Can you exile a dead creature?
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The answer to whether you can exile a dead creature is no, a creature cannot be exiled after it has gone to the graveyard, as exile and graveyard are two distinct zones in the game of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), with different rules and implications for creatures and other permanents. Creatures can be exiled from the battlefield, but once they are in the graveyard, they are no longer considered creatures and cannot be exiled from that zone, although they can be exiled from the graveyard if an effect specifically moves them from the graveyard to exile.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- Does exile trigger when a creature dies?: No, exile does not trigger when a creature dies because exile and death are two different states in MTG, and a creature must be exiled before it dies to prevent death triggers.
- Is exile the same as dying?: No, exile is not the same as dying; exiled permanents do not go into the graveyard, and if they are creatures, they do not die, thus no death triggers happen.
- Can you exile a creature from the graveyard?: Yes, creature cards can be exiled from the graveyard, but they are not considered creatures once they are in the graveyard.
- What are the rules for exile in magic?: Exiled cards enter a separate area from your graveyard, and they cannot be brought back unless a counterspell is used against the exiling effect, or another spell or effect is used to bring it back into your graveyard.
Technical Questions
- Does exile count as death magic?: No, a creature or planeswalker does not die if it is sent to another zone (usually exile), either directly or by a replacement effect.
- Is exile death in magic?: If the creature goes to the graveyard and then moves to exile, then it counts as dying, but if it goes to exile instead of the graveyard, then it does not count as dying.
- Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?: Yes, any two instances of the Deathtouch ability against one another cancel out the Deathtouch ability.
- Can I exile a sacrificed creature?: Yes, any creature cards that end up in an opponent’s graveyard because they were sacrificed can be exiled.
Strategic Questions
- What is the difference between exile and graveyard?: A card in the graveyard is still in the game and can be manipulated, while a card that is exiled is removed from the game.
- How to prevent your graveyard from being exiled in Commander?: Players can use cards or effects that prevent exile or return exiled cards to the graveyard or hand.
- Can indestructible beat Deathtouch?: Yes, indestructible creatures cannot be killed by lethal damage caused by Deathtouch.
Rule-Based Questions
- Does Hexproof cancel Deathtouch?: No, Hexproof does not prevent Deathtouch because Deathtouch does not target.
- What does Hexproof protect from?: Hexproof protects against any spells or abilities that target, but it doesn’t protect from a specific color, card type, or effect.
- Can I exile a commander?: Yes, you can exile a commander with a spell or ability, but the owner gets to choose if they want to leave their leader in exile or send it back to the command zone.
Miscellaneous Questions
- Do exiled creatures have summoning sickness?: Yes, any card that returns from exile returns as if you just played it, so a creature will have summoning sickness.