Does Hexproof Protect Against Board Wipes in Magic: The Gathering?
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The short answer is no. Hexproof does not protect against board wipes in Magic: The Gathering. Hexproof only prevents a permanent or player from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Board wipes, by definition, generally do not target. They affect all creatures (or a specific subset of creatures) on the battlefield without singling out individual permanents. Let’s delve into why this is and explore related scenarios.
Understanding Hexproof and Targeting
Hexproof grants a creature or player immunity from being directly targeted by an opponent’s spells or abilities. This means your opponent can’t cast a card like Murder to specifically destroy a creature with hexproof. However, hexproof offers no protection from effects that do not target.
Targeting is a key element in Magic: The Gathering. A spell or ability targets if it uses the word “target” or implies targeting by requiring you to choose a specific creature, player, or other game object. For example, “Destroy target creature” is a targeting effect.
Why Board Wipes Bypass Hexproof
Board wipes, such as Wrath of God, Damnation, or Shatter the Sky, typically affect all creatures on the battlefield (or those meeting certain criteria) without targeting any specific creature. These spells simply instruct the game to destroy all creatures (or those that meet the required criteria) or to take another action that is not targeting anything.
Since these spells do not target, hexproof is irrelevant. The board wipe’s effect applies to all creatures regardless of whether they have hexproof or not. Essentially, hexproof is a shield against directed attacks, not area-of-effect attacks.
What Else Does Hexproof Not Protect Against?
Beyond board wipes, hexproof also doesn’t protect against:
- Sacrifice effects: An opponent can force you to sacrifice a creature with hexproof, as sacrifice effects don’t target.
- Life loss: Hexproof protects from spells or abilities that target you and cause you to lose life, but it doesn’t prevent life loss from non-targeted sources, like paying life as a cost.
- Effects that exile permanents: Exile effects don’t necessarily target.
- Giving -X/-X until end of turn: Some effects give all creatures -X/-X until end of turn, such as Toxic Deluge. These do not target so hexproof does not protect against it.
- Effects originating from you: Hexproof only protect against opponent’s effects. You can still target your own creatures with hexproof with your spells.
FAQs: Hexproof and Protection
1. Does protection from a color stop board wipes?
No. Protection from a color only prevents damage, enchanting/equipping, blocking, and targeting by sources of that color. Since board wipes rarely do any of those things, protection from a color is usually ineffective against them.
2. Does indestructible protect from board wipes?
It depends on the board wipe. If the board wipe destroys or deals damage to creatures, indestructible will protect them. However, if the board wipe exiles creatures or reduces their toughness to zero, indestructible will not protect them.
3. How do shield counters interact with board wipes?
Shield counters prevent the next time a creature would be destroyed. If the board wipe is a destroy effect, such as Wrath of God, a shield counter will prevent it. However, shield counters do not prevent exile or bounce effects.
4. Does Deathtouch beat indestructible?
No, indestructible creatures are immune to deathtouch. Indestructible prevents destruction, even from lethal damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch.
5. Is Hexproof better than indestructible?
Neither is strictly “better.” They protect against different things. Hexproof protects against targeted removal, while indestructible protects against destruction. Indestructible falls prey to exiling, tucking, etc; Hexproof is hit by ‘destroy all’ and other non-targeting spells. The best choice depends on the expected threats in a game or meta.
6. Can you proliferate a shield counter?
Yes, you can proliferate shield counters. This means you can add more shield counters to a creature that already has one, providing multiple layers of protection against destruction effects.
7. Does The One Ring protect against board wipes?
The One Ring can protect a single creature from a board wipe for a turn by giving it a shield counter. However, this is a temporary solution, and the creature will still be affected by the board wipe in the future if it doesn’t have other forms of protection.
8. Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch?
No, hexproof does not stop deathtouch. Deathtouch doesn’t target, so hexproof is irrelevant.
9. How can you get rid of indestructible creatures?
Indestructible creatures can be removed by:
- Exiling them.
- Reducing their toughness to 0.
- Making your opponent sacrifice them.
- Countering them when they are cast.
- Enchanting them with detrimental auras.
10. What is the best protection spell in white MTG?
Many consider Teferi’s Protection to be one of the best protection spells in white, as it can shield you and your permanents from almost anything for a turn, including board wipes.
11. Does hexproof prevent sacrifice effects?
No, hexproof does not prevent sacrifice effects. Because sacrifice effects do not target.
12. What are some ways to counter board wipes?
- Playing counterspells to prevent the board wipe from resolving.
- Giving your creatures indestructible with spells like Boros Charm or Heroic Intervention.
- Regenerating your creatures.
- Keeping creatures in your hand as a form of card advantage to rebuild after a wipe.
13. Does Ashiok’s Erasure work on Commanders?
Ashiok’s Erasure can only counter an exiled card. If a commander spell goes to the Command Zone instead of being exiled then Ashiok’s Erasure will not work.
14. What is the best one-sided board wipe?
Ruinous Ultimatum is a powerful option as it destroys all permanents your opponents control (creatures, artifacts, enchantments, and lands!) while leaving yours untouched.
15. What are effective strategies against board wipes?
- Aggressive strategies: Overwhelm your opponent with fast creatures before they can cast a board wipe.
- Countermagic: Hold counterspells to negate the board wipe.
- Card advantage: Maintain a hand full of threats so you can rebuild quickly after a wipe.
- Protection spells: Use spells that grant indestructible, hexproof, or other forms of protection to key creatures.
Conclusion
While hexproof is a valuable defensive ability in Magic: The Gathering, it’s crucial to understand its limitations. It’s an excellent defense against targeted removal, but it provides no protection against the indiscriminate destruction of board wipes. A well-rounded strategy involves understanding these distinctions and incorporating other protective measures to safeguard your valuable permanents.
Learning the intricacies of MTG can be more engaging and effective when approached through educational games and interactive learning experiences. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are pioneering new ways to learn through play. Explore their innovative approaches and resources at GamesLearningSociety.org to enhance your understanding of MTG and other complex topics.