How to Attack a Creature in Magic: the Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers

Use a sorcery card during one of your two Main Phases that can damage a creature. Some examples include Volcanic Hammer, which can deal three damage to a target creature or player. The amount of damage you deal should be subtracted from a creature's toughness, which is the number of to the right of the creature's power value. Make sure you can kill the monster by the end of your turn or all the damage will be removed. Click the card and then click your target of choice to play a sorcery card.

Use an instant or a creature's ability to deal damage to an enemy creature. Instants and abilities can be activated any time someone plays a card, attacks, blocks or during any player's Main Phase. Instants and abilities provide more flexibility than sorcery. You can surprise your opponent during his turn by playing instants to kill creatures he was planning on using to attack. Stop the timer that runs after a card is played, when a creature attacks or blocks, or during a player's Main Phase then click the card and choose your target of choice to use an instant. Follow the same steps as you would for an instant, except click the creature when the timer is stopped, choose the ability, and then choose your target to use a creature's ability.

Attack your opponent with one of your creatures. Your opponent will have the option of blocking your attacks with his own creatures. Both creatures will trade damage if your attack is blocked. Attacking can prove risky, as you cannot control what creatures your opponent will use to block you. Only attack with one of your creatures if you can eliminate all the creatures that can potentially block yours. You can only attack during your Battle Phase, at which time you can click the creatures you want to use to attack and then wait for your opponent to assign his blocking creatures.

Block your opponent's attacks. Make sure your creature's power is higher than your opponent's creature's toughness or you will not kill it. You can attack with multiple creatures to stack their power values, though your opponent's creature's power may be high enough to cover the toughness of both of your creatures. Blocking is a great option for attacking other creatures, as you control what creatures will trade damage. You can only block an attack once your opponent commands one of his creatures to attack you during his Battle Phase. You may then click a creature to assign as a blocker and then choosing the creature you want your creature to block. You may block with as many creatures as you control.