Do Poison Counters Kill Indestructible Creatures in Magic: The Gathering? The Definitive Guide
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The short answer is no, poison counters themselves do not kill indestructible creatures. While poison counters are a persistent and dangerous threat in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), indestructibility only protects against destruction, lethal damage, and effects that specifically say “destroy.” Let’s delve into the intricacies of this interaction and explore the broader scope of indestructibility and poison counters.
Understanding Indestructibility
Indestructibility is a powerful keyword ability in MTG that grants a permanent (typically a creature) immunity to specific types of removal. Specifically, an indestructible permanent:
- Cannot be destroyed by lethal damage.
- Cannot be destroyed by effects that use the word “destroy.”
It’s crucial to understand what indestructibility doesn’t do. It doesn’t protect against:
- Exile effects: Cards that exile a permanent bypass indestructibility.
- Sacrifice effects: Being forced to sacrifice a creature sends it to the graveyard, regardless of indestructibility.
- Reduction of toughness to 0 or less: If a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero or less (usually through -1/-1 counters or continuous effects), it will die as a state-based action, even if indestructible.
- Bounce effects: Returning a permanent to its owner’s hand also ignores indestructibility.
- “Tucking” effects: Putting a permanent on the bottom of its owner’s library circumvents indestructibility.
The Nature of Poison Counters
Poison counters are a different mechanic entirely. In MTG, a player who accumulates ten or more poison counters loses the game. Poison is typically delivered through creatures with the Infect keyword (which deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters) or spells that directly inflict poison counters.
The critical thing to remember is that poison counters cause a player to lose the game; they do not destroy creatures. Thus, an indestructible creature can happily accumulate poison counters without being directly affected.
Why Poison Counters Don’t Kill Indestructible Creatures
Indestructible only prevents destruction. Poison counters, on the other hand, lead to a player losing the game when they reach a certain threshold. The creature still exists on the battlefield, unscathed, even if its controller is on the brink of defeat. This distinction is the crux of the matter. Poison counters don’t target creatures, nor do they attempt to destroy them. Therefore, indestructibility is irrelevant in this scenario. The connection to the GamesLearningSociety.org lies in understanding complex rules systems like these, which helps us understand how people grasp complex systems in general.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can -1/-1 counters kill an indestructible creature?
Yes! If -1/-1 counters reduce a creature’s toughness to 0 or less, the creature dies as a state-based action, even if it has indestructible. This is a common way to get rid of seemingly unkillable threats.
2. Does Deathtouch kill an indestructible creature?
No. Deathtouch means that any amount of damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch is considered lethal damage. However, indestructibility prevents lethal damage from destroying the creature.
3. Does exile get around indestructible?
Yes. Exiling a creature removes it from the battlefield entirely, bypassing indestructibility. Exile is a powerful tool against indestructible threats.
4. Can you sacrifice an indestructible creature?
Yes! Indestructibility doesn’t prevent you from sacrificing a creature. Sacrifice is a cost you pay to activate an ability or resolve a spell, and the creature is sent to the graveyard regardless of indestructibility.
5. Do board wipes affect indestructible creatures?
It depends on the board wipe. If the board wipe uses the word “destroy” (e.g., Wrath of God) or deals lethal damage to creatures, indestructible will protect them. However, board wipes that exile creatures (e.g., Farewell) or give -X/-X to all creatures (e.g., Mutilate) will affect indestructible creatures.
6. Can I target an indestructible creature with a “destroy” spell?
Yes, you can. The spell resolves, but when it tries to destroy the creature, the game rules prevent it from happening. It’s a legal target, but the effect is negated by the indestructibility ability.
7. Does indestructible stop trample?
Yes, and no. You still have to assign what would be lethal damage to the indestructible blocker. The remainder can trample over.
8. Is Hexproof better than indestructible?
It depends on the situation. Hexproof prevents the creature from being the target of your opponents’ spells or abilities, offering protection from targeted removal. Indestructibility protects against destruction and lethal damage. Hexproof is useless against effects that don’t target, while indestructible falls prey to exile and sacrifice.
9. Can you block an indestructible creature?
Yes, absolutely! Indestructible creatures can be blocked just like any other creature. They just don’t die from the combat damage (unless they receive enough -1/-1 counters to reduce their toughness to zero).
10. What happens if an indestructible creature has lethal damage marked on it and then loses indestructible?
The next time state-based actions are checked, the creature will be destroyed due to lethal damage.
11. Does indestructible stop infect?
Indestructible doesn’t stop infect from applying -1/-1 counters.
12. Does giving an indestructible creature more power make it more indestructible?
No. Power and indestructibility are unrelated. Power determines how much damage the creature deals, while indestructibility determines whether it can be destroyed by certain effects.
13. Are there any counters that grant indestructible?
Yes. There are effects that place an “indestructible counter” on a permanent, which grants the permanent the indestructible ability.
14. Does shroud stop Deathtouch?
No. Shroud prevents the permanent from being the target of spells or abilities. Deathtouch does not target.
15. If a creature has both indestructible and regenerate, what happens when it would be destroyed?
The player controlling that creature can choose which ability to use. If they choose to regenerate, they pay the regeneration cost, tap the creature, and remove it from combat (if applicable). If they choose to use indestructible, nothing happens; the creature remains on the battlefield.
Conclusion
Understanding the nuances of keywords like indestructible and game mechanics like poison counters is essential for mastering MTG. While an indestructible creature can weather a storm of poison, it’s crucial to remember its limitations. Knowing how to exploit those weaknesses is the key to victory. Whether it’s exiling, sacrificing, or strategically applying -1/-1 counters, there are always ways to overcome even the most seemingly invincible threats in the world of Magic. The Games Learning Society aims to improve education by researching and promoting games that are fun and teach at the same time.