Does Earthquake Hit Planeswalkers? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering Interactions
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Yes, Earthquake can indeed hit planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering, but with a crucial caveat. Understanding how it happens requires delving into the game’s rules regarding redirection and damage prevention. In essence, Earthquake, a classic red sorcery, deals direct damage to each player and each creature without flying. Planeswalkers, on the other hand, are normally protected from this direct damage. However, a player can choose to redirect noncombat damage dealt to them to a planeswalker they control. This single rule interaction opens the door for Earthquake (and similar direct damage spells) to take down opposing planeswalkers. Let’s explore this further!
Understanding the Basics: Earthquake and Planeswalkers
Earthquake, often shortened to “Quake” among players, is a card that embodies red’s destructive nature. It deals X damage to each player and each creature without flying, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast the spell. Now, let’s consider planeswalkers. They are powerful permanents representing powerful beings from across the multiverse. They enter the battlefield with a certain number of loyalty counters, which can be added to or removed from through activated abilities. Crucially, planeswalkers are not players or creatures.
The Key Interaction: Damage Redirection
The critical rule that allows Earthquake to hit planeswalkers is the damage redirection rule. This rule states that whenever a noncombat source would deal damage to a player, that player can choose to redirect that damage to a planeswalker they control. This redirection is optional, and the player must declare their intent to redirect the damage before the damage is actually dealt. There are significant tactical implications here.
For example, imagine you control a Gideon Jura with 3 loyalty counters, and your opponent casts Earthquake for 3. You can choose to redirect all 3 damage from Earthquake to Gideon, destroying him. Alternatively, you could choose not to redirect the damage, taking the 3 damage yourself and keeping Gideon on the battlefield. The decision depends on the board state, your life total, and the value of keeping Gideon around.
Damage Prevention and Protection
It’s also vital to consider damage prevention effects and protection from red or damage. If a permanent is protected from red, or a player has protection from red, Earthquake will not affect them. If damage prevention effects are in play, they can reduce or prevent the damage dealt by Earthquake before it reaches either players or planeswalkers. Furthermore, remember the anti-flying clause in Earthquake’s text prevents damage to creatures with flying.
The Strategic Implications of Earthquake and Planeswalkers
The interaction between Earthquake and planeswalkers adds a layer of complexity to game play. It forces players to consider the trade-offs between protecting themselves and protecting their planeswalkers. Often, sacrificing a planeswalker is a necessary evil to stay alive or to avoid other, more devastating consequences. Knowing when to take the damage to the face and when to redirect it to a planeswalker is a hallmark of skillful Magic play.
Moreover, certain planeswalkers are specifically vulnerable to this kind of strategy. Low-loyalty planeswalkers are often easily dispatched by an Earthquake that could otherwise be absorbed with little impact on the player’s life total. This vulnerability makes them a riskier pick against red decks that commonly feature direct damage spells. Understanding this is a critical aspect of effective deck building and sideboarding.
FAQs: Earthquake and Planeswalkers
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the interaction between Earthquake and planeswalkers:
1. Can I redirect damage from other direct damage spells besides Earthquake to my planeswalker?
Yes. The redirection rule applies to any noncombat damage dealt to a player, not just damage from Earthquake. For example, you can redirect damage from Lightning Bolt, Fireball, or even triggered abilities like that of a Shivan Dragon to a planeswalker you control.
2. If I have multiple planeswalkers, can I split the damage from Earthquake between them?
No. You can only choose one planeswalker to redirect the entire amount of damage to. You cannot split the damage between multiple planeswalkers.
3. If my planeswalker has hexproof, can my opponent still redirect Earthquake damage to it?
Yes. Hexproof only prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent. Redirection is not considered targeting. The player, you, are choosing to redirect the damage.
4. If I have a creature with the ability to prevent damage to me, does that also prevent damage to my planeswalkers if I redirect the damage?
No. Damage prevention effects that apply to you as a player only prevent damage to you. If you redirect the damage to a planeswalker, the prevention effect does not apply to the planeswalker.
5. What happens if my planeswalker dies from the redirected Earthquake damage?
If the planeswalker’s loyalty reaches zero or less as a result of the Earthquake damage, it is put into the graveyard as a state-based action. State-based actions are checked after the Earthquake spell finishes resolving.
6. Can I redirect damage to a planeswalker an opponent controls?
No. You can only redirect damage to a planeswalker you control.
7. What happens if I redirect the damage to a planeswalker that already has 0 loyalty counters?
The planeswalker will still take the damage. State-based actions are not checked until after the spell finishes resolving. The planeswalker will then be put into the graveyard.
8. Does damage from Earthquake trigger abilities that trigger when a planeswalker takes damage?
Yes. If a planeswalker takes damage from Earthquake (because of redirection), abilities that trigger upon damage will trigger as normal.
9. If I have protection from red, does that prevent Earthquake from damaging my planeswalkers?
No. Protection from red protects you from damage, targeting, and enchantment (Damage, Enchant, Block, Target). It does not protect your planeswalkers. You can still choose to redirect the damage from Earthquake to your planeswalkers.
10. Can I choose to only redirect some of the damage from Earthquake to my planeswalker?
No. You must redirect all of the damage or none of it. You cannot choose to redirect a portion of the damage.
11. What happens if I cast Earthquake for 0?
Earthquake will still resolve, but it will deal 0 damage to each player and each creature without flying. Therefore, there is no damage to redirect.
12. If I have a Gideon planeswalker that has become a creature, does Earthquake damage it?
Yes. If a Gideon planeswalker has become a creature, Earthquake will damage it. Remember, however, that Earthquake does not damage creatures with flying.
13. If a creature is dealt damage by Earthquake and then dies as a result, will that trigger a planeswalker ability that triggers when a creature dies?
No. Earthquake deals damage to the creature and the player at the same time. If the player redirects damage to a planeswalker, all of these things happen simultanously. But nothing triggers a planeswalker ability that triggers when a creature dies.
14. Can I use a card like Deflecting Palm to redirect the Earthquake damage back at my opponent and their planeswalker?
Yes, Deflecting Palm would redirect damage to the player. Then, the player can choose whether or not to redirect the damage to their planeswalker.
15. Are there educational resources related to games and learning, like Magic: The Gathering?
Absolutely! The Games Learning Society is a fantastic resource for educators, researchers, and anyone interested in the intersection of games and education. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to explore their research, resources, and community.
Conclusion: Mastering the Earthquake-Planeswalker Interaction
Understanding how Earthquake interacts with planeswalkers is a key aspect of mastering Magic: The Gathering. It requires a deep understanding of the game’s rules, as well as strategic thinking about when to protect yourself and when to sacrifice your planeswalkers. Keep these interactions in mind the next time you’re building a red deck or facing off against one, and you’ll be well on your way to victory!