Can You Declare Blockers for Planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is a resounding no. You cannot declare planeswalkers as blockers in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Planeswalkers are powerful permanents that represent allies you summon to aid you in battle, but they are not creatures and therefore cannot fulfill the role of a blocker. Let’s delve into why this is the case and explore the intricacies surrounding planeswalkers and combat.
Planeswalkers: Powerful Allies, Not Walls
Planeswalkers are a unique card type in MTG. They enter the battlefield with a certain number of loyalty counters, and their abilities require you to either add or remove these counters. Their abilities can range from creating creature tokens to directly damaging opponents or bolstering your own forces. However, a key aspect of planeswalkers is that they are not creatures. This distinction is crucial because only creatures can block.
The rules of MTG are very specific:
- Only creatures can block. This is a fundamental rule of the declare blockers step in the combat phase.
- Planeswalkers are permanents, not creatures. Unless an ability specifically turns a planeswalker into a creature (like Gideon Jura’s ultimate ability), they remain permanents of the planeswalker type.
- Planeswalkers can be attacked. Instead of attacking a player directly, an attacking creature can choose to attack one of their opponent’s planeswalkers.
This means that while your opponent’s creatures can target your planeswalker during the combat phase, your planeswalker cannot step in front of those creatures and block. Your defenses must come from your own creatures, spells, and abilities.
Protecting Your Planeswalkers: A Matter of Strategy
Since planeswalkers can’t block, protecting them requires a different approach. You need to use your resources strategically to defend these valuable assets. Some common methods include:
- Creature blockers: The most straightforward way to protect a planeswalker is to have creatures on the battlefield that can block attacking creatures. Choose creatures with high toughness or relevant abilities like deathtouch or first strike.
- Removal spells: Spells like “Murder” or “Lightning Bolt” can remove attacking creatures before they even have a chance to damage your planeswalker.
- Board wipes: Cards like “Wrath of God” can wipe the entire board, including attacking creatures, effectively resetting the combat phase.
- Planeswalker abilities: Some planeswalkers have abilities that can create creature tokens or provide other forms of protection. For example, Elspeth, Sun’s Champion can create 1/1 Soldier tokens that can act as blockers.
- Propaganda Effects: Enchatments or creatures that make attacking you or your planeswalkers more costly, thus deterring attacks.
Planeswalkers and the Stack
It’s important to remember that planeswalker abilities use the stack, just like most other spells and abilities in MTG. This means that your opponent can respond to your planeswalker’s abilities with their own spells and abilities. For example, if you activate a planeswalker’s ability to create a creature token, your opponent could respond by casting a removal spell on your planeswalker, preventing the token from ever being created.
The Future of Planeswalkers
As the game evolves, the role of planeswalkers has shifted, particularly following the events of the Phyrexian invasion. The article snippets mention the “end of an era” for some planeswalkers, with some losing their spark and becoming legendary creatures. This could lead to new strategies and deck archetypes that utilize planeswalkers in different ways.
Regardless of these shifts, the fundamental rule remains: planeswalkers cannot block. Protecting them is a crucial aspect of playing with and against them, and mastering this skill is essential for success in MTG. Remember that strategic deployment of creatures, efficient use of removal spells, and careful planning around the stack are the keys to keeping your planeswalkers safe and dominating the battlefield.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Planeswalkers and Blocking
1. Can creatures with flying block for planeswalkers?
Yes, creatures with flying can block attacking creatures that are attacking a planeswalker. The ability to block depends on whether the creature has the appropriate keyword (like flying, reach, or the lack of a restriction like “can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying”) to block the attacking creature, regardless of whether the attacking creature is targeting a player or a planeswalker.
2. If a creature is blocking an attacker targeting my planeswalker, does the damage go to the planeswalker?
No. If a creature is successfully blocking an attacking creature, the combat damage is exchanged between the blocker and the attacker. Unless the attacking creature has trample and excess damage to assign, no damage will be dealt to the planeswalker.
3. Can I use a spell to prevent damage to a planeswalker?
Yes, absolutely! You can use various spells and abilities to prevent damage to a planeswalker. For instance, a spell that grants indestructible to your planeswalker, or one that redirects the damage to another target.
4. Can my opponent attack my planeswalker directly, even if I have creatures on the battlefield?
Yes, your opponent can choose to attack your planeswalker even if you have creatures available to block. They are not forced to attack you or your creatures. The decision is entirely theirs.
5. What happens if my planeswalker has 0 loyalty counters?
If a planeswalker has zero loyalty counters, it is immediately put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. It effectively dies and is removed from the battlefield.
6. Can I use a planeswalker’s ability the turn it enters the battlefield?
Yes, you can activate a planeswalker’s ability the turn it enters the battlefield, as long as you haven’t already activated an ability of a planeswalker with the same name that turn. This is sometimes referred to as ‘plus one-ing’. The ability must be one that is legally playable, of course.
7. Can I proliferate loyalty counters on a planeswalker?
Yes, the proliferate mechanic allows you to add an additional counter of any type already present on permanents you control. This includes loyalty counters on planeswalkers, providing a valuable way to boost their power and longevity.
8. Does first strike affect combat involving planeswalkers?
Yes, first strike affects combat involving planeswalkers in the same way it affects combat between creatures. If an attacking creature with first strike is blocked, it will deal its damage first. If this damage is lethal to the blocking creature, the attacking creature will survive to deal its damage to the planeswalker.
9. Can I target a planeswalker with a burn spell like Lightning Bolt?
Yes, you can target a planeswalker with a burn spell like Lightning Bolt. Burn spells like Lightning Bolt can target “any target” including planeswalkers.
10. Can a creature with trample deal damage to a planeswalker?
Yes, a creature with trample can deal damage to a planeswalker if it is blocked. If the attacking creature has trample and its power exceeds the toughness of the blocking creature, the excess damage is dealt to the planeswalker it was attacking.
11. What happens if a planeswalker is exiled?
If a planeswalker is exiled, it is removed from the battlefield and placed in the exile zone. It is essentially removed from the game unless an ability specifically allows it to be returned from exile.
12. Can I counter a planeswalker spell?
Yes, you can counter a planeswalker spell when it is initially cast. It is treated like any other spell on the stack and can be countered using counterspells.
13. Can I activate multiple abilities of the same planeswalker in one turn?
No, you can only activate one ability of each planeswalker you control per turn. This limitation prevents players from overwhelming the game with multiple powerful effects from a single planeswalker.
14. Are there cards that specifically protect planeswalkers?
Yes, there are cards that specifically protect planeswalkers. Some examples include enchantments that give planeswalkers hexproof or indestructible, or creatures with abilities that redirect damage away from planeswalkers.
15. Can I give a planeswalker indestructible?
Yes, you can give a planeswalker indestructible. Cards that grant indestructible can target planeswalkers, making them immune to destruction by damage or “destroy” effects.
Understanding the intricacies of planeswalkers and their interactions within the rules of Magic: The Gathering is essential for any player. While they cannot directly block, their powerful abilities and strategic importance make them a cornerstone of many winning decks. For more information on the educational aspects of gaming, consider visiting the Games Learning Society website.