Are Planeswalkers Noncreature Permanents? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, planeswalkers are noncreature permanents. This means that while they reside on the battlefield, they are categorized as permanents that are not creatures. They fall under their own distinct permanent type: planeswalker. This distinction has significant implications for card interactions and gameplay strategies within Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding Permanents in Magic: The Gathering
What is a Permanent?
In Magic: The Gathering, a permanent is a card or token on the battlefield. It represents something that stays in play unless removed by a spell or ability. The core permanent types are:
- Artifacts: Represent durable objects or devices.
- Creatures: Represent living beings or animated constructs.
- Enchantments: Represent ongoing magical effects.
- Lands: Represent sources of mana.
- Planeswalkers: Represent powerful characters who can traverse the multiverse.
Noncreature Permanents Explained
A noncreature permanent is simply any permanent that is not a creature. This includes artifacts, enchantments, lands, and planeswalkers. Understanding the difference is crucial because many cards target specifically creature or noncreature permanents, or even more specific categories, such as “target nonland permanent.” For example, a spell that destroys all creatures would not affect a planeswalker.
Planeswalkers: Unique Noncreature Permanents
Planeswalkers are unique in their own right. They enter the battlefield with a certain amount of loyalty counters, which are essentially their “health.” Players can activate loyalty abilities on their planeswalkers once each of their main phases, adding or removing loyalty counters. These abilities can range from creating creature tokens and drawing cards to dealing damage and destroying other permanents.
The crucial thing to remember is that planeswalkers are vulnerable to attack. Opposing creatures can attack planeswalkers instead of the defending player. Damage dealt to a planeswalker removes that many loyalty counters. When a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into the graveyard.
FAQs: Planeswalkers and Noncreature Permanents
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nature of planeswalkers and their interactions within Magic: The Gathering.
1. Do planeswalkers count as noncreature spells when cast?
Yes, planeswalkers are non-creature spells when cast. This is important for cards that trigger when you cast a noncreature spell, such as those with the Prowess ability. Some exceptions exist; some older cards transformed into Planeswalkers.
2. Can planeswalkers be targeted by spells that target permanents?
Absolutely. The Comprehensive Rules of Magic: The Gathering clearly state that there are five permanent types: artifact, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker. Therefore, anything that targets a “target permanent” can target a planeswalker, unless specifically restricted.
3. What happens when a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero?
When a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into the graveyard. This is similar to how a creature with zero toughness dies.
4. Can planeswalkers block attacking creatures?
No, planeswalkers cannot block. Blocking is an action that only creatures can perform. Planeswalkers are vulnerable to attack, and the defending player or another planeswalker they control must decide which creatures to block.
5. If a planeswalker turns into a creature, does it still count as a noncreature permanent?
No, if a planeswalker is transformed into a creature through an effect (such as some abilities of Gideon planeswalker cards), it becomes a creature permanent for as long as the effect lasts. It no longer counts as a noncreature permanent during that time.
6. Are emblems permanents?
Emblems are not permanents. They reside in the command zone and are unaffected by anything that targets permanents. Emblems are essentially permanent effects that persist for the duration of the game (or until the player who controls them leaves the game).
7. Can a planeswalker be destroyed by a spell that destroys all noncreature permanents?
Yes, a planeswalker can be destroyed by a spell that destroys all noncreature permanents. Since planeswalkers are noncreature permanents, they are susceptible to these types of effects.
8. Do planeswalkers have summoning sickness?
No, planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness. You can activate a planeswalker’s loyalty abilities the turn it enters the battlefield, assuming it’s your turn and the planeswalker has sufficient loyalty. Only creatures are affected by summoning sickness.
9. If a planeswalker becomes an artifact, does it still count as a planeswalker?
Yes, if a planeswalker becomes an artifact in addition to its other types (e.g., through Mycosynth Lattice), it retains its planeswalker type. It would then be both an artifact and a planeswalker, meaning effects that target either artifacts or planeswalkers could affect it.
10. Can a planeswalker be exiled?
Yes, planeswalkers can be exiled. Exiling is a common way to remove permanents, including planeswalkers, from the battlefield. Numerous spells and abilities can exile permanents.
11. Are planeswalkers affected by effects that prevent damage to creatures?
No, effects that prevent damage to creatures do not affect planeswalkers, as planeswalkers are not creatures. Damage dealt to planeswalkers reduces their loyalty, but this is not prevented by effects that only protect creatures.
12. If a planeswalker is also a creature, what happens when it takes damage?
If a planeswalker is also a creature, it takes damage like any other creature. That damage is marked on the creature until end of turn, and if that damage is greater than or equal to its toughness, it dies. This is in addition to losing loyalty counters, so it can be doubly vulnerable.
13. Can I proliferate loyalty counters on a planeswalker?
Yes, you can proliferate loyalty counters on a planeswalker. Proliferate allows you to add an additional counter of any kind already present on permanents you control, including loyalty counters on planeswalkers.
14. What happens if two players control the same planeswalker?
In a two-player game, if two players somehow control the same planeswalker (through an effect like Mind Control), both planeswalkers are put into the graveyard as a state-based action. This rule is known as the “planeswalker uniqueness rule.” Note, though, that the game allows the same planeswalker to exist if each planeswalker has a different name (for example, “Jace, the Mind Sculptor” and “Jace Beleren” can be on the battlefield at the same time).
15. How does “supertyping” affect planeswalkers?
Supertypes add characteristics to permanents. Planeswalkers are generally affected by supertypes. For example, a legendary planeswalker follows the legendary rule which is: If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners’ graveyards.
Strategic Implications
The fact that planeswalkers are noncreature permanents has significant strategic implications. It dictates how they can be targeted, protected, and interacted with in the game. Building a deck that effectively utilizes and defends planeswalkers requires a strong understanding of these distinctions.
Furthermore, the design space around planeswalkers continues to evolve, with new mechanics and interactions being introduced in each set. Staying informed about these developments is crucial for competitive play.
Conclusion
In conclusion, planeswalkers are indeed noncreature permanents in Magic: The Gathering. This classification influences their interactions with other cards and affects deck-building strategies. By understanding the nuances of permanents and their types, players can make more informed decisions and gain a competitive edge.
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