Deathtouch

Deathtouch is a static ability that causes any amount of damage dealt by the source to a creature to be lethal damage. 
==Description==
Similar abilities to deathtouch, always triggered, had been spelled out on earlier creatures, the earliest being <c>Thicket Basilisk</c> from Alpha, hence R&D's pre-keyword name for the ability being "basilisk". The keyword was introduced in Future Sight, as a preview for Lorwyn, in which it was featured more prominently. Technically, it gained evergreen status with Tenth Edition but was first featured in a core set with Magic 2010. At the time of keywording it was still a triggered keyword ability; it changed to its current status as a static ability associated with a new state-based action with Magic 2010 and new damage assignment rules with Magic 2011. This meant that the previous "basilisk" cards were un-errata'ed and the first case of deathtouch is still <c>Thornweald Archer</c>.
This ability was primary in both black and green for a while. It's now secondary in green, because R&D found that black both had more need for it and had more flavorful ways to express it creatively. Now that deathtouch is keyworded, R&D no longer creates timing-based variants.
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced deathtouch counters.
==Rules==
==Rulings==
*If a creature (whether it has deathtouch or not) blocks or is blocked by multiple creatures, those creatures must be put into damage assignment order during the declare blockers step. The creature then assigns its combat damage to those creatures according to the damage assignment order announced for it. It can't assign combat damage to one of those creatures unless each creature that precedes that creature in its order is assigned lethal damage. If a creature with deathtouch blocks or is blocked by multiple creatures, everything works the same way with one exception: assigning even 1 of that creature's damage to a creature is considered to be lethal damage.
**Example: The damage assignment order of an attacking <c>Acidic Slime</c> (a 2/2 creature with deathtouch) is <c>Spined Wurm</c> (a 5/4 creature) then <c>Siege Mastodon</c> (a 3/5 creature) then <c>Runeclaw Bear</c> (a 2/2 creature). <c>Acidic Slime</c> can assign 1 damage to the Wurm and 1 damage to the Mastodon, or 2 damage to the Wurm. It can't assign damage to the Bear. Each creature <c>Acidic Slime</c> deals damage to is destroyed.
*If an attacking creature with deathtouch and trample becomes blocked, the attacking creature first assigns damage to the creature(s) blocking it. Once all those blocking creatures are assigned lethal damage, any remaining damage is assigned as its controller chooses among those blocking creatures and the player or planeswalker the creature is attacking. However, since the creature has deathtouch, assigning even 1 damage to a creature is considered to be lethal damage.
**Example: <c>Yavimaya Wurm</c> (a 6/4 creature with trample) is equipped with <c>Gorgon Flail</c> (an Equipment that grants the equipped creature +1/+1 and deathtouch). It attacks a player and is blocked by <c>Siege Mastodon</c> (a 3/5 creature). <c>Yavimaya Wurm</c> must assign at least 1 damage to the Mastodon. Its remaining damage may be assigned as its controller chooses between the Mastodon and the defending player. Notably, the Wurm may assign 1 damage to the Mastodon and 6 damage to the defending player. After that damage is dealt to the Mastodon, the Mastodon will be destroyed.
*If a creature with deathtouch and another creature both block or are blocked by a creature, the other creature may take into account the fact that any combat damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch is considered to be lethal damage.
**Example: An attacking <c>Acidic Slime</c> (a 2/2 creature with deathtouch) and an attacking <c>Yavimaya Wurm</c> (a 6/4 creature with trample) are both blocked by a <c>Palace Guard</c> (a 1/4 creature that can block any number of creatures). The Slime must assign its 2 damage to the Guard. Since the Guard is being assigned lethal damage, the Wurm's 6 damage may be assigned as its controller chooses between the Guard and the defending player. Notably, the Wurm may assign all 6 damage to the defending player. It doesn't matter which creature's damage is assigned first, as long as the final damage assignment follows all the applicable parameters.
*A regeneration effect can save a creature that's been dealt damage by a source with deathtouch.
*If multiple state-based actions would destroy a creature at the same time (because it's been dealt lethal damage and been dealt damage by a source with deathtouch), a single regeneration effect will replace all of them and save the creature.
*If a creature is dealt damage by a source with deathtouch, it'll be destroyed as a state-based action. That means there's no time to react between the time the creature is dealt damage and the time it's destroyed. If you want to put a regeneration shield on it or sacrifice it for some effect, or anything else, you must do so before the damage is dealt.
