Can a Creature Destroy a Planeswalker? A Comprehensive MTG Guide
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Yes, a creature can destroy a planeswalker. However, the process isn’t as straightforward as simply dealing damage to a creature. It involves attacking the planeswalker and potentially overcoming blockers. Let’s delve into the specifics of how creatures interact with and ultimately destroy planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding Planeswalker Destruction
Direct Combat and Loyalty Counters
The primary way a creature destroys a planeswalker is through combat. When declaring attackers, you can choose to attack a planeswalker instead of the defending player. If the attack goes unblocked, the attacking creature deals its damage directly to the planeswalker, causing it to lose a corresponding number of loyalty counters.
When Loyalty Reaches Zero
If a planeswalker’s loyalty counters are reduced to zero, the planeswalker is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This is essentially the “destruction” of the planeswalker. It is important to note that state-based actions are checked before any player can respond, so you cannot save the planeswalker by, for example, flickering it the moment its loyalty hits zero.
Dealing with Blockers
The planeswalker’s controller can choose to block attacking creatures with their own creatures, just as they would when defending against an attack targeting them directly. If a creature is blocked, combat damage is assigned as normal between the attacker and the blocker. If any damage gets through the blockers (because the blocker has low toughness or trample, for example), that remaining damage is dealt to the planeswalker.
Special Abilities and Interactions
Certain creatures and spells can interact with planeswalkers in unique ways. For instance, some creatures have abilities that trigger when they deal combat damage to a planeswalker, or certain spells can target planeswalkers directly. Let’s look at some common examples of these types of interactions with the following points:
- Deathtouch: A creature with deathtouch only destroys creatures, and this does not apply to Planeswalkers, because they are not creatures. You’ll need an additional ability like that of Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence.
- Infect: Creatures with infect deal damage to players in the form of poison counters and to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters. Infect damage will deal damage and remove the appropriate amount of counters from the attacked Planeswalker.
- Trample: If a creature with trample is blocked, and it has more power than the blocker’s toughness, the excess damage will trample over to the defending player or planeswalker.
- Direct Damage Spells: Many spells that deal direct damage can target planeswalkers or can be redirected to planeswalkers when targeting a player. Lightning Bolt is a famous example.
Planeswalker Removal: A Strategic Imperative
Removing a planeswalker can be a critical move in Magic: The Gathering. Planeswalkers often provide significant card advantage, board control, or game-winning ultimates. Understanding how to effectively eliminate them using creatures and other strategies is essential for success. One of the most effective ways to disrupt a planeswalker’s plans is to remove it before it uses its ability. However, this can be difficult because a planeswalker’s controller has the first opportunity to activate one of its abilities once it enters the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can direct damage spells target planeswalkers?
Yes, many direct damage spells can target planeswalkers. For example, Lightning Bolt can target any player, creature, or planeswalker. When casting a spell that targets a player, you can often choose to redirect the damage to a planeswalker that player controls as the spell resolves.
2. Does deathtouch work against planeswalkers?
No, deathtouch only applies to creatures. A creature with deathtouch dealing damage to a planeswalker will only deal the amount of damage equal to its power, not destroy it immediately.
3. Can I block a creature attacking my planeswalker?
Yes, you can block a creature attacking your planeswalker with any creature you control, just as if the attacker was targeting you.
4. What happens when a planeswalker reaches zero loyalty?
When a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This happens immediately and cannot be responded to.
5. Can I attack a planeswalker before it uses an ability?
Generally, no. After a planeswalker enters the battlefield, its controller has priority and can activate one of its abilities before you have a chance to remove it.
6. Can a creature with infect damage a planeswalker?
Yes, a creature with infect deals damage to planeswalkers in the form of loyalty counter removal, just like it deals poison counters to players.
7. Does trample damage go through to a planeswalker?
Yes, if a creature with trample is blocked and deals excess damage beyond the toughness of the blocking creature, the remaining damage is dealt to the planeswalker being attacked.
8. Can I proliferate loyalty counters on a planeswalker?
Yes, you can use proliferate to add additional loyalty counters to a planeswalker you control.
9. What is the planeswalker ‘legend rule’?
The legend rule for planeswalkers states that you cannot control two planeswalkers with the same subtype (i.e., the same character name) at the same time. If you do, you must choose one to keep and put the other into your graveyard.
10. Can I exile a planeswalker to prevent it from using its abilities?
Generally, no. Similar to question 5, the planeswalker’s controller has the first opportunity to activate one of its abilities before you have a chance to exile it. Once the ability is on the stack, it will resolve even if the planeswalker is removed in response.
11. Can a planeswalker be sacrificed?
You cannot sacrifice a planeswalker unless a card or effect specifically allows you to do so. Generally, players can only sacrifice permanents they control.
12. Do +1/+1 counters affect a planeswalker’s loyalty?
No, +1/+1 counters do not affect a planeswalker’s loyalty. +1/+1 counters are relevant if a planeswalker temporarily becomes a creature, as in the case of Gideon planeswalker cards.
13. Does indestructible protect a planeswalker from combat damage?
Indestructible only applies to creatures. It does not prevent damage to a planeswalker or prevent it from being put into the graveyard when its loyalty reaches zero.
14. Can I have multiple planeswalkers out at the same time?
Yes, you can have multiple planeswalkers in play as long as they do not share the same subtype (name).
15. Can I redirect damage from a spell to a planeswalker my opponent controls?
Yes, when a spell deals damage to “any target” and targets a player, you can choose to redirect the damage to a planeswalker that player controls as the spell resolves. However, some spells may restrict the targets to only players or only creatures, so check the card text carefully.
Conclusion
Creatures are a key component in destroying planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering. Understanding the mechanics of combat, blocking, and special abilities is essential for effectively managing planeswalkers and controlling the board. Employ these strategies wisely to gain the upper hand in your games. The strategies and considerations in card games like Magic: The Gathering are beneficial, so don’t wait to share what you’ve learned with those at the Games Learning Society, or GamesLearningSociety.org.