Does Reconnaissance allow you to remove a creature from combat after it has already dealt combat damage?

Reconnaissance reads: '{T}: Untap target attacking creature. Remove it from combat.' This is an activated ability with no timing restriction beyond needing to be a sorcery-speed window — but activated abilities of permanents can be used any time you have priority, including during combat phases.

The key is the structure of the combat phase. After the combat damage step resolves (CR 510.1–510.2), the turn moves to the end of combat step (CR 511). Crucially, both players receive priority during the end of combat step before it ends. At this point, combat damage has already been dealt and is on the stack (or has resolved), but creatures are still 'attacking' until end of combat is over (CR 506.4).

Because creatures remain attackers through the end of combat step, Reconnaissance can be activated during that step to untap a creature and remove it from combat — after it has already dealt its combat damage. This means the creature deals damage AND avoids being tapped or suffering retaliation from blockers simultaneously.

The interaction also matters for first/double strike. After the first-strike damage step (CR 510.4), you have priority again. You can activate Reconnaissance then, removing a double-strike creature before the normal combat damage step so it only deals first-strike damage but still untaps.

Example: You attack with a 3/3. Your opponent blocks with a 3/3. Combat damage resolves (both deal 3 damage). During the end of combat step, you activate Reconnaissance targeting your 3/3. It untaps and is removed from combat — your creature survives because state-based actions haven't killed it before you removed it, and it is now untapped and ready to block next turn.