Lightning HoundsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Lightning Hounds is a creature with First strike. This means that during the combat phase, this creature deals its combat damage in a special early step. If it is blocked by a creature without First strike, Lightning Hounds will deal its damage first, potentially destroying the blocker before the blocker has a chance to strike back.

How Combat Resolves Step by Step

When combat involves a creature with First strike like Lightning Hounds, the game creates two separate combat damage steps. In the first step, only creatures with First strike or Double strike assign and deal damage. If a blocking creature is dealt lethal damage during this first step, it is destroyed and removed from the battlefield. In the second combat damage step, all remaining creatures (those without First strike and those with Double strike) then deal their damage.

When to Play It

This card is most effective when your opponent has multiple small creatures or 'utility' creatures. Since Lightning Hounds deals damage first, it can safely attack into creatures with 2 or less toughness without taking any damage in return. It serves as an excellent deterrent against aggressive decks that rely on low-toughness attackers.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that First strike only applies to combat damage. If an effect causes Lightning Hounds to 'fight' another creature, First strike does not apply, and both creatures deal damage to each other simultaneously. Additionally, if the opponent's creature also has First strike, both will deal damage in the first combat damage step as usual.

Interaction examples

Tactical Combat Advantage

Solemn Simulacrum

If you attack with Lightning Hounds and your opponent blocks with Solemn Simulacrum, the First strike ability triggers the first combat damage step. Lightning Hounds deals 3 damage to Solemn Simulacrum. Because Solemn Simulacrum only has 2 toughness, it dies immediately. Solemn Simulacrum's 'dies' ability triggers, allowing the opponent to draw a card, but it never gets to deal its 2 damage to Lightning Hounds because it is no longer on the battlefield during the second combat damage step.

Synergy with Creature Types

Roaming Throne

If you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Dog', it becomes a Dog in addition to its other types. While Lightning Hounds has a static keyword (First strike) and not a triggered ability, Roaming Throne still benefits from the shared type for other tribal effects. However, if an effect were to give Lightning Hounds a triggered ability like 'When this creature deals combat damage, draw a card,' Roaming Throne would cause that ability to trigger twice.