Does Hexproof Stop Counter Spells? Understanding the Interaction
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The short and direct answer is: No, hexproof does not stop counter spells. This is a critical distinction in card games, particularly in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), where hexproof and counter spells are common mechanics. Let’s break down why this is the case and delve into the nuances of these interactions.
The Stack and the Spell vs. the Permanent
To understand why hexproof doesn’t protect against counter spells, we need to understand how spells are handled. In MTG, when you cast a spell, it goes on the stack. The stack is a temporary holding area where spells and abilities wait to resolve. Think of it like a queue. A spell only becomes a permanent (such as a creature, enchantment, or artifact) when it resolves.
Hexproof is an ability that applies to permanents. It states that a permanent with hexproof “can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.” Crucially, this protection only applies once the card is a permanent on the battlefield.
A creature spell, when it’s on the stack, is a spell, not a permanent. So, a creature card with hexproof on it still allows you to counter it while it is still a spell on the stack. The hexproof ability isn’t in effect because the card is not yet a permanent. Therefore, a counter spell, which targets spells on the stack, can absolutely target your hexproof creature spell and prevent it from ever resolving and becoming a permanent on the battlefield.
Why This Distinction Matters
The differentiation between a spell on the stack and a permanent on the battlefield is fundamental to MTG. This principle governs the interaction of many card abilities and strategies. Failing to grasp this distinction can lead to misplays and misunderstandings, especially when dