Can Indestructible Counters Be Removed in MTG? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, indestructible counters can be removed, but not through typical means like damage or “destroy” effects. Indestructible counters grant a permanent the characteristic of being indestructible, meaning it can’t be destroyed by damage or effects that specifically say “destroy”. However, the counter itself can be removed using effects that specifically target counters or through certain game mechanics.

Understanding Indestructible

Before diving into removal methods, it’s crucial to understand what indestructible actually does in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Indestructible is a static ability that prevents two things:

• Destruction by damage: A creature with indestructible doesn’t die from having damage equal to or greater than its toughness marked on it.
• Destruction by effects: Spells and abilities that say “destroy” won’t affect a permanent with indestructible.

Indestructible doesn’t prevent sacrificing, exiling, bouncing (returning to hand), or having its toughness reduced to zero. This opens up avenues for dealing with indestructible permanents despite their apparent resilience.

How to Remove Indestructible Counters

Here’s a detailed look at how you can remove indestructible counters from a permanent:

1. Effects That Remove Counters

The most direct way to remove an indestructible counter is to use a card that specifically removes counters from permanents. These cards are relatively rare, but they exist and are incredibly effective against indestructible strategies.

• Example: While there are no direct named examples currently in MTG, a hypothetical card that reads, “Remove a counter from target permanent” would be effective.

2. Overwriting With Other Counters

While not technically removing the indestructible counter, some strategies involve placing a different type of counter on the permanent that negates or overrides the effects of indestructible.

• Example: Cards that can add counters which reduce toughness. Although they do not remove the indestructible counter, they might ultimately lead to the demise of the permanent.

3. Indirect Removal

Some effects, while not directly removing the indestructible counter, circumvent its protection by removing the permanent from the battlefield in other ways.

• Exile Effects: Cards that exile permanents completely bypass indestructible. Exile removes the permanent from the game entirely, ignoring any protective abilities.
• Bounce Effects: Returning a permanent to its owner’s hand (often called “bouncing”) also circumvents indestructible. A permanent in a player’s hand doesn’t benefit from abilities it had on the battlefield.
• Sacrifice: Indestructible doesn’t prevent a player from sacrificing their own permanents. If a card requires a player to sacrifice a creature, indestructible is irrelevant.
• Toughness Reduction: As mentioned earlier, if a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero or less, it will die, even if it has indestructible. -1/-1 counters or effects that reduce toughness are effective ways to deal with indestructible creatures.
• The Legend Rule: If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, they must sacrifice all but one of them. This applies even if the permanents are indestructible.

Strategic Considerations

Dealing with indestructible permanents requires careful planning and the right tools. Here are a few strategic considerations:

• Identify Vulnerabilities: Assess the specific indestructible permanent and look for weaknesses. Can you reduce its toughness? Can you exile it? Can you force its controller to sacrifice it?
• Utilize Versatile Removal: Cards that can deal with a variety of threats are generally more valuable than narrow answers. Look for removal spells that can exile, bounce, or otherwise deal with problem permanents.
• Be Mindful of Counterspells: Your opponent may try to counter your removal spells. Consider using counterspells of your own or baiting out their counterspells before attempting to remove the indestructible permanent.

FAQ: Indestructible Counters

Here are some frequently asked questions about indestructible and how it interacts with other game mechanics:

1. Do -1/-1 counters get past indestructible?

Yes. -1/-1 counters reduce a creature’s toughness. If a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero or less, it dies, even if it has indestructible.

2. Can an Indestructible Creature be Killed by Counters?

Yes, you can use counters to kill indestructible creatures. -1/-1 counters are an effective method of reducing their toughness to zero.

3. Can indestructible counters be proliferated?

Yes, indestructible counters can be proliferated. Proliferate allows you to add an additional counter of each type already on a permanent.

4. Does indestructible prevent 0/0?

Yes, indestructible does have its limitations. If a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero, it still dies, even if it has indestructible.

5. Do board wipes destroy indestructible creatures?

It depends. If the board wipe destroys creatures, it won’t affect indestructible creatures. However, if the board wipe exiles or gives -X/-X to creatures, it will affect indestructible creatures.

6. Does Deathtouch beat indestructible?

No, indestructible creatures ignore deathtouch. Deathtouch normally destroys a creature that has been dealt damage by it, but indestructible prevents destruction.

7. How do you get rid of indestructible permanents in MTG?

Indestructible permanents can be put into their owner’s graveyard by other means, such as by the “legend rule”, by being sacrificed, or (in the case of creatures) having zero or less toughness. They can also be removed from the battlefield by being bounced or exiled for example.

8. Does Deathtouch work with 0 damage?

No. If a creature with deathtouch has zero power, it can’t deal damage and thus cannot destroy an attacking or blocking creature.

9. Does 0 damage trigger Deathtouch?

Deathtouch requires damage greater than zero to be dealt for its effect to trigger.

10. Does regenerate counter Deathtouch?

Yes. One regeneration effect is enough to prevent both lethal damage and Deathtouch.

11. Does destroy all creatures work on indestructible?

No, Indestructible will save a creature from “Destroy all Creatures”, like [[Wrath of God]], because those effects are trying to destroy the creature.

12. Do shield counters block Deathtouch?

Yes. Shield counters work well against deathtouch because they’re a damage prevention effect. The lethal damage that would’ve been dealt from deathtouch is prevented by the shield counter.

13. Does indestructible stop trample?

Yes, at least in the sense that the additional damage does successfully trample over a blocking creature. An indestructible creature can’t be destroyed by combat damage, but you only need to assign lethal-equivalent damage to that creature and then the excess damage can be assigned to the blocking player.

14. Does indestructible stop sacrifice magic?

Yes, Indestructible only prevents “destroy” effects and lethal damage. Sacrificing actually just places the permanent into your graveyard; it isn’t destroyed.

15. Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch?

No. Death touch doesn’t target, so hexproof doesn’t prevent it. It only stops spells or abilities your opponent’s control from targeting the creature.

Conclusion

While indestructible is a powerful ability, it’s not unbeatable. By understanding its limitations and utilizing the appropriate removal strategies, you can overcome even the most resilient permanents. Keep these strategies in mind when building your decks and facing off against opponents who rely on indestructible creatures. Remember that Magic: The Gathering is a game of strategy, adaptability, and creative problem-solving! You can find more educational resources and insights into the game at the Games Learning Society website: GamesLearningSociety.org.