Can You Regenerate an Exiled Creature? The Definitive Guide
The short answer is a resounding no, you cannot regenerate a creature that has been exiled. Once a creature card is exiled, it essentially exists in a state of limbo, detached from the game’s normal rules and interactions. It loses all its abilities and properties, including the potential to be regenerated, unless the specific effect that exiled it dictates otherwise. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of exile and regeneration and clear up any confusion.
Understanding Regeneration
What is Regeneration?
In the context of Magic: The Gathering, regeneration is a specific mechanic that acts as a shield against destruction. When a creature with a regenerate effect is about to be destroyed, that effect steps in, preventing the destruction. Instead of being put into the graveyard, the creature has all damage marked on it removed, is tapped, and is removed from combat if it was attacking or blocking. It’s crucial to understand that regeneration doesn’t undo damage but rather prevents the destructive consequence of that damage. Importantly, abilities that trigger upon taking damage will still trigger even if the creature regenerates.
The Limits of Regeneration
The regenerate effect is designed to specifically prevent destruction. It won’t protect a creature from being sacrificed, exiled, or bounced back to a player’s hand. It only comes into play when a creature would otherwise be destroyed by a spell, ability, or lethal damage. Furthermore, an effect that states a creature “can’t be regenerated” overrides any regeneration attempts, ensuring that creature remains vulnerable to destruction.
The Nature of Exile
Exile: A Separate Zone
Exile is a zone entirely separate from the battlefield, the graveyard, and the hand. It’s designed to permanently remove cards from the game. Unless a specific effect allows for a card in exile to be interacted with, it remains isolated and out of reach. Creatures in exile lose all their abilities, including their toughness, keywords, and anything else that might enable their survival on the battlefield. They’re essentially dormant game pieces.
Why Exile Prevents Regeneration
Regeneration only works as a replacement effect on the battlefield, before a creature is actually destroyed. Once a creature is exiled, it’s no longer subject to battlefield interactions. Therefore, the rules of regeneration cannot be applied to it. The card is not being destroyed; instead, it is being moved to a different zone where these rules simply don’t exist.
Special Cases: Exile Effects that Allow Interaction
It’s worth noting that some specific cards and effects exile creatures in a way that allows interaction from exile. These effects are exceptions, such as cards that state they “return that card to the battlefield at end of turn,” or allow you to play them from exile. In these instances, the interaction is explicitly defined by the card’s effect and not by regeneration. Standard regeneration rules still will not affect cards in exile.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a creature with regenerate be exiled?
Yes, a creature with regenerate can be exiled. Regeneration only protects against destruction, not from exile, or any other method of removal.
2. If a creature is exiled, does it trigger “when a creature dies” abilities?
No, exile does not trigger abilities that trigger “when a creature dies.” Those abilities trigger when a creature is placed in the graveyard from the battlefield.
3. If a creature is about to be destroyed, can it be exiled instead to avoid triggering “when a creature dies” abilities?
Yes, if an effect is going to destroy a creature, and another effect allows you to exile it instead, then yes. Because exile is a replacement effect for destruction, it will not be considered a death and will not trigger any abilities that trigger upon death.
4. Can you regenerate a creature with negative counters?
No. Regeneration only removes damage marked on a creature, it doesn’t remove counters, even if those counters were placed as a result of damage.
5. What happens if you sacrifice a creature with regenerate?
Sacrificing a permanent doesn’t destroy it, so regeneration can’t affect this action. Regeneration replaces destruction, not sacrificing.
6. Can you regenerate a “buried” creature?
No, effects that say “bury” or “destroy, it cannot be regenerated” override the replacement effect that regeneration gives you, meaning it will still die.
7. What does it mean when a creature can’t be regenerated?
An effect which says something “can’t be regenerated” means that the Regenerate replacement effect won’t be applied to that creature, even if one is active. You can still cast spells and activate abilities that produce a Regenerate effect, but they just won’t do anything useful.
8. Can you regenerate a creature at any time?
You can activate a regeneration effect at any time you could cast an instant, but it will only have an effect if the creature would be destroyed that turn.
9. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?
No. Deathtouch still works the same against a creature with Deathtouch. All damage dealt by a creature with Deathtouch is considered lethal damage.
10. Does Double Strike beat Deathtouch?
Yes. If you block a creature with deathtouch with a creature with double strike, the first striking creature will deal damage during the first damage phase, and the deathtouch creature would likely die before the normal combat damage phase.
11. What if an indestructible creature is hit by a creature with Deathtouch?
Indestructible creatures are immune to Deathtouch and won’t be destroyed by it.
12. Can you be forced to sacrifice a creature with shroud?
Yes. If the only creature you control is a creature with shroud, and an opponent casts a spell that causes you to sacrifice a creature, you must sacrifice it.
13. Can crypt sliver regenerate itself?
It can regenerate itself before it dies during the declare blockers step. It can’t regenerate more than once, however, unless you can untap it, since tapping is required.
14. Does Lifelink work when blocking?
Yes, Lifelink works when blocking. Any damage dealt by a creature with lifelink, including attacking, blocking, or from a fight effect, will gain you life equal to the damage dealt.
15. If a creature is exiled, can you use other effects that allow you to return it to the battlefield?
Yes. There are some specific effects that will allow you to return a creature from exile, or even play a creature from exile. Those effects are specifically defined on those cards and aren’t related to regeneration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, regenerating an exiled creature is not possible due to the fundamental rules governing exile and regeneration in Magic: The Gathering. Exile removes cards from the game entirely, preventing any further interactions or effects unless explicitly stated. Understanding this core principle helps clarify numerous card interactions and strategic decisions in the game. Remember, regeneration is a shield against destruction on the battlefield, not a key to returning exiled creatures.