Does Exile Get Rid of Indestructible in MTG?
The short and definitive answer is: Yes, exile gets rid of indestructible. In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), indestructible is a powerful keyword ability that prevents a permanent from being destroyed by damage or effects that use the word “destroy.” However, it doesn’t make a card invincible. Exile is a zone in MTG, completely separate from the battlefield, the graveyard, and your hand/library. Sending a permanent to exile circumvents indestructible completely. This makes exile an effective strategy when dealing with troublesome creatures, enchantments, or other permanents that boast this resilient keyword. Let’s delve deeper into why exile is such a potent counter to indestructible, and explore related concepts.
Understanding Indestructible
What Indestructible Does (and Doesn’t) Do
To grasp why exile works, it’s crucial to understand the limitations of indestructible. A permanent with indestructible cannot be destroyed by:
- Lethal Damage: Combat damage or spell damage that exceeds a creature’s toughness will not destroy it.
- Destroy Effects: Spells and abilities that use the word “destroy” will not send the indestructible permanent to the graveyard.
However, indestructible does not protect against:
- Being Exiled: Effects that send a permanent to the exile zone will bypass indestructible.
- Sacrificing: If an effect forces a player to sacrifice a permanent, it will go to the graveyard regardless of indestructible.
- Toughness Reduction to Zero: If a creature’s toughness is reduced to zero (or less), it will go to the graveyard, even if it has indestructible.
- Being Bounced: Effects that return a permanent to its owner’s hand will also work on indestructible permanents.
- Being Put into a Library: If an effect puts a permanent in its owner’s library, this will circumvent indestructible.
Why Exile Works
Exile works because it’s neither a destroy effect, nor does it involve damage. It is a complete removal of a permanent from the battlefield to a completely different zone. Therefore, the indestructibility clause is rendered meaningless in these situations. Think of exile as a kind of ‘time-out’ for a card. It simply ceases to exist on the battlefield, bypassing any protection it might have against being destroyed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Indestructible Creatures Still Die?
Yes. While they cannot be destroyed by damage or ‘destroy’ effects, they can go to the graveyard by having their toughness reduced to zero, by being sacrificed, or by the Legend Rule (if you control two copies of the same legendary permanent). They can also be removed from the battlefield by being exiled or bounced back to their owners hand.
2. Does “Path to Exile” Get Rid of Indestructible Creatures?
Absolutely. Path to Exile is a classic example of a card that can bypass indestructible by exiling a creature. The card doesn’t destroy, it simply removes the permanent entirely from play.
3. Can a Board Wipe Get Rid of Indestructible Creatures?
It depends on the effect. A board wipe that destroys creatures won’t affect indestructible permanents. However, if the board wipe exiles creatures or reduces their toughness to 0 or less (-X/-X), it will get rid of indestructible creatures.
4. Can Indestructible Be Blocked?
Yes, absolutely. Indestructible creatures can be blocked just fine. The difference is they ignore lethal damage, therefore they do not die in combat.
5. Does Deathtouch Overcome Indestructible?
No, deathtouch does not overcome indestructible. Deathtouch causes a creature to deal “lethal damage”, which indestructible prevents from destroying the permanent.
6. Can Indestructible Survive Deathtouch?
Yes. Since indestructible means a card cannot be destroyed, it nullifies the effects of deathtouch in terms of destruction.
7. Does Indestructible Make a Creature Immune to Sacrifice?
No. Indestructible does not stop a player from being forced to sacrifice a permanent. Sacrifice does not destroy, but instead puts the sacrificed permanent directly into the graveyard regardless of indestructible.
8. Does Exile Count as Dying?
No. A creature or planeswalker doesn’t die if it’s sent to another zone, like exile. Dying specifically refers to when a permanent is put into the graveyard from the battlefield.
9. Does Protection Prevent Exile?
Generally, protection does not prevent exile. The rule of protection is based on the categories of Damage, Enchanting/Equipping, Blocking and Targeting. Exile effects do not fall under any of those rules.
10. Does Hexproof Stop Exile?
It depends on the exile effect. If the spell or ability targets a creature with hexproof, it cannot be exiled. However, if the effect exiles all creatures or each creature on the battlefield, hexproof does not prevent the exile, as it does not target individual creatures.
11. How Can I Destroy Indestructible and Hexproof Creatures?
The key is to bypass ‘destroy’ effects and targeting. Effects that force sacrifice or give -1/-1 counters to all creatures, such as Devour Flesh, Mutilate, or Black Sun’s Zenith are good options. You also have non-targeted exile effects as well as toughness-reducing effects.
12. Does Indestructible Prevent 0 Toughness?
No. Indestructible does not prevent a permanent from being sent to the graveyard if its toughness is reduced to 0 or less.
13. Can You Enchant a Creature with Indestructible?
Yes, you can enchant a creature to give it indestructible. For example, an enchantment that gives +1/+1 and indestructible to green creatures does not have any conflicts with the rules.
14. Does Indestructible Stop Trample?
Indestructible doesn’t stop trample damage. Lethal damage is assigned to a creature first, and any additional damage “tramples” over to the player behind it. Indestructible does prevent the creature from being destroyed, but trample still functions as normal.
15. Does Deathtouch Work on Planeswalkers?
Deathtouch works only when applied to creatures. It does not cause a Planeswalker to be dealt lethal damage. Certain other effects, however, such as that on Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence, can allow a source with deathtouch to harm a planeswalker.
Conclusion
While indestructible offers considerable protection in MTG, it’s not a foolproof shield. Exile provides a clean and effective way to deal with even the most resilient permanents on the battlefield. By understanding the limitations of indestructible and the mechanisms of exile, you’ll be better equipped to handle any threat your opponents throw at you, building a diverse and effective strategy for your next match.