Can a Planeswalker Attack or Block in Magic: The Gathering?
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The short and definitive answer is no, planeswalkers cannot directly attack or block in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). They are not creatures, and attacking and blocking are actions reserved for creatures. However, planeswalkers are still very much involved in combat, just in a different way. They can be targeted by attacks, and their loyalty can be whittled down through damage. Understanding this dynamic is crucial to mastering MTG strategy.
Planeswalkers: A Non-Creature Permanent
Planeswalkers are a type of permanent in MTG, alongside creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and lands. They represent powerful characters from across the Multiverse who have the ability to travel between planes. These cards usually have loyalty abilities, activated by adding or removing loyalty counters. This makes them powerful and versatile, but it is important to keep in mind their limitations.
Why Can’t Planeswalkers Attack or Block?
The core of the issue lies in the game’s rules. Attacking and blocking are defined as actions performed by creatures. Since planeswalkers are not creatures (unless a specific card effect temporarily transforms them), they simply cannot participate in these actions.
How Planeswalkers Interact with Combat
While planeswalkers can’t attack or block, they are still a frequent target in combat. When declaring attackers, you can choose to attack your opponent or one of the planeswalkers they control. Creatures can attack planeswalkers, similar to attacking an opponent. If a creature successfully deals damage to a planeswalker, that much loyalty is removed from the planeswalker. If a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it’s put into the graveyard. Also, some spells can target a planeswalker directly, dealing damage that removes loyalty counters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Planeswalkers and Combat
Here are some frequently asked questions that delve deeper into the intricacies of planeswalkers and how they interact with combat:
1. Can a Planeswalker Block for a Player?
No. Because planeswalkers are not creatures, they cannot block. Creatures that are attacking you can be blocked by creatures you control. A planeswalker’s presence on the battlefield doesn’t change this fundamental mechanic.
2. Can a Planeswalker Creature Block for Itself?
If a planeswalker becomes a creature (through a card effect that changes its type), then yes, it can block if attacked. Note that this applies only if it has been turned into a creature, not in its normal planeswalker form.
3. When Can You Attack a Planeswalker?
You can declare attackers targeting a planeswalker during your declare attackers step of the combat phase. You can choose to attack either your opponent or any planeswalker they control.
4. Can You Attack Both a Planeswalker and a Player in the Same Turn?
Yes. During the declare attackers step, you can assign which creatures are attacking the player and which are attacking a planeswalker controlled by that player. It’s a strategic decision, determining where to allocate your resources.
5. Does Hitting a Planeswalker Count as Hitting a Player?
No. Dealing combat damage to a planeswalker is distinct from dealing damage to a player. However, if a creature with trample deals more damage than the planeswalker has loyalty, the excess damage is dealt to the planeswalker’s controller (the player).
6. Can You Have Two Planeswalkers at Once?
Yes, you can have multiple planeswalkers on the battlefield simultaneously. However, the “legend rule” applies to planeswalkers. If you control two planeswalkers with the exact same name (e.g., two copies of “Jace Beleren”), you must choose one to keep and put the other into the graveyard. This change occurred with the introduction of the legendary supertype to planeswalkers.
7. Can You Directly Attack a Planeswalker with a Spell?
Yes. Many spells can directly target planeswalkers. Lightning Bolt, for example, states “any target,” so it can target creatures, players, and planeswalkers.
8. Can Planeswalkers Attack First Turn?
Planeswalkers cannot attack at all since they are not creatures, so they cannot attack first turn, or any turn for that matter. However, you can play a planeswalker on your first turn (if you have the mana) and use its abilities, as long as it has the loyalty to activate the ability. Remember that Planeswalker abilities can only be activated at sorcery speed.
9. Does Deathtouch Work on Planeswalkers?
Normally, deathtouch does not work directly on planeswalkers because deathtouch specifically affects creatures. However, if a creature with deathtouch deals damage to a planeswalker, that damage is still applied and the loyalty is removed. Some cards can change this interaction, giving deathtouch the ability to destroy planeswalkers.
10. What Happens if a Planeswalker is Attacked?
When a planeswalker is attacked and takes damage, loyalty counters equal to the damage dealt are removed. If a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into the graveyard.
11. Can a Planeswalker Have Negative Loyalty?
A planeswalker’s loyalty can never be below zero. You cannot activate an ability that would reduce the loyalty of a planeswalker below zero.
12. Can Lightning Bolt Target Planeswalkers?
Yes. As stated above, the Oracle text for Lightning Bolt specifies “any target,” meaning it can target players, creatures, and planeswalkers.
13. Do Planeswalkers Get Summoning Sickness?
Planeswalkers do not get summoning sickness. Summoning sickness only applies to creatures. You can use a planeswalker’s abilities the turn it enters the battlefield, provided you can activate the ability.
14. Can I Take Damage Instead of My Planeswalker?
No. A planeswalker is treated as a separate permanent you control. Damage dealt to a planeswalker only affects the planeswalker (reducing its loyalty). You do not take the damage instead.
15. Can You Fireball a Planeswalker?
While you can’t target a planeswalker directly with Fireball (since Fireball targets a creature or player), you can target the player and then redirect the damage to the planeswalker as the spell resolves.
Strategy Considerations
Understanding the rules surrounding planeswalkers and combat is essential for strategic play. Knowing when to attack a planeswalker versus attacking the player, how to protect your planeswalkers, and how to efficiently remove your opponent’s planeswalkers are all key components of a successful MTG game. Think about how you want to allocate your resources, which threats you want to take care of first, and how to maximize the value of your creatures and spells.
If you’re interested in the educational aspects of gaming, explore the resources offered by the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They offer valuable insights into how games can be used as tools for learning and development.
Ultimately, mastering the interaction between planeswalkers and combat will significantly improve your overall MTG gameplay.