So, as a noobie, I keep seeing Deathtouch on many of my cards and it just sounds a bit too good to be true, but maybe not. Please let me know if I have this static ability correct.
For example, for the Rancid Rats, I bring it out onto the battlefield. Tap next turn to attack or defend, and it will kill whatever I pick, unless that creature or thing has something that prevents Deathtouch? In a way, having a few of these in my beginners deck might allow me to nibble away at their life points?
I think you understand how Deathtouch works, but you seem to be misunderstanding how combat works.
To start with, you don't tap to "defend" ("block" in Magic terms) but you do tap to attack. However, you don't attack specific creatures. You attack a player or planeswalker and then that player (or planeswalker's controller) decides whether or not they want to block if they can.
If they block, and your Rats deals damage to that creature, it will die.
The same works when you block. If you block a creature with the Rats (it must be a legal block; so no blocking fliers) and deal damage to an attacking creature, that attacking creature will die due to deathtouch.
That isn't how attacking works. When you attack with a creature you will choose the player or planeswalker the creature attacks. Then that player or the planeswalker's controller decides which, if any, creatures they have will block.
Deathtouch means that if your creature deals damage to another creature that creature is destroyed. So if your attacking creature is blocked, or you block. Then your creature with deathtouch will destroy the opposing creature. However, the opposing creature will deal damage to your creature(unless you have first strike).
So, you don't pick what dies, except when blocking, and most times your creature will die as well. It doesn't let you kill any and everything but does let a card like Rancid Rats kill a card like Cowl Prowler.
Ah! Thank you! This is something I have to keep drilling into my head. I am fighting the Plainswalker, not the creature, not the cards. Those are tools. Those are what they fight and block with, as do I. Not taking out a creature with a creature, per se. I can nibble at their spells or creatures, but probably not at them!
The plainswalker? Yes, Boggart Arsonists my old nemesis, we meet again.
A potentially important note is that deathtouch is one of a few keywords (and one of only two evergreen, i.e. used in every set, keywords) to key off damage in general, not just combat damage. A Rancid Rats that fires a Clear Shot at Kozilek, the Great Distortion will absolutely kill Kozilek.
For example, for the Rancid Rats, I bring it out onto the battlefield. Tap next turn to attack or defend, and it will kill whatever I pick, unless that creature or thing has something that prevents Deathtouch? In a way, having a few of these in my beginners deck might allow me to nibble away at their life points?
To start with, you don't tap to "defend" ("block" in Magic terms) but you do tap to attack. However, you don't attack specific creatures. You attack a player or planeswalker and then that player (or planeswalker's controller) decides whether or not they want to block if they can.
If they block, and your Rats deals damage to that creature, it will die.
The same works when you block. If you block a creature with the Rats (it must be a legal block; so no blocking fliers) and deal damage to an attacking creature, that attacking creature will die due to deathtouch.
Deathtouch means that if your creature deals damage to another creature that creature is destroyed. So if your attacking creature is blocked, or you block. Then your creature with deathtouch will destroy the opposing creature. However, the opposing creature will deal damage to your creature(unless you have first strike).
So, you don't pick what dies, except when blocking, and most times your creature will die as well. It doesn't let you kill any and everything but does let a card like Rancid Rats kill a card like Cowl Prowler.
A potentially important note is that deathtouch is one of a few keywords (and one of only two evergreen, i.e. used in every set, keywords) to key off damage in general, not just combat damage. A Rancid Rats that fires a Clear Shot at Kozilek, the Great Distortion will absolutely kill Kozilek.
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