*The rules that care about deathtouch function no matter where the source with deathtouch is. In other words, if a spell or ability causes a card with deathtouch that's not on the battlefield to deal damage to a creature (like <c>Selfless Exorcist</c>'s ability does, for example), that creature will be destroyed. This isn't the same as damage dealt by a source that has changed zones; see below.
* If a source of damage hasn't changed zones by the time that damage is dealt, its characteristics are checked to see if it has deathtouch at that time. If the source has changed zones by then, its last existence in the zone it was expected to be in is checked to see if it had deathtouch at that time.
==Examples==
==Cards that grant Deathtouch==
Creatures
*<c>Ankle Shanker</c> (When it attacks, creatures you control gain deathtouch and first strike until end of turn)
*<c>Atraxa's Skitterfang</c> (At the beginning of combat, remove an oil counter, and target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn)
*<c>Blacklance Paragon</c> (target Knight when enters the battlefield)
*<c>Crossway Troublemakers</c> (Attacking Vampires you control)
*<c>Death Baron</c> (Skeletons and other Zombies you control)
*<c>Dire Fleet Poisoner</c> (Attacking Pirate)
*<c>Drunau Corpse Trawler</c> (: Target Zombie)
*<c>Elvish Warmaster</c> (: Elves you control)
*<c>Falthis, Shadowcat Familiar</c> (Commanders you control)
*<c>Felhide Petrifier</c> (Minotaurs you control)
*<c>Forsworn Paladin</c> (, if a Treasure was spent on this ability)
*<c>Ghastly Death Tyrant</c> (creatures you control)
*<c>Gnarlroot Trapper</c> (: target attacking Elf)
*<c>Hunted Nightmare</c> (Deathtouch counter)
*<c>Kathril, Aspect Warper</c> (Deathtouch counter)
*<c>Nalia de'Arnise</c> (If you have a full party at the beginning of combat, your creatures gain deathtouch until end of turn)
*<c>Nightshade Peddler</c> (Creature Soulbond with it)
*<c>Mari, the Killing Quill</c> (Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues you control)
*<c>Maze Abomination</c> (Multicolored creatures you control)
*<c>Mer-Ek Nightblade</c> (Each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it)
*<c>Necrogen Rotpriest</c> (: Target creature with Toxic until end of turn)
*<c>Nezumi Prowler</c> (enters the battlefield, until end of turn)
*<c>Nightshade Peddler</c> (It and Soulbonded creature)
*<c>Odric, Lunarch Marshal</c> (At the beginning of each combat, If you have a creature with deathtouch)
*<c>Ogre Slumlord</c> (Rats you control)
*<c>Ohran Frostfang</c> (Attacking creatures you control)
*<c>Onyx Mage</c> (: target creature until end of turn)
*<c>Ogre Slumlord</c> (Rats you control)
*<c>Painsmith</c> (Whenever you cast an artifact spell)
*<c>Paragon of Open Graves</c> (, : Another target black creature you control until end of turn.)
*<c>Plaguecrafter's Familiar</c> (Arena Only - Creature in your hand perpetually)
*<c>Rilsa Rael, Kingpin</c> (Target attacking creature when you attack)
*<c>Saryth, the Viper's Fang</c> (Tapped creatures you control)
*<c>Somberwald Beastmaster</c> (Creature tokens you control)
*<c>Soulblade Corrupter</c> (Attacking creatures you control with a +1/+1 counter)
*<c>Sydri, Galvanic Genius</c> (: Target artifact creature)
*<c>Tyvar The Bellicose</c> (Attacking Elves You Control)
*<c>Unraveling Mummy</c> (: attacking Zombie)
*<c>Venom Connoisseur</c> (Alliance)
*<c>Venom Sliver</c> (Slivers you control)
*<c>Vizier of the Scorpion</c> (Zombie tokens you control)
*<c>Wasteland Viper</c> (, Discard to grant deathtouch to attacking creature)
*<c>Wren's Run Packmaster</c> (Wolves you control)
*<c>Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats</c> (Creatures you control)
*<c>Zur, Eternal Schemer</c> (Enchantment creatures you control)
Enchantments
*<c>Agent of the Shadow Thieves</c> (Your commander creatures get deathtouch if they attack the player with the highest life total)
*<c>Aspect of Gorgon</c> 
*<c>Cultist of the Absolute</c> (Your commander creatures get deathtouch)
*<c>Deadly Wanderings</c> 
*<c>Elderfang Venom</c> (Attacking Elves you control)
*<c>Gift of Doom</c> 
*<c>Gift of the Deity</c> (As long as enchanted creature is black)
*<c>Retreat to Hagra</c> 
*<c>Rune of Mortality</c> 
*<c>Sigil of Myrkul</c> (If there are 4 or more creature cards in your graveyard, target creature gets deathtouch until end of turn)
*<c>Sultai Runemark</c> (If you control a green permanent)
Instants
*<c>Alchemist's Gift</c> 
*<c>Battle-Rage Blessing</c> 
*<c>Bladebrand</c> 
*<c>Coat with Venom</c> 
*<c>Entropic Cloud</c> 
*<c>Gilt-Leaf Ambush</c> (Win the Clash)
*<c>Infuse with Vitality</c> 
*<c>Lace with Moonglove</c> 
*<c>Lash of Thorns</c> 
*<c>Necrobite</c> 
*<c>Offer Immortality</c> 
*<c>Poison the Blade</c> 
*<c>Ruthless Instincts</c> 
*<c>Serpent's Gift</c> 
*<c>Status</c> 
*<c>Touch of Moonglove</c> 
*<c>Virulent Swipe</c> 
*<c>Willing</c> 
Sorceries
*<c>Call of the Death-Dweller</c> (Deathtouch counter)
*<c>Deadly Allure</c> 
*<c>Undercity Uprising</c> 
Artifacts
*<c>Agent's Toolkit</c> (Deathtouch counter)
*<c>Basilisk Collar</c> (and Lifelink)
*<c>Eater of Virtue</c> 
*<c>Gorgon Flail</c> 
*<c>Gorgon's Head</c> 
*<c>Groom's Finery</c> (if <c>Bride's Gown</c> is also attached)
*<c>Hedron Blade</c> (if blocked by a colorless creature)
*<c>Multiclass Baldric</c> (Only if you control a Rogue)
*<c>Quietus Spike</c> (Equipped creature)
*<c>Reaper's Talisman</c> 
*<c>Vial of Poison</c> (, sacrifice to grant deathtouch)
*<c>Wand of Orcus</c> (Equipped creature and attacking Zombies)
*<c>Vorpal Sword</c> 
Enchantment Creatures
*<c>Archetype of Finality</c> (all creatures you control, and remove it from all creatures your opponents control)
*<c>Baleful Eidolon</c> (if cast as an Aura for its bestow cost of )
Enchantment Artifacts
*<c>Bow of Nylea</c> (attacking creatures you control)
Planeswalkers
*<c>A-Tyvar Kell</c> (: Target Elf)
*<c>Kaya, Geist Hunter</c> ()
*<c>Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord</c> ()
*<c>Tyvar Kell</c> (: Target Elf)
*<c>Vraska, Scheming Gorgon</c> ()
Plane
*<c>Onakke Catacomb</c> (all creatures)
Land
*<c>Vault of the Archangel</c> (, : creatures you control)
==Creatures that grant Deathtouch to Instant and Sorcery spells==
*<c>Judith, Carnage Connoisseur</c> (Spells you control)
*<c>Pestilent Spirit</c> (Instant and Sorcery spells you control)
==Cards that remove Deathtouch==
*<c>Archetype of Finality</c> (from creatures your opponents control, your creatures gain deathtouch)
==Trivia==
* Deathtouch was featured as rules card 3 of 9 in the Magic 2011 set.
* The deathtouch counter of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths was the only counter from that set to feature a symbol that differed from the one used in MTG Arena.
*Three cards grant or create tokens with "planeswalker deathtouch", where their triggered ability will destroy a planeswalker they've damaged. Incidentally, none have it as a standalone: and grant it to a set of creatures that include themselves, while creates tokens with the ability. None use the state-based trigger deathtouch uses.
*Three creatures have "anti-race" deathtouch, where any damage dealt to a creature of a listed type will be destroyed by a triggered ability: Dinosaur for <c>Dinosaur Hunter</c>, Vampire for <c>Vampire Slayer</c>, and Goblin or Orc for <c>East-Mark Cavalier</c>.
==References==
==External links==
*
*
*