You've probably witnessed it: that moment in a game of good ol' MTG when a humble 1/1 with Deathtouch stares down a colossal 10/10 creature. Common sense suggests the 10/10 should stomp that tiny minion into next week. Yet, to everyone's disbelief, with just one tiny poke from the 1/1, the big brute keels over, done for the day.

Yup, you've guessed it! In today's Mechanic's Overview Segment, we are going to briefly touch on the mechanics, history, and absolutely frightening potential of Deathtouch.

What Is Deathtouch?

"Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it."

Put simply, Deathtouch is a static ability that makes even the smallest amount of damage from the source lethal to any creature. This means if your creature with Deathtouch so much as breathes on an opposing creature, that creature will be destroyed at the next check of state-based actions.

The History of Deathtouch

Before Deathtouch Was Cool...

It's 1993. Magic: The Gathering was brand spanking new, and among its many perplexing oddities was a certain scaly friend named Thicket Basilisk in Alpha (1993). Thicket Basilisk read as follows: If it blocked (or was blocked by) any creature, that creature would be turned to stone--er, destroyed--at the end of combat. In truth, this was the earliest instance of "Basilisk," the R&D nickname for what we will eventually come to know as Deathtouch.

Fast Forward to Future Sight...

Deathtouch finally got its official label in Future Sight (2007). This was intended as a sneak peek for the Lorwyn (2007) set, but it wasn't yet the static ability we know and love/hate. It worked as a triggered ability, meaning you had fun interactions about exactly when the destroyed creature died.

Then Came Magic 2010...

By Magic 2010 (2010), Deathtouch was finally upgraded to a static ability. This also introduced a brand-new state-based action: "If your creature has been dealt damage by a source with Deathtouch since the last time we checked state-based actions, it dies. Period."

Assigning Combat Damage, Complicated Even in 2011...

Then, not even a year later, Magic 2011 (2011) polished up the combat damage assignment rules, effectively letting a 1/1 with Deathtouch just lightly tap multiple bigger blockers and kill them all (provided you can split up that lethal "1" damage one way or another). And it was clear that, at this point, the beloved "Basilisk" style was no longer needed.

Selective Deathtouch

Ikoria's Deathtouch Counters

In Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (2020), Wizards decided that putting keywords on counters were just too fun to pass up. So, alongside Flying Counters, First Strike Counters, and so on, we also got Deathtouch Counters. Now, this means you can turn any creature into a Kogla slayer with a single, permanent counter.

It's also worth noting that, for one reason or another, the Deathtouch Counter symbol in Ikoria differs from the one used in MTG Arena. That's right--you didn't expect me to drop some MTG Trivia on you in these Segments, huh?

Anti-Type Deathtouch

There are also just a few creatures in Magic that specifically destroy creatures of a certain tribe the moment they deal damage. Dinosaur Hunter does it to Dinosaurs, Vampire Slayer does it to Vampires, and East-Mark Cavalier (Tch, the name isn't quite in sync with the others) does it to Goblins and Orcs. And while this effect mirrors the same "deal one damage and watch it die" vibe, it's restricted strictly to a specific creature type. Call this a very personal vendetta kind of Deathtouch, if you will.

PlaneswalkerTouch?

Did you know there are actually some cards out there that grant or create tokens with what we might call "PlaneswalkerTouch." So, instead of working exactly like Deathtouch, which focuses solely on creatures, these cards cause a Planeswalker that takes damage from them to be destroyed.

• Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats, and Hooded Blightfang will pass this effect on to your creatures (including themselves).
• Vraska, Swarm's Eminence, a Planeswalker herself, creates tokens that have it.
• Vraska the Unseen can also, in a sense, create some specialized tokens that can cause you to lose the game on the spot. Naturally, it'd be really poor timing to call yourself a fellow Planeswalker after Vraska the Unseen activates her ultimate.

No Touching My Deathtouch

Deathtouch is undoubtedly one of Magic's greatest levelers: a mana-efficient and unassuming way to handle even the biggest, baddest creatures your opponents can throw at you.

But, of course, with great power comes great gameplay potential. You may be surprised at just how often you can shape an entire game around the threat of your Deathtouch 1/1. Forced alliances, stalemate boards, players playing 5+ mana board wipes just to clear your one mana Deathtoucher--you name it! And not to mention, this is all happening regularly before you've even had a chance to equip your Pathway Arrows!

So, with all that said, go forth and pick out some Deathtouch cards today and may you continue to strike fear into the hearts of Big Stompy players everywhere. Until next time!