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Are Planeswalkers Indestructible? A Comprehensive Guide to Planeswalker Resilience in Magic: The Gathering

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The short answer is: no, Planeswalkers are not inherently indestructible. While some cards and abilities can grant them indestructibility, it’s not a default characteristic. Planeswalkers are vulnerable to damage and, perhaps counterintuitively, to their own lack of loyalty. Let’s dive into the nuances of Planeswalker resilience (or lack thereof) in Magic: The Gathering.

Planeswalkers: More Than Just Powerful Spells

Planeswalkers are powerful card types in Magic: The Gathering representing iconic characters from the game’s lore. They enter the battlefield with a certain number of loyalty counters, which can be added to or removed by using their abilities. But unlike creatures, they don’t have toughness. Instead, they can be attacked directly, and they are also subject to damage redirection.

The key to understanding Planeswalker “survival” lies in understanding how damage and loyalty interact. Damage dealt to a Planeswalker results in the removal of an equivalent number of loyalty counters. Once a Planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is a state-based action, meaning it happens automatically when the game checks for such conditions.

Indestructible: A Temporary Shield

The concept of indestructibility in Magic: The Gathering is straightforward: a permanent with indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage or “destroy” effects. However, this doesn’t make it invincible. A Planeswalker that gains indestructible (perhaps through a spell or ability) is protected from being destroyed by damage, even if that damage reduces its loyalty to zero.

Crucially, indestructibility does not prevent the Planeswalker from going to the graveyard when it has zero loyalty. The rule that sends a Planeswalker to the graveyard when it has zero loyalty counters is not a destruction effect; it’s a state-based action triggered by the lack of loyalty. So, an indestructible Planeswalker with zero loyalty will still bite the dust.

The Graveyard Beckons: Zero Loyalty is the True Enemy

The fact that indestructibility doesn’t prevent a Planeswalker with zero loyalty from being put into the graveyard can be confusing. Think of it this way: indestructible protects from damage and “destroy” effects, but it doesn’t protect from the rules of the game itself. The rule stating that a Planeswalker with zero loyalty must be put into the graveyard isn’t destroying the Planeswalker; it’s simply moving it because its loyalty has been depleted.

Planeswalker FAQs: Untangling the Complexities

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify how Planeswalkers interact with damage, destruction, and other game mechanics:

What happens when a Planeswalker is destroyed?

A Planeswalker is considered “destroyed” when a spell or ability specifically says it destroys them. For example, a card might read, “Destroy target Planeswalker.” This effect is prevented by Indestructible. Furthermore, any damage dealt to a Planeswalker removes loyalty counters equal to the amount of damage. When a planeswalker has zero loyalty counters, it is put into its owner’s graveyard. This state-based effect isn’t “destruction” per se.
Can Planeswalkers be defended?

Yes, Planeswalkers can be attacked directly. When an opponent attacks a Planeswalker you control, you can block with your creatures as if they were attacking you. You choose which creatures block which attacking creatures, and the damage is dealt accordingly.
How much toughness do Planeswalkers have?

Planeswalkers do not have toughness. They are not creatures unless an effect specifically makes them so. Their resilience is determined by their loyalty counters.
Does Deathtouch beat Indestructible on a Planeswalker Creature?

Yes, deathtouch can beat indestructible on a Planeswalker if the Planeswalker is also a creature. Remember, the Planeswalker needs to be a creature in order to be assigned as a blocker. Indestructible prevents destruction by damage, but if the damage comes from a source with deathtouch, the game treats it as lethal, and a creature will be destroyed. If a planeswalker is indestructible, however, it can not be destroyed by damage or “destroy” effects.
Do board wipes affect indestructible Planeswalkers?

It depends on the board wipe. If the board wipe uses the word “destroy”, it will not work. If the board wipe exiles the permanents or gives them -X/-X until their toughness becomes zero, the indestructible Planeswalker will be affected.
Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch on Planeswalkers?

Hexproof only prevents a permanent from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Deathtouch doesn’t target, so hexproof doesn’t prevent a creature with deathtouch from destroying a Planeswalker creature that blocks it. This also only applies if the Planeswalker becomes a creature.
What happens when an indestructible Planeswalker reaches 0 loyalty?

As mentioned before, an indestructible Planeswalker with zero loyalty is put into its owner’s graveyard. This is because the game rules state that a Planeswalker with zero loyalty counters is put into the graveyard as a state-based action.
Can a Planeswalker be attacked if it’s a creature?

Yes! A Planeswalker can be attacked in all the ways listed above even if it is also a creature. Furthermore, it can also attack if it is a creature.
Do indestructible Planeswalkers lose loyalty?

Yes, indestructible Planeswalkers still lose loyalty counters when dealt damage. Indestructible only prevents the destruction from damage or “destroy” effects; it doesn’t prevent the damage from being dealt or the loyalty counters from being removed.
Can Planeswalkers be attacked directly?

Yes, Planeswalkers can be attacked directly by creatures. When declaring attackers, a player can choose to attack a Planeswalker an opponent controls instead of attacking that opponent. Additionally, damage to a player can be redirected to one of their planeswalkers.
Can a Planeswalker have 0 loyalty?

Yes, a Planeswalker can temporarily have 0 loyalty. However, as soon as state-based actions are checked (which happens frequently), a Planeswalker with 0 loyalty is put into its owner’s graveyard.
Are completed Planeswalkers dead?

“Compleated” Planeswalkers are not literally dead, but their original personalities and goals are often overwritten by Phyrexian influence. They are essentially puppets of Phyrexia, driven by the Phyrexian cause.
Can Planeswalkers have +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters?

Yes, if a Planeswalker becomes a creature, it can have +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters placed on it. These counters will affect its power and toughness as a creature. Gideon Blackblade is an example of a planeswalker with these abilities.
Are Planeswalkers still immortal?

No, Planeswalkers lost their inherent immortality after the Mending. They are now susceptible to aging, disease, and other natural causes, and the Mending has made them vulnerable.
What happens to the Loyalty Counters if you bounce (return to hand) a planeswalker?

If you “bounce” a planeswalker, returning it to its owner’s hand, the planeswalker’s loyalty counters are removed. When the planeswalker is replayed, it enters the battlefield as a brand new permanent with its starting loyalty.

Beyond Indestructibility: Protecting Your Planeswalkers

While indestructible isn’t a foolproof solution for keeping your Planeswalkers alive, there are many other ways to protect them:

Creature blockers: The most straightforward way to defend your Planeswalkers is to use creatures to block attacks.
Removal spells: Eliminate threats before they can attack your Planeswalkers.
“Fog” effects: Cards that prevent combat damage can buy you valuable time.
Increasing loyalty: Use abilities that add loyalty counters to increase your Planeswalker’s resilience.
Propaganda effects: Cards that make it more expensive to attack you can deter opponents from attacking your Planeswalkers.
Playing Planeswalkers at the right time: Wait until you have blockers on the field or the ability to protect your Planeswalkers before playing them.
Cards that prevent damage to planeswalkers: Some cards can protect planeswalkers from damage, such as a card that makes it so creatures can’t attack them.
Hexproof: If a planeswalker is also a creature, Hexproof can be extremely helpful.
Planeswalker redirection effects: The ability to redirect spells to planeswalkers is a powerful protection mechanism.

Understanding the Card Ecosystem

The key to successfully using and protecting Planeswalkers lies in understanding the entire card ecosystem of Magic: The Gathering. Knowing how different card types interact, understanding the stack, and being aware of state-based actions are all crucial for mastering the game. It is also crucial to understand that planeswalker strategies will differ from deck to deck and format to format.

More Than Just a Game

Magic: The Gathering is more than just a game; it’s a complex system with its own logic and rules. Understanding these rules can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Resources like the Games Learning Society can help players of all levels deepen their understanding of the game.

Remember, even without inherent indestructibility, your Planeswalkers can be formidable forces on the battlefield with the right strategy and protection. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more!