Can you split damage between planeswalker and player?
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The answer to this question is no, you cannot split damage between a planeswalker and a player from a single source, as the rules of Magic: The Gathering specify that damage redirection is an all-or-nothing choice that occurs on resolution. When a source you control would deal damage to a player, you may redirect that damage to a planeswalker they control, but you must choose one or the other, and cannot divide the damage between the two.
Understanding Damage Redirection
To understand the intricacies of damage redirection, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental rules governing planeswalkers and damage allocation in Magic: The Gathering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you attack both a planeswalker and a player?
Yes, assuming no other restrictions, you can attack your opponent with some or all of your creatures, and/or their planeswalkers with some or all of your creatures, as declaring attacks does not target anything.
Does planeswalker damage count as player damage?
No, unless it is combat damage and the creature has trample, in which case the excess damage does hit the player, but otherwise, the planeswalker takes all the damage.
Can you redirect player damage to a planeswalker?
Yes, you can redirect non-combat damage that a source you control would deal from an opponent to a planeswalker that player controls, but you cannot redirect combat damage.
Can I attack a player and a planeswalker in the same turn?
Yes, after you choose which creatures are attacking, you may choose whether they are attacking the defending player or a planeswalker that player controls.
Can Planeswalkers Attack?
Yes, planeswalkers can attack, but the rules governing their attack are different from those of creatures.
Can you have 2 planeswalkers out at the same time?
Yes, you can have multiple planeswalkers in play as long as they are different, but you cannot have two planeswalkers with the same name.
What are the rules for planeswalker damage?
A planeswalker can be attacked or damaged by an opponent’s spell or ability, removing loyalty counters and potentially putting it into the graveyard if it has no loyalty counters.
Does copying a planeswalker ability add loyalty?
No, copying a planeswalker’s ability does not affect its loyalty because raising or lowering its loyalty is part of the cost of the ability, not its effect.
Can you duress a planeswalker?
Yes, Duress can get rid of planeswalkers because they are neither lands nor creatures.
Does Deathtouch work on planeswalkers?
No, Deathtouch does not apply to planeswalkers because they are not creatures.
Can a planeswalker have 0 loyalty?
Yes, a planeswalker with 0 loyalty is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based effect.
Can you use two planeswalker abilities in one turn?
Yes, you may activate one loyalty ability per planeswalker per turn, allowing you to use abilities from multiple planeswalkers in the same turn.
Can a planeswalker defend a player?
No, planeswalkers cannot block or defend players.
Can you put plus one counters on planeswalkers?
Yes, if a planeswalker becomes a creature, you can put +1/+1 counters on it, which affect its power and toughness.
Can you proliferate planeswalkers?
Yes, you can use proliferate to add counters to your planeswalkers.
What is the rule 606.3 in Magic The Gathering?
Rule 606.3 states that a player may activate a loyalty ability of a permanent they control any time they have priority and the stack is empty during a main phase of their turn, but only if no player has previously activated a loyalty ability of that permanent that turn.
Do planeswalkers have summoning sickness?
No, planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness, and you may activate their loyalty abilities on the same turn you play them.
Can you shock planeswalkers?
Yes, you can damage planeswalkers with spells like Shock because they can target players or planeswalkers.
Can you fireball a planeswalker?
No, you cannot target a planeswalker with Fireball, but you can target the planeswalker’s controller and then redirect the damage to the planeswalker when Fireball resolves.
Can you lightning strike a planeswalker?
Yes, a lightning bolt can target planeswalkers unless there is a card in play that prevents you from doing so.
Why doesn’t doubling season work with planeswalkers?
Doubling Season affects permanents that enter the battlefield with counters, and while it doubles the loyalty counters of planeswalkers when they enter the battlefield, it does not double the counters added by activating loyalty abilities.
Can you play 2 legendary planeswalkers?
Yes, you can have more than one legendary planeswalker in play as long as they have different names.
Can a legendary planeswalker be a commander?
Yes, some planeswalkers are unique in that they have the line “[CARDNAME] can be your commander,” making them eligible to be commanders despite not being legendary creatures.