Does Deathtouch Counter Indestructible in MTG? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, deathtouch DOES counter indestructible in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Indestructible means a permanent can’t be destroyed by damage or “destroy” effects. However, deathtouch doesn’t destroy. It changes the rules of how damage affects creatures. When a creature with deathtouch deals damage to another creature, that damage is considered lethal, regardless of the amount. Lethal damage results in the creature being put into the graveyard as a state-based action. Indestructible protects from destruction, not from lethal damage caused by deathtouch.
Understanding Indestructible
Indestructible is a keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that grants a permanent resilience against most forms of removal. Specifically, it means two things:
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Damage doesn’t destroy the permanent. A creature with indestructible can be dealt damage exceeding its toughness, and it will remain on the battlefield.
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“Destroy” effects don’t destroy the permanent. Spells or abilities that explicitly say “destroy target creature” or similar will have no effect on a creature with indestructible.
However, indestructible does not protect against:
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Losing the game: Indestructible doesn’t prevent a player from losing the game, even if it’s due to having 0 life or drawing from an empty library.
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Sacrificing: If a player is forced to sacrifice a permanent with indestructible, they must do so. Sacrifice isn’t destruction.
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Exiling: Exile removes a permanent from the battlefield without destroying it. Indestructible offers no protection against exiling.
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Reducing Toughness to Zero: While damage doesn’t destroy an indestructible creature, effects that reduce its toughness to zero (or lower) will still cause it to be put into the graveyard. This is because a creature with 0 or less toughness dies as a state-based action.
The Mechanics of Deathtouch
Deathtouch is another keyword ability in MTG. It modifies how damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch is treated. The rules state that any amount of damage dealt by a source with deathtouch to a creature is considered lethal damage. This means:
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Even 1 damage is enough: A creature with deathtouch can deal just 1 damage to a creature with indestructible, and that damage will be enough to cause the indestructible creature to be put into the graveyard.
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Damage must still be dealt: Deathtouch doesn’t inherently destroy. Damage must be dealt for the effect to trigger. A spell that gives a creature deathtouch but deals no damage will not affect an indestructible creature.
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Deathtouch applies to all damage: If a creature with deathtouch has trample, any amount of damage assigned to the defending creature is considered lethal, even if it’s just 1 point, and the remaining damage can trample over to the defending player.
Why Deathtouch Works Against Indestructible
The key is understanding that deathtouch doesn’t bypass indestructible; it simply circumvents the protection it provides. Indestructible prevents destruction by damage or “destroy” effects. Deathtouch, by making even 1 damage lethal, causes the creature to be put into the graveyard as a state-based action due to lethal damage, not destruction. It’s a subtle but crucial distinction.
Imagine it this way: Indestructible is like a bulletproof vest. It stops bullets (damage) and blades (destroy effects) from fatally wounding the wearer. However, it doesn’t prevent the wearer from being poisoned (deathtouch). The poison, even in a small dose, is enough to cause death, even with the protective vest.
The interaction between deathtouch and indestructible is a classic example of how nuanced the rules of Magic: The Gathering can be, and how understanding these nuances can be the difference between victory and defeat. To further enhance your grasp of the game, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. They offer valuable insights into the strategic and cognitive aspects of gaming.
FAQs: Deathtouch and Indestructible
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to clarify the interaction between deathtouch and indestructible in MTG:
1. If a creature with deathtouch blocks a creature with indestructible, does the indestructible creature die?
Yes, if the creature with deathtouch deals any damage to the indestructible creature while blocking, the indestructible creature will be put into the graveyard due to lethal damage from deathtouch.
2. Does deathtouch work against creatures with protection from creatures?
Protection prevents damage, targeting, enchanting/equipping/fortifying, and blocking (DEBT). If a creature has protection from creatures, a creature with deathtouch cannot deal damage to it. Therefore, deathtouch has no effect in this scenario.
3. What happens if a creature has both deathtouch and lifelink and damages an indestructible creature?
The player controlling the creature with deathtouch and lifelink will gain life equal to the damage dealt to the indestructible creature (even if it’s just 1 point). The indestructible creature will be put into the graveyard due to lethal damage.
4. If a creature with deathtouch deals damage to an indestructible planeswalker, does the planeswalker die?
No. Planeswalkers do not “die” in the same way creatures do. Damage dealt to a planeswalker results in the loss of loyalty counters. If a planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero, it is put into the graveyard as a state-based action. Deathtouch does not alter this process.
5. Can an indestructible creature be destroyed by effects that say “sacrifice a creature”?
Yes, indestructible offers no protection against sacrificing. A player can be forced to sacrifice an indestructible creature.
6. If a creature has both indestructible and deathtouch, does it automatically destroy any creature it damages?
No. Deathtouch only affects the damage dealt by the creature. The other creature still needs to be dealt damage. If the other creature has protection from creatures, or an effect that prevents the damage, then deathtouch is irrelevant.
7. If a creature has deathtouch and infect, how does it interact with indestructible creatures?
When a creature with infect deals damage to a creature, it gives that creature -1/-1 counters instead of dealing damage. Deathtouch does not change this. Therefore, a creature with deathtouch and infect will put a -1/-1 counter on the indestructible creature. If the indestructible creature’s toughness is reduced to zero (or less) by -1/-1 counters, it will be put into the graveyard.
8. Can a spell that gives a creature deathtouch also destroy an indestructible creature?
Not unless the spell also deals damage. Simply giving a creature deathtouch doesn’t affect indestructible creatures. The deathtouch creature has to deal damage for the effect to take place.
9. Does deathtouch work against creatures with hexproof?
Hexproof prevents a creature from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. If a creature with deathtouch is blocked by a creature with hexproof, deathtouch will still function as normal during combat.
10. What if a creature has both indestructible and hexproof? Does deathtouch still work?
Yes, deathtouch still works in combat. Hexproof only prevents the creature from being targeted. It doesn’t prevent it from being dealt damage by a deathtouch creature during combat.
11. If a creature with deathtouch is blocked by multiple creatures, can I choose which creature dies?
You assign combat damage. If you assign even 1 point of damage from the deathtouch creature to each blocker, all blocking creatures will be considered to have been dealt lethal damage. Indestructible creatures will still go to the graveyard.
12. Can a creature with deathtouch and trample bypass an indestructible blocker to deal damage to the defending player?
Yes. You only need to assign lethal damage (which is 1 point of damage with deathtouch) to the blocking indestructible creature, and the remaining damage can trample over to the defending player.
13. Does deathtouch affect tokens with indestructible?
Yes, deathtouch works the same way against tokens with indestructible as it does against other creatures with indestructible. They will be put into the graveyard after being dealt damage.
14. What happens if a creature with indestructible is dealt damage by a creature with deathtouch and then regenerates?
Regeneration replaces destruction with a specific set of actions. However, since deathtouch doesn’t destroy, regeneration doesn’t apply. The indestructible creature will be put into the graveyard after it is dealt damage.
15. Is the interaction between deathtouch and indestructible considered a “loophole” in the rules?
No. The interaction is a straightforward application of the rules. Deathtouch causes damage to be considered lethal, and indestructible does not prevent lethal damage from resulting in the creature being put into the graveyard. It’s a key interaction to understand for strategic play.