Can Indestructible Creatures Be Dealt Excess Damage in MTG?
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Yes, indestructible creatures can be dealt excess damage. While they won’t be destroyed by damage, any excess damage assigned to them can still be relevant, particularly when dealing with creatures that have the trample ability or when specific effects are in play that trigger based on the amount of damage dealt. The indestructible keyword only prevents destruction from damage and “destroy” effects; it doesn’t make the creature immune to all consequences of receiving damage.
Understanding Indestructible and Damage
Indestructible is a powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) that protects a permanent, usually a creature, from being destroyed by damage or effects that explicitly say “destroy.” However, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of this ability. It doesn’t negate damage; it simply prevents the destruction that would normally result from it. This means that damage is still assigned to the indestructible creature, and that damage can have other consequences.
Trample and Indestructible
The interaction between trample and indestructible is a prime example of how excess damage comes into play. When a creature with trample attacks and is blocked by an indestructible creature, the attacking player must assign enough damage to the blocking creature to assign lethal damage. Normally, lethal damage would equal the creature’s toughness. However, since the blocking creature is indestructible, it can’t be destroyed by damage.
Despite the indestructible creature not being destroyed, the game still considers how much damage would be lethal damage. So, if the attacking creature’s power exceeds the indestructible creature’s toughness, the excess damage “tramples over” and is dealt to the defending player. This means the attacker can assign damage equal to the blocking creature’s toughness to the indestructible blocker, and the remaining damage is dealt to the player.
Damage-Based Effects
Some cards and abilities trigger based on the amount of damage a creature has received. Even though an indestructible creature survives the damage, these triggers still occur. For example, if a card triggers when a creature is dealt 3 or more damage, and an indestructible creature is dealt 5 damage, that trigger will still activate. The damage is still “dealt,” even if it doesn’t lead to destruction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Indestructible
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of indestructible in MTG:
1. What exactly does “indestructible” do?
Indestructible prevents a permanent from being destroyed by damage and effects that use the word “destroy.” It doesn’t grant immunity to other forms of removal, such as exile, sacrifice, or effects that reduce toughness to zero.
2. Does indestructible protect against exile effects?
No. Exile effects completely bypass indestructible. Cards like “Swords to Plowshares” or “Path to Exile” will remove an indestructible creature from the battlefield without any resistance.
3. Can an indestructible creature be sacrificed?
Yes. Sacrifice isn’t destruction. Indestructible provides no protection against being sacrificed as part of a cost or effect. Cards that force a player to sacrifice creatures will affect indestructible creatures just like any other creature.
4. What happens if an indestructible creature’s toughness is reduced to zero or less?
Even with indestructible, a creature with zero or less toughness is put into its owner’s graveyard. Indestructible prevents destruction by damage or “destroy” effects, but a creature with zero or less toughness goes to the graveyard as a state-based action, which bypasses indestructible.
5. Does deathtouch affect indestructible creatures?
No. Normally, a creature is destroyed if it takes damage from a creature with deathtouch. But since indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed, they’re immune.
6. Does trample still work against indestructible creatures?
Yes. As explained earlier, the trampling creature would deal enough damage to the indestructible creature that would ‘normally’ kill it, then tramples over the rest. It still counts as lethal damage for trample purposes, even though it doesn’t actually destroy it.
7. Can indestructible creatures be bounced (returned to hand)?
Yes, indestructible only protects from destruction. Bouncing (returning a permanent to its owner’s hand) is another way to remove it from the battlefield that is not affected by indestructible.
8. Does indestructible prevent -X/-X effects?
It depends. Indestructible prevents destruction, but effects that reduce a creature’s toughness can still impact it. If a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero or less by a -X/-X effect, it will still go to the graveyard, as explained above.
9. Does indestructible stop the legend rule?
No. The legend rule states that if a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, they must choose one and put the others into their owner’s graveyard. Indestructible doesn’t prevent this.
10. If an indestructible creature is dealt lethal damage, does the damage remain on it?
No. Damage marked on a creature is removed as the cleanup step begins, so it is not relevant beyond the turn in which it was dealt. Indestructible prevents the destruction that would normally result from damage, but the damage itself doesn’t persist indefinitely.
11. Does indestructible protect against effects that say “destroy all creatures”?
No. Effects that say “destroy all creatures” still attempt to destroy the indestructible creatures. However, due to their indestructible ability, these creatures will survive. They are targeted, the effect resolves, but indestructible prevents the “destroy” part of the effect from taking place.
12. Is hexproof or indestructible better?
It depends on the situation. Indestructible protects against destruction, while hexproof prevents the creature from being targeted by your opponents’ spells or abilities. Indestructible is vulnerable to exile and sacrifice, while hexproof is vulnerable to board wipes that don’t target. Both are powerful, but have different weaknesses.
13. What are some common ways to deal with indestructible creatures?
Common ways to deal with indestructible creatures include: * Exile effects: Cards like “Swords to Plowshares” * Sacrifice effects: Cards that force opponents to sacrifice creatures * -X/-X effects: Reducing toughness to zero or less * Bouncing: Returning the creature to its owner’s hand * The legend rule: If the creature is legendary
14. Can an indestructible creature block multiple attackers?
Yes. An indestructible creature can block multiple attackers in the same way that a regular creature can. The only difference is that it won’t be destroyed by the combat damage.
15. Where can I learn more about Magic: The Gathering and its rules?
You can learn more about Magic: The Gathering and its rules at the official Magic: The Gathering website, through various online communities and forums, or through educational resources offered by organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Understanding the intricate rules of games is crucial for enriching the gaming experience and for educational purposes.
Indestructible is a potent ability, but it’s not invincibility. Understanding its limitations and the ways in which it interacts with other game mechanics is essential for strategic gameplay in MTG. By considering the nuances of damage, trample, and other removal options, players can effectively navigate the challenges posed by indestructible creatures.