<p>Magic: the Gathering cards usually mean exactly what they say, nothing more and nothing less.</p>

<p>The power of a creature is only relevant when</p>

<ol>
<li>Dealing combat damage</li>
<li>An effect explicitly mentions the power of that creature (albeit maybe hidden behind keywords, like "fight")</li>
</ol>

<p>The ability granted by Viridian Longbow doesn't mention the power of the equipped creature, so therefore it doesn't care. One damage is dealt regardless.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-03T06:40:34.023Z
By comparison, something like [Aerie Ouphes](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=153427) specifically says it "deals damage equal to its power", so reducing its power to 0 would prevent the damage from being dealt.
ConMan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-03T13:54:49.840Z
Might be worth noting that Longbow is giving the creature an ability, so you can tap and deal 1 damage anytime you could cast an instant. This is different from attacking with a creature, where you tap it as part of declaring attackers for combat.
Malco
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-03T06:22:01.950Z
2018-07-03T09:59:21.913Z
2018-07-03T09:59:21.913Z
Arthur
<p>If I have a creature that has 0 or negative power and it has a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bViridian%20Longbow%5d">Viridian Longbow</a> attached to it, does it still deal 1 damage because of the effect the equipment gives it, or does it not because of the negative or 0 power?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can 0 or negative power creatures deal direct damage?
Legion413
# Can 0 or negative power creatures deal direct damage?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-03)

If I have a creature that has 0 or negative power and it has a [Viridian Longbow](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bViridian%20Longbow%5d) attached to it, does it still deal 1 damage because of the effect the equipment gives it, or does it not because of the negative or 0 power?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-03. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Magic: the Gathering cards usually mean exactly what they say, nothing more and nothing less.

The power of a creature is only relevant when

1. Dealing combat damage
2. An effect explicitly mentions the power of that creature (albeit maybe hidden behind keywords, like "fight")

The ability granted by Viridian Longbow doesn't mention the power of the equipped creature, so therefore it doesn't care. One damage is dealt regardless.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: By comparison, something like [Aerie Ouphes](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=153427) specifically says it "deals damage equal to its power", so reducing its power to 0 would prevent the damage from being dealt.  
> **username_3**: Might be worth noting that Longbow is giving the creature an ability, so you can tap and deal 1 damage anytime you could cast an instant. This is different from attacking with a creature, where you tap it as part of declaring attackers for combat.  

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