<p>Cipher triggers whenever the encoded creature deals combat damage to a player. An unblocked creature with double strike will deal combat damage to the player twice; once in the "first strike" combat damage step, and again in the regular combat damage step. As a result, if an encoded creature with double strike is not blocked, you <strong>will</strong> be able to cast the encoded card twice.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-05T05:19:46.893Z
Yucks, double-strike is so overpowered.
Pacerier
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-17T12:26:05.673Z
2014-10-17T12:26:05.673Z
Kevin
<p>Say I am playing with a creature that has double strike (e.g. <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Two-Headed%20Cerberus">Two-Headed Cerberus</a>), and I cipher <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hidden%20Strings">Hidden Strings</a> to it. This allows me to tap/untap up to 2 target permanents whenever the creature deals combat damage to a player.</p>
<p>If my creature then attacked a player and wasn't blocked, and he took the double strike damage, would I then be able to tap/untap 2 target permanents twice? In effect tap/untap 4 target permanents?</p>
<p>I am asking this because my friends and I play with a few different ciphers and have had arguments about this a few times.</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Will double strike trigger cipher twice?
Artaga
# Will double strike trigger cipher twice?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-17)

Say I am playing with a creature that has double strike (e.g. [Two-Headed Cerberus](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Two-Headed%20Cerberus)), and I cipher [Hidden Strings](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Hidden%20Strings) to it. This allows me to tap/untap up to 2 target permanents whenever the creature deals combat damage to a player.

If my creature then attacked a player and wasn't blocked, and he took the double strike damage, would I then be able to tap/untap 2 target permanents twice? In effect tap/untap 4 target permanents?

I am asking this because my friends and I play with a few different ciphers and have had arguments about this a few times.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-10-17. Score: 7

Cipher triggers whenever the encoded creature deals combat damage to a player. An unblocked creature with double strike will deal combat damage to the player twice; once in the "first strike" combat damage step, and again in the regular combat damage step. As a result, if an encoded creature with double strike is not blocked, you **will** be able to cast the encoded card twice.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Yucks, double-strike is so overpowered.  

---

