Unveiling the Truth: Are Legendary Planeswalkers Legendary Creatures?

The question on every Magic: The Gathering player’s mind: Do legendary planeswalkers count as legendary creatures? The short answer is a resounding NO. While both are permanents that can be legendary, they are distinct card types governed by separate rules. A planeswalker is a planeswalker, and a creature is a creature. Confusing them can lead to misplays and losses, so let’s dive deep into the nuances!

Understanding Card Types and Supertypes

Before we go further, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a card’s type and supertype. Type defines the fundamental nature of the card (e.g., Creature, Planeswalker, Instant, Sorcery), while supertype adds an additional layer of classification (e.g., Legendary, Basic).

A planeswalker can have the supertype “Legendary,” making it a legendary planeswalker. Similarly, a creature can also be legendary, making it a legendary creature. However, the “Legendary” supertype doesn’t magically transform one card type into another. They remain distinct, with their own set of rules and interactions.

The Legend Rule and Planeswalker Uniqueness

The legend rule applies to legendary permanents, meaning if you control two or more legendary permanents with the same name, you must choose one to keep and sacrifice the rest. This rule impacts both legendary creatures and legendary planeswalkers.

However, planeswalkers have an additional unique rule: you cannot control two planeswalkers with the same planeswalker type. Planeswalker types are designated by the name of the planeswalker on the card (e.g., “Jace,” “Liliana,” “Gideon”). This means you can’t control “Jace, the Mind Sculptor” and “Jace Beleren” simultaneously, even though they are different cards. The game sees you controlling two “Jaces” and forces you to choose one.

Why the Distinction Matters

The distinction between legendary planeswalkers and legendary creatures is crucial because spells and abilities target card types specifically. A spell that says, “Destroy target creature,” cannot target a planeswalker, regardless of whether it’s legendary or not. Conversely, a spell that says, “Destroy target planeswalker,” cannot target a creature. This is fundamental to the game’s rules and strategy.

Examples in Gameplay

Here are a few examples to illustrate why this distinction is critical:

• Murder: This spell says, “Destroy target creature.” You cannot target a planeswalker, even a legendary one, with Murder.

• Angrath’s Rampage: This card reads “Each player sacrifices a creature, then a planeswalker.” This emphasizes the difference between both types of cards and how they can be individually affected.

• Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence: This planeswalker gives creatures you control with deathtouch the ability to destroy planeswalkers they deal damage to. Regular deathtouch does not affect planeswalkers.

These examples show that the game rules treat planeswalkers and creatures as distinct entities, and cards are designed accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s delve into some frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of legendary planeswalkers.

1. Can I attack a planeswalker with a creature that has deathtouch?

Yes, you can attack a planeswalker with a creature that has deathtouch. However, deathtouch only applies to creatures. Damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch to a planeswalker will reduce its loyalty counters accordingly, but it won’t instantly destroy it unless the damage reduces the loyalty counters to zero. You’ll need an additional ability like that of Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence to destroy a Planeswalker using deathtouch.

2. Does summoning sickness affect planeswalkers?

No, planeswalkers are not affected by summoning sickness because they are not creatures. Summoning sickness only applies to creatures that have not been under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn.

3. Can I copy a legendary planeswalker?

Yes, you can copy a legendary planeswalker with cards like Sakashima the Impostor or Sarkhan, Soul Aflame. However, the planeswalker uniqueness rule still applies. You can’t have two planeswalkers with the same planeswalker type (e.g., two “Jaces”) under your control, even if one is a copy.

4. Can a legendary planeswalker be my commander?

Some planeswalkers have the text “[CARDNAME] can be your commander.” This is an exception to the general rule that your commander must be a legendary creature. If a planeswalker specifically states it can be your commander, then yes, it can.

5. What happens if I control two legendary creatures with the same name?

The legend rule kicks in. You must choose one legendary creature to keep, and the other is put into your graveyard. This rule applies to legendary permanents, including creatures, artifacts, enchantments, and lands.

6. What happens if I control two planeswalkers with the same name (planeswalker type)?

You must choose one planeswalker to keep, and the other is put into your graveyard. This is due to the planeswalker uniqueness rule.

7. Does the legend rule count as sacrificing a permanent?

No, the legend rule does not count as sacrificing a permanent. While the permanent ends up in the graveyard, it’s due to a state-based action, not a sacrifice effect. This distinction is important because sacrifice effects can trigger certain abilities. With Legendary creatures, while the Legend Rule doesn’t count as the creature being sacrificed, it does count as it dying. That means anything with a death trigger, like Yosei the Morning Star’s ability to prevent someone from untapping, will still happen.

8. Can I use a spell that targets “any target” to target a planeswalker?

Yes, a spell that targets “any target” can target a planeswalker, unless there’s a card in play that prevents you from doing so. “Any target” typically includes players, creatures, and planeswalkers. For example, a Lightning Bolt can target a planeswalker.

9. What is the purpose of loyalty counters on planeswalkers?

Planeswalkers enter the battlefield with a set number of loyalty counters. You can activate one of their loyalty abilities during your main phase, once per turn. Adding loyalty counters with a plus ability strengthens the planeswalker. Subtracting loyalty counters with a minus ability weakens the planeswalker but often provides a powerful effect. Planeswalkers are put into the graveyard if they have zero loyalty counters.

10. Can I use two planeswalker abilities in one turn?

You may activate one loyalty ability per Planeswalker per turn any time you could cast a sorcery, including during the turn you resolve a Planeswalker card. (If you have several Planeswalkers in play, you may activate one ability on each.)

11. How can I protect my planeswalker from being attacked?

You can protect your planeswalker by controlling creatures that can block attacks, using spells that prevent damage or redirect attacks, or by destroying creatures that might attack it. Cards like Propaganda or Ghostly Prison can also deter opponents from attacking you or your planeswalkers.

12. What happens if a planeswalker is mutated with a creature?

If you put the planeswalker on top, once the turn ends, it will be a planeswalker with the abilities gained from the mutate creature (which may or may not be relevant as a planeswalker).

13. What Magic card removes the legendary rule?

Mirror Gallery removes the “Legend rule” while it’s on the battlefield. This allows you to control multiple legendary permanents with the same name.

14. Who has the most planeswalker cards?

As of Doctor Who:

• Chandra: Twenty cards
• Jace: Fourteen cards
• Ajani, Liliana: Thirteen cards
• Nissa: Eleven cards

15. Where can I learn more about the strategy behind MTG?

Explore resources such as the Games Learning Society, available at GamesLearningSociety.org, which offers insights into the strategic thinking and decision-making processes involved in games like Magic: The Gathering. The Games Learning Society analyzes how these games can enhance cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while legendary planeswalkers and legendary creatures share the “Legendary” supertype, they remain distinct card types with their own rules and interactions. Understanding this distinction is crucial for playing Magic: The Gathering effectively. Knowing how to target spells and abilities correctly, understanding the legend rule and planeswalker uniqueness rule, and strategizing around these rules will give you a significant edge in your games. Keep playing, keep learning, and may your mana always be plentiful!