Does “Destroy All” Get Around Hexproof? The Definitive MTG Guide
Yes, absolutely! A spell or ability that says “destroy all creatures” completely bypasses Hexproof. This is because “destroy all” effects do not target individual creatures. Hexproof only protects a permanent from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. If there’s no targeting involved, Hexproof is essentially useless.
This is a crucial distinction to understand in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Many players misinterpret Hexproof as a blanket protection against everything, but it’s much more nuanced than that. Let’s dive deeper into the intricacies of Hexproof and how it interacts with various effects.
Understanding Hexproof and Targeting
The key to understanding this interaction is the concept of targeting. In MTG, a spell or ability targets if it explicitly uses the word “target” in its text. For example, “Destroy target creature” clearly targets a creature. Additionally, Aura spells target the permanent they are being attached to.
Hexproof grants a permanent (typically a creature, but it can also apply to players or other permanent types) protection from being chosen as the target of spells or abilities controlled by your opponents. This means an opponent can’t cast a targeted removal spell like “Murder” on your Hexproof creature.
However, effects that affect multiple permanents without specifically choosing them, such as “destroy all creatures,” aren’t targeting anything. These effects affect all eligible permanents simultaneously, regardless of whether they have Hexproof or not.
Board Wipes and Sacrifice Effects
“Destroy all” effects are often called board wipes because they clear the battlefield of multiple creatures simultaneously. These are powerful tools in MTG because they can reset the game state and deal with problematic creatures, even those with Hexproof.
Another way to get around Hexproof is through sacrifice effects. Cards that force your opponent to sacrifice creatures do not target the creatures themselves. Instead, they target the player, compelling them to choose which of their creatures to sacrifice. Since the creature isn’t being targeted directly, Hexproof offers no protection.
Examples of Hexproof Workarounds
Here are a few common examples of cards that can bypass Hexproof:
- Wrath of God: “Destroy all creatures. They can’t be regenerated.”
- Damnation: “Destroy all creatures. They can’t be regenerated.”
- Supreme Verdict: “Destroy all creatures. This spell can’t be countered.”
- Black Sun’s Zenith: “Put X -1/-1 counters on each creature.” (While this doesn’t “destroy” in the traditional sense, reducing a creature’s toughness to zero still results in its death.)
- Diabolic Edict: “Target player sacrifices a creature.”
FAQs: Hexproof and How to Deal With It
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you better understand Hexproof and how to play around it:
1. Does Hexproof stop all spells?
No. Hexproof only prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent with spells or abilities. It doesn’t stop non-targeting effects, board wipes, or sacrifice effects.
2. Does Hexproof protect against board wipes?
No. Board wipes like “Wrath of God” affect all creatures simultaneously without targeting them, thus bypassing Hexproof.
3. Does Hexproof prevent sacrifice effects?
No. Sacrifice effects target the player, not the creature being sacrificed. The player is forced to choose a creature to sacrifice, making Hexproof irrelevant.
4. Does Hexproof stop damage?
Not directly. Hexproof prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent with damage-dealing spells or abilities. However, it doesn’t prevent damage from combat or from non-targeting sources like “Earthquake.”
5. Does Hexproof protect against Planeswalker abilities?
Planeswalker abilities follow the same targeting rules as other abilities. If an opponent’s Planeswalker ability targets a permanent you control with Hexproof, the ability will be unable to target that permanent. If the ability does not target, Hexproof offers no protection.
6. How can you get rid of a creature with both Hexproof and Indestructible?
This is a tough situation! One solution is to use an effect that reduces the creature’s toughness to zero, such as “Black Sun’s Zenith,” or to force your opponent to sacrifice the creature. Another option is to exile it, using effects like “Swords to Plowshares.” Cards that remove all abilities, such as “Kenrith’s Transformation”, can also effectively neutralize the threat.
7. Is Hexproof better than Indestructible?
It depends on the situation. Hexproof protects against targeted removal, while Indestructible protects against damage and “destroy” effects. Indestructible is vulnerable to exile and sacrifice, while Hexproof is vulnerable to board wipes. The “better” ability depends on the threats you expect to face.
8. Does Deathtouch go through Hexproof?
Deathtouch itself doesn’t target. It’s an ability that causes damage from the creature with deathtouch to be lethal. Therefore, Hexproof doesn’t prevent a creature with deathtouch from dealing lethal damage to a creature with Hexproof in combat.
9. Does shroud work the same as Hexproof?
Shroud and Hexproof are similar but have a critical difference. Hexproof only prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent, while Shroud prevents anyone from targeting it, including yourself. This means you can’t cast beneficial spells on your own creature with Shroud, which can sometimes be a disadvantage.
10. Does Hexproof protect against -1/-1 counters?
Hexproof itself doesn’t directly prevent the placement of -1/-1 counters. If a spell or ability places -1/-1 counters on all creatures without targeting, Hexproof will not protect against it. However, if a spell or ability targets a creature with Hexproof and tries to place -1/-1 counters on that specific creature, the Hexproof will prevent the targeting.
11. Does Hexproof stop ETB (Enter the Battlefield) triggers?
Not directly. ETB triggers happen when a creature enters the battlefield. If the ETB trigger targets a creature with Hexproof that you control, you can give your creature Hexproof in response to the trigger going on the stack. Since your creature gains Hexproof before the trigger resolves, the trigger will be countered due to the target being illegal.
12. Does Hexproof negate board wipes that give -X/-X to all creatures?
No, it does not. While -X/-X effects can destroy creatures, they are not targeting when applied as board wipes. These effects affect all creatures simultaneously without targeting them, thus bypassing Hexproof.
13. Can you target a player who has Hexproof?
No, you cannot. Just like with creatures, Hexproof on a player prevents your opponents from targeting them with spells or abilities.
14. Does Hexproof stop proliferate?
No, Hexproof does not stop proliferate. Proliferate lets you choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of each kind that’s already there. Since proliferate uses the word “choose” and not “target,” it gets around hexproof.
15. Where can I learn more about Magic: The Gathering rules?
The Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules is the ultimate authority on MTG rules. You can also find helpful resources and articles at the Games Learning Society website, which explores the educational aspects of games like Magic: The Gathering (GamesLearningSociety.org).
Conclusion
While Hexproof is a powerful ability that protects against many threats, it’s crucial to remember its limitations. Effects that don’t target, such as board wipes and sacrifice effects, completely bypass Hexproof. Understanding these interactions is essential for effective deck building and gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. By knowing how to play around Hexproof, you can increase your chances of victory against opponents who rely on it too heavily.