Can You Block a Planeswalker Ability in Magic: The Gathering?
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No, you cannot directly “block” a planeswalker ability in the same way you block a creature attacking. Planeswalker abilities are activated abilities that go on the stack and resolve independently. However, you can counter or otherwise interact with these abilities to prevent them from resolving and having their intended effect. Think of it less like physically blocking and more like strategically interfering. Now, let’s dive deep into the nuances of planeswalkers and their abilities.
Understanding Planeswalker Abilities
Planeswalkers are powerful permanents in Magic: The Gathering, each possessing a set of unique loyalty abilities. These abilities, identified by a loyalty symbol (either a plus sign followed by a number, a minus sign followed by a number, or a zero), are activated by paying the associated loyalty cost. Activating a planeswalker ability puts it on the stack, where it can be responded to by other players.
How to Deal with Planeswalker Abilities
Since you can’t “block” them in the traditional sense, here’s how you can counteract planeswalker abilities:
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Countering the Ability: Just like any other activated ability, a planeswalker’s ability can be countered. Cards like Negate, Counterspell, or Disallow can prevent the ability from resolving, effectively nullifying its effect. It’s important to remember that the ability must still be on the stack to be countered.
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Removing the Planeswalker: If you can remove the planeswalker before its ability resolves, the ability will still resolve as normal, but you may get rid of the source that generated the ability. If the effect specifies something is supposed to happen with the planeswalker that no longer exists, then that part of the ability can be illegal to resolve.
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Interacting with the Target: Some planeswalker abilities target specific permanents or players. If you can make the target illegal (e.g., giving a creature hexproof in response to an ability that targets it), the ability may be countered upon resolution.
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Reducing Loyalty: Some abilities or spells deal damage or remove loyalty from planeswalkers. If you can reduce a planeswalker’s loyalty to zero before its ability resolves, the planeswalker will be put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action, though the ability will still resolve as normal. The planeswalker is dead, but the ability will still resolve.
Planeswalkers: More Than Just Creatures
It’s crucial to remember that planeswalkers are not creatures. They can’t attack or block, and they aren’t affected by spells and abilities that target only creatures (unless they temporarily become creatures through their own abilities or other effects). Creatures can attack planeswalkers instead of the player controlling them, which is a key way to reduce their loyalty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Planeswalkers
Here are some common questions about planeswalkers and their interactions in Magic: The Gathering:
1. Can you target a planeswalker with a creature removal spell?
No, unless the planeswalker has become a creature (e.g., through an ability like that of Gideon Blackblade), creature removal spells cannot target it. Creature removal spells can only remove creatures.
2. Does hexproof protect a planeswalker from its controller’s own abilities?
No, hexproof only protects a permanent from spells and abilities controlled by opponents. Your own planeswalker abilities can still target your own planeswalker, even if it has hexproof.
3. Can I use a planeswalker ability at instant speed?
No, unless the planeswalker’s ability specifically states it can be activated at a different time, planeswalker abilities can only be activated at a time you could cast a sorcery – during your main phase when the stack is empty and you have priority.
4. What happens if a planeswalker is dealt lethal damage by a creature with deathtouch?
Deathtouch normally destroys a creature that is dealt damage by a creature with Deathtouch. However, planeswalkers are not creatures. Therefore, a planeswalker that is dealt damage by a creature with Deathtouch will only lose the amount of loyalty counters equal to the amount of damage it was dealt.
5. Can a planeswalker be a commander?
Yes, some planeswalkers have the specific text that states they can be your commander, even though they are not legendary creatures. Only planeswalkers with this text are legal commanders.
6. What is the “planeswalker uniqueness rule”?
This is more accurately referred to as the legend rule. This rule states that if you control two or more planeswalkers with the same subtype (e.g., two Jaces, two Lilianas), you must choose one to keep and put the others into your graveyard.
7. Can I proliferate loyalty counters on a planeswalker?
Yes, Proliferate allows you to add an additional counter of any kind already present on a permanent. You can use it to add more loyalty counters to a planeswalker, increasing its loyalty.
8. Can I use an ability to prevent damage dealt to a planeswalker?
Yes, damage prevention effects can be used to prevent damage to a planeswalker, reducing the number of loyalty counters removed.
9. What happens when a planeswalker has 0 loyalty counters?
When a planeswalker has zero loyalty counters, it is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This doesn’t count as being destroyed, so indestructible does not prevent this.
10. Can I copy a planeswalker spell?
Yes, you can copy a planeswalker spell while it’s on the stack using cards like Clone or Doublecast. The copy will resolve as a separate planeswalker entering the battlefield.
11. Does giving a planeswalker indestructible prevent it from going to the graveyard when it has 0 loyalty?
No, indestructible prevents a permanent from being destroyed. A planeswalker with zero loyalty goes to the graveyard due to a state-based action, not destruction.
12. Can I attack a planeswalker with a creature that has trample?
Yes, you can assign damage from a creature with trample to a planeswalker. If the attacking creature has trample, and the planeswalker is assigned lethal damage, any remaining damage will be assigned to the defending player.
13. If my opponent has a planeswalker with hexproof, can I still target them with a spell?
Yes, hexproof only protects the planeswalker itself from being targeted by your spells or abilities. You can still target the player controlling the planeswalker with spells that target players.
14. Can a planeswalker “ultimate” multiple times in one turn?
Normally, no. You can only activate one loyalty ability of each planeswalker you control per turn. However, some cards or abilities may allow you to activate additional loyalty abilities.
15. Where can I learn more about Magic: The Gathering and its rules?
Excellent resources include the official Magic: The Gathering website, comprehensive rulebooks, and communities like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Here, you can find research, discussions, and resources exploring the educational potential of games like Magic: The Gathering.
Conclusion
While you can’t directly “block” a planeswalker ability, understanding how to counter, remove, or otherwise interact with these abilities is crucial for strategic play. Mastering these interactions will significantly improve your gameplay and understanding of Magic: The Gathering.