Can Indestructible Be Destroyed by Sorcery? A Deep Dive into Magic’s Key Mechanic
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The short answer is: it depends on the sorcery. Indestructible, a popular keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering, doesn’t grant complete immunity. While it prevents destruction from damage and explicit “destroy” effects, it’s not a catch-all defense. Understanding how sorceries interact with indestructible requires a nuanced look at the specific card text and game rules.
How Sorceries Interact with Indestructible
A sorcery spell’s text determines whether it can affect an indestructible permanent. The core of the issue lies in the difference between “destroy” effects and other removal methods. Indestructible creatures are immune to destruction by damage (including lethal damage from deathtouch), and to any effect that explicitly uses the word “destroy”. However, sorceries that use alternative removal methods can bypass this defense.
Sorceries That CANNOT Destroy Indestructible
- Direct “Destroy” Effects: Sorceries that state “destroy target creature” or similar, are rendered ineffective against indestructible permanents. These spells will resolve, targeting the indestructible creature, but the game’s rules prevent the actual destruction effect from happening.
- Damage-Based Destruction: If a sorcery deals damage and would normally destroy a creature that took lethal damage, an indestructible creature will survive this type of effect. The indestructible ability prevents damage from causing the creature’s demise.
Sorceries That CAN Destroy Indestructible
Here’s where things get interesting. Sorceries that don’t rely on destruction or damage can effectively eliminate an indestructible permanent. Here are some examples of how a sorcery can get past an indestructible card.
- Exile Effects: Sorceries that exile a creature, like “Swords to Plowshares” or “Path to Exile,” are effective against indestructible. Exile is not a “destroy” effect and completely removes the permanent from the battlefield. Indestructible only protects from destroy effects.
- Toughness Reduction: Sorceries that reduce a creature’s toughness to zero or below can defeat an indestructible creature. Even if a creature has indestructible, if its toughness becomes 0, the state-based action will put that card into its owner’s graveyard. Cards like “Grasp of Darkness,” or “Pestilent Haze” can do this.
- Forced Sacrifice: Sorceries that force an opponent to sacrifice a creature will bypass indestructible because sacrifice isn’t destruction. Effects that cause players to sacrifice permanents do not destroy those permanents. If a sorcery, or other effect, says “Target player sacrifices a creature,” that indestructible creature will be sacrificed.
- Bounce Effects: Sorceries that return a creature to its owner’s hand are effective against indestructible. The card is returned to the hand and is no longer on the field to be an issue. “Unsummon” would be an example of this type of sorcery.
- Library Placement: Similarly, sorceries that place creatures back into the opponent’s library will move the card from the field, and therefore be effective against indestructible creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indestructible and Sorceries
Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) that further clarify the interaction between sorceries and indestructible:
1. Does Indestructible prevent a sorcery from dealing damage?
No, indestructible does not prevent damage. It prevents damage from destroying a permanent. A sorcery can deal damage to an indestructible creature, but the creature won’t be destroyed due to that damage.
2. Can a sorcery that says “destroy target creature” kill an indestructible creature?
No. The sorcery can target the indestructible creature, but the destruction effect will fail. The spell will resolve, but the state based action will not put it into the graveyard.
3. If a sorcery reduces toughness, can it kill an indestructible creature?
Yes. If a sorcery or any effect reduces a creature’s toughness to 0, that creature will be put into the graveyard, even if it has indestructible.
4. Can a sorcery that exiles destroy indestructible?
Yes. Indestructible only prevents “destroy” effects. If a sorcery exiles a creature, it will remove that creature, regardless of whether it has indestructible.
5. Can a sorcery that forces a sacrifice kill indestructible?
Yes. Sacrificing is not destroying. A sorcery that forces a player to sacrifice a creature can defeat an indestructible creature.
6. Does a sorcery with deathtouch destroy indestructible?
No. Deathtouch causes damage to become lethal damage. Indestructible prevents creatures from being destroyed by lethal damage.
7. Can board wipes that say “destroy all creatures” kill indestructible?
No. A board wipe that uses the words “destroy all creatures” will not destroy an indestructible permanent.
8. Can board wipes that exile destroy indestructible creatures?
Yes. Board wipes that exile will remove all creatures from the field, even indestructible ones.
9. If a creature has indestructible and -1/-1 counters, can those counters kill it?
Yes. Counters that reduce toughness can reduce a creatures toughness to zero and kill it, even if that creature has indestructible.
10. What happens if a sorcery bounces an indestructible creature?
The indestructible creature is removed from the field and placed back into its owner’s hand. This is also an effective way of dealing with indestructible permanents.
11. Can I use a sorcery to put an indestructible card back into my opponent’s library?
Yes. Sending a permanent to the library is another effective way to remove indestructible cards.
12. Does indestructible prevent a sorcery from removing loyalty counters from a planeswalker?
No. Indestructible does not prevent damage to loyalty counters, nor does it prevent a planeswalker without loyalty counters from being sent to the graveyard.
13. If a sorcery damages an indestructible creature, does trample carry over?
Yes. If an indestructible creature blocks a creature with trample, the damage will go through to the player even though the indestructible creature did not die.
14. Does indestructible protect against the legendary rule?
No. The legendary rule does not destroy or sacrifice permanents. Indestructible is useless against the legendary rule.
15. What happens when an indestructible creature blocks a creature with double strike and deathtouch?
The blocking creature will deal damage first, but the indestructible creature will survive the combat damage from deathtouch. The attacking creature will then deal normal damage and the indestructible creature will still survive.
Conclusion
Indestructible is a powerful ability, but it’s not invincible. Sorceries, when used strategically, can bypass indestructible through a variety of means, primarily by using exile effects, toughness reduction, forced sacrifices, bounce, or placement in the library. Understanding these nuances is key to playing Magic: The Gathering effectively. Knowing when and how a sorcery will, or won’t, affect an indestructible creature is critical.