Huatli's Final StrikeHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Huatli's Final Strike is a targeted instant that requires two targets: one creature you control and one creature an opponent controls. First, it grants your creature a +1/+0 power boost until the end of the turn. Then, that same creature deals damage equal to its new power value directly to the opponent's creature. Unlike a 'fight' mechanic, your creature does not receive any damage back from the opponent's creature.

Resolution Step-by-Step

When you cast the spell, you choose both targets. Upon resolution, the game checks if both targets are still legal. If the opponent's creature is gone but yours remains, your creature still gets +1/+0. If your creature is gone, the spell fails to resolve and no damage is dealt. If both are legal, your creature's power is increased by 1, and then it deals damage to the second target based on that updated power value.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is thinking this is a 'fight' spell. Because the text says 'It deals damage' rather than 'They fight,' the opponent's creature never hits back. Another mistake is forgetting that because this is a targeted spell, if your opponent grants their creature hexproof in response, the damage portion of the spell will fail to affect their creature.

When to Play It

The best time to play Huatli's Final Strike is during your opponent's end step or in response to them tapping out. Since it is an instant, you can use it to remove a blocker before you declare attackers, or use it as a finishing blow to a creature that survived combat damage earlier in the turn.

Interaction examples

Calculating Damage with a Buff

If you control a 2/2 creature and target it with Huatli's Final Strike, its power becomes 3. It will then deal 3 damage to the target creature your opponent controls. The +1/+0 lasts until the end of the turn, so your creature remains a 3/2 for any subsequent combat.

Responding to Destruction

Beast Within

If you cast Huatli's Final Strike and your opponent responds by casting Beast Within on your creature, your creature is destroyed before your spell resolves. When Huatli's Final Strike tries to resolve, it will see its first target is illegal and the entire spell will fizzle, dealing no damage to the opponent's creature.

Surviving the Strike

Heroic Intervention

If your opponent targets one of your creatures with their own removal, you can cast Heroic Intervention to give it hexproof and indestructible. Later, if you use Huatli's Final Strike, your creature's indestructible status doesn't change the damage it deals, but it ensures that even if the opponent had a way to deal damage back, your creature would remain on the battlefield.