
What happens with double strike and trample if the blocker dies in the first step?: In the second step, all of its damage goes to the player or planeswalker you're attacking, since there's no blocker left.
What if both creatures have double strike?: They deal damage at the same time in the first step and, if both are still alive, again at the same time in the second step.
Does double strike work outside of combat?: No. It only changes the combat damage steps. It does nothing for damage from spells or abilities.

Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.4. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.

Often seen with

Flying Vigilance Haste Trample First strike

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Last updated: 26 October 2026