Do Indestructible Planeswalkers Take Damage? A Comprehensive MTG Guide
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Yes, indestructible planeswalkers do indeed take damage in Magic: The Gathering. Indestructibility only prevents a permanent from being destroyed by “destroy” effects and from dying due to lethal damage. Damage dealt to a planeswalker, even one with indestructible, will still result in the removal of loyalty counters. Once a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it’s put into the graveyard as a state-based action, which isn’t considered destruction.
Understanding Indestructibility
Indestructibility is a powerful ability in MTG, but it’s not a complete shield. It specifically counters effects that attempt to destroy a permanent or damage that would otherwise be lethal. This means that while an indestructible creature can shrug off a Lightning Bolt, a planeswalker with indestructible can’t ignore the consequences of that same Lightning Bolt hitting them – their loyalty will still decrease. Let’s delve deeper.
Planeswalkers and Loyalty
Planeswalkers enter the battlefield with a certain number of loyalty counters. During your main phase, you can activate one of their loyalty abilities by adding or removing loyalty counters, indicated by the + or – symbol beside the ability’s cost. Opponents can attack planeswalkers directly, causing them to lose loyalty counters equal to the damage dealt. When a planeswalker has zero loyalty counters, it’s sent to the graveyard as a state-based action, which is a rule that the game automatically enforces. Crucially, this isn’t considered “destruction.”
Why Indestructibility Isn’t a Cure-All
The key to understanding why indestructible planeswalkers still lose loyalty lies in the mechanics of the game. Indestructibility only prevents two things:
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Destruction by “destroy” effects: Spells and abilities that explicitly say “destroy” (e.g., “Destroy target creature”) have no effect on indestructible permanents.
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Destruction by lethal damage: If a creature has enough damage marked on it to equal or exceed its toughness, it would normally be destroyed as a state-based action. Indestructibility prevents this.
Losing loyalty counters isn’t destruction, and a planeswalker being put into the graveyard for having zero loyalty isn’t either. It is a state-based action based on loyalty.
FAQs: Indestructible Planeswalkers and More
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of indestructibility in Magic: The Gathering:
1. What Kills Indestructible Permanents?
While indestructible permanents can’t be destroyed by damage or “destroy” effects, several other methods can remove them:
- Exile: Effects that exile a permanent bypass indestructible entirely.
- Sacrifice: Being forced to sacrifice an indestructible permanent still works, as sacrifice isn’t destruction.
- Reducing Toughness to 0: For creatures, reducing their toughness to 0 will still cause them to die, even with indestructible. This is rarely relevant to Planeswalkers
- Bouncing: Returning a permanent to its owner’s hand.
- Putting into Library: Putting a permanent into its owner’s library.
2. Does Indestructible Prevent -X/-X Effects?
For creatures, yes, -X/-X effects can overcome indestructible if they reduce the creature’s toughness to 0. For example, “Grasp of Darkness” (giving a creature -4/-4) will kill an indestructible creature with a toughness of 4 or less. The same logic does not apply to planeswalkers.
3. Can You Target an Indestructible Permanent?
Yes, indestructible permanents are legal targets for spells and abilities. The spell or ability will resolve as normal, but the “destroy” part of the effect will be ignored if it has indestructible.
4. Does Deathtouch Kill Indestructible Creatures?
No, deathtouch does not kill indestructible creatures. Deathtouch causes damage to be considered lethal. Since indestructible prevents death by lethal damage, it is useless against it.
5. Do Board Wipes Affect Indestructible Permanents?
It depends on the board wipe. Board wipes that destroy or damage creatures will be ineffective against indestructible creatures. However, board wipes that exile, return to hand, or give -X/-X to creatures will still affect them.
6. Does Indestructible Stop Sacrifice?
No, indestructible does not stop you from being forced to sacrifice the permanent. Sacrifice is not destruction.
7. Does Indestructible Stop Trample?
Yes, but in a way that still allows trample damage to be assigned to the defending player. You must assign lethal damage to the blocking indestructible creature, and then you can assign any remaining damage to the player. Since the creature doesn’t actually die, it doesn’t prevent trample.
8. Does Hexproof Stop Board Wipes?
Hexproof only protects against targeted effects. Board wipes that don’t target specific permanents will still affect permanents with hexproof.
9. What Happens if an Indestructible Planeswalker Reaches 0 Loyalty?
An indestructible planeswalker with 0 loyalty is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This is not considered destruction, so indestructible doesn’t prevent it.
10. Is Indestructible Immune to Deathtouch?
As stated earlier, no. Indestructible is not immune to deathtouch.
11. Do Counters Beat Indestructible?
For creatures, -X/-X counters can overcome indestructible if they reduce the creature’s toughness to 0. Indestructible only prevents dying to lethal damage and destroy effects.
12. Does Indestructible Prevent Damage?
No, indestructible doesn’t prevent damage. It just prevents lethal damage from destroying the creature.
13. Can You Exile an Indestructible Permanent?
Yes, you can. Indestructible only protects against destroy effects, not exile effects. Exile is a common way to remove indestructible permanents.
14. What Card Makes Everything Indestructible?
Several cards grant indestructible. Avacyn, Angel of Hope is a well-known example, giving indestructible to all permanents you control. Darksteel Forge grants indestructible to all artifacts you control.
15. What are State-Based Actions?
State-based actions (SBAs) are rules the game checks and enforces continuously. They deal with things like creatures dying from lethal damage, planeswalkers being put into the graveyard with zero loyalty, and removing legendary permanents with the same name. These actions happen automatically and don’t use the stack.
Beyond the Basics: Strategy and Tactics
Understanding how indestructible interacts with other mechanics is crucial for strategic gameplay. Building decks that can handle indestructible threats is important in any format. Consider including cards that exile, bounce, or force sacrifice to deal with these resilient permanents. Also, remember that even an indestructible planeswalker is vulnerable to losing loyalty through combat or direct damage spells.
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By mastering these nuances, you can navigate the complexities of MTG and gain a competitive edge. Good luck, and may your mana be ever plentiful!