Can Creatures with Protection Be Targeted? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Shield
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The short answer is a resounding no. A creature with protection from a specified quality (usually a color, but sometimes other characteristics like “creatures”) cannot be targeted by spells or abilities with that quality. This is a core tenet of the protection mechanic in Magic: The Gathering, designed to create robust defensive layers and complex interactions. But like any good spell, the devil is in the details. Let’s unravel the nuances of protection and how it affects targeting in the world of Magic.
Understanding Protection: DEBT in Action
The reminder text for protection is deceptively simple: A creature with protection from something “can’t be Dealt damage, Enchanted, Blocked, or Targeted by anything” of that “something” quality. This handy acronym, DEBT, makes it easy to remember what protection does. It’s crucial to grasp that protection is a preventative measure, not a cure. It stops actions from happening in the first place, rather than nullifying their effects after they occur. This distinction is key to understanding why some effects still impact creatures with protection.
Targeting: The Achilles Heel of Many Strategies
Targeting is a fundamental mechanic in Magic. Many spells and abilities require you to choose a specific permanent (like a creature) or player as the target. This allows for pinpoint removal, focused buffs, and strategic control. Protection throws a wrench into these plans by rendering a creature immune to targeting from specific sources. If a creature has protection from blue, for instance, you can’t target it with a blue spell like Counterspell once it’s on the battlefield. Attempts to do so will be illegal actions. However, it’s worth noting, before the creature spell resolves, it can be targeted, as hexproof only exists once it is a creature on the battlefield.
Beyond Direct Targeting: Indirect Effects
Protection is incredibly powerful, but it’s not invincible. Many effects don’t target at all. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Day of Judgment destroy all creatures, regardless of protection, because they don’t target specific creatures. Similarly, effects that force players to sacrifice creatures (like Diabolic Edict) bypass protection because they target the player, not the creature. Understanding the difference between targeting and non-targeting effects is crucial for playing around protection.
FAQs: Unraveling the Mysteries of Protection
Let’s dive into some common questions players have about protection and targeting:
1. Can I target my own creature with a spell if it has protection from a color?
No. Protection prevents all targeting by sources of the specified quality, regardless of who controls the protected creature or the spell being cast. You cannot target your own creature with a harmful or helpful spell of the color it has protection from.
2. If a creature has protection from creatures, can it be blocked?
No. The “B” in DEBT stands for “blocked.” A creature with protection from creatures cannot be blocked by other creatures. This creates a clear path for attack.
3. Does protection from everything mean a creature is indestructible?
Not quite. Protection from everything means the creature can’t be targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or blocked by anything. However, it can still be affected by non-targeting effects like board wipes (Wrath of God) or sacrifice effects (All Is Dust). Indestructible, on the other hand, prevents destruction, regardless of the source.
4. What happens if I accidentally declare a creature with protection as a blocker?
The game will rewind. You cannot declare a creature with protection from the attacking creature as a blocker. It is an illegal move.
5. Does protection stop deathtouch?
Yes, it does. Protection prevents damage. If no damage is dealt, deathtouch has nothing to apply to.
6. Can I counter a spell that targets my creature with protection?
Yes. Protection only functions when the object is on the battlefield as a permanent. While a creature is a spell on the stack, it does not have protection.
7. Does hexproof prevent a board wipe from affecting my creature?
No. Hexproof prevents targeting only. Board wipes, which typically do not target, will still affect creatures with hexproof.
8. Does protection stop proliferate?
No. Proliferate gives a permanent an additional counter. Protection only prevents targeting, damage, blocking, and enchanting.
9. If two creatures have protection from each other, can they block each other?
No. They cannot block each other.
10. Does protection stop exile effects?
No, unless the exile effect targets the creature. If the exile effect targets the player, the player would be forced to sacrifice their creature. If the exile effect is a board wipe, it also will affect the creature.
11. Does protection prevent commander damage?
Yes, as protection prevents all damage including combat damage.
12. Can a creature with protection be equipped?
The protected object can’t be equipped or enchanted by permanents with the specified quality.
13. Does protection from a color prevent destroy effects?
Protection prevents DEBT, which does not include destroy. The destruction would still occur.
14. Does indestructible prevent Deathtouch?
Indestructible creatures also ignore deathtouch. Since indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed, they’re immune.
15. Can deflecting swat make a counterspell counter itself?
A spell can under no circumstances target itself. However, what we can do, somewhat unintuitively, is use Deflecting Swat’s ability to redirect the counterspell to target Deflecting Swat.
Mastering Protection: A Strategic Advantage
Understanding the intricacies of protection is vital for any Magic player. It’s not merely a simple defensive ability; it’s a strategic tool that can be used to create powerful board states, shut down opponents’ plans, and dictate the flow of the game. Recognize the limits of protection, particularly its vulnerability to non-targeting effects and sacrifice abilities. By mastering these nuances, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of Magic: The Gathering and emerge victorious.
For further exploration of game mechanics and their impact on learning and engagement, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, a community dedicated to understanding the educational potential of games. The Games Learning Society provides valuable research and resources for educators and game designers interested in harnessing the power of games for learning.