Can You Deal Damage to an Indestructible Creature?

You can deal damage to indestructible creatures, it just doesn’t kill them, as indestructible only prevents a creature from being destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy“. This means that indestructible creatures can still be affected by board wipes that exile or give -X/-X to creatures, and they can also be sacrificed or have their toughness reduced to zero.

Understanding Indestructible Creatures

Dealing damage to an indestructible creature is possible because indestructible only prevents destruction, not damage. This distinction is crucial in understanding how indestructible creatures interact with various effects and abilities in the game.

Key Points About Indestructible Creatures

Some key points to note about indestructible creatures are:

• They can’t be destroyed by lethal damage or effects that say “destroy“.
• They ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage.
• They can still be affected by board wipes that exile or give -X/-X to creatures.
• They can be sacrificed or have their toughness reduced to zero.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you destroy an indestructible creature?: No, a permanent with indestructible can’t be destroyed, as stated in rule 702.12b.
2. Do board wipes kill indestructible creatures?: It depends on the effect of the board wipe; if it destroys or damages creatures, indestructible creatures are unaffected, but if it exiles or gives -X/-X to creatures, they are affected.
3. Can you trample over an indestructible creature?: Yes, you can trample over an indestructible creature, as indestructible doesn’t prevent combat damage from being dealt.
4. Can you be forced to sacrifice indestructible creatures?: Yes, indestructible doesn’t stop you from being forced to sacrifice the permanent, as sacrificing doesn’t destroy the creature.
5. How can you “destroy” an indestructible creature?: You can’t destroy an indestructible creature in the classical sense, but you can exile it or reduce its toughness to zero.
6. Does Deathtouch beat indestructible?: No, indestructible creatures ignore Deathtouch, as Deathtouch only destroys creatures that take damage from a creature with Deathtouch.
7. What are the rules for indestructible?: Rule 702.12b states that a permanent with indestructible can’t be destroyed, and it ignores the state-based action that checks for lethal damage.
8. Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch?: No, Hexproof doesn’t prevent Deathtouch, as Deathtouch doesn’t target the creature.
9. How does Deathtouch trample work with indestructible?: Deathtouch doesn’t affect indestructible creatures, as they can’t be destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy“.
10. Does Deathtouch affect indestructible creatures?: No, indestructible creatures are immune to Deathtouch, as Deathtouch only destroys creatures that take damage from a creature with Deathtouch.
11. Can wrath of God kill indestructible?: No, Wrath of God can’t kill indestructible creatures, as they can’t be destroyed by effects that say “destroy“.
12. Does Blasphemous Act get around indestructible?: No, Blasphemous Act doesn’t get around indestructible, as indestructible prevents destruction, not damage.
13. Can you exile indestructible?: Yes, you can exile an indestructible creature, as indestructible only protects from destroy effects, not exile effects.
14. Does first strike beat Deathtouch?: Yes, a creature with first strike can kill a creature with Deathtouch before it has a chance to deal damage.
15. Is indestructible better than Hexproof?: Both indestructible and Hexproof are powerful effects, but they have different interactions with various abilities and effects in the game, and which one is “better” depends on the specific context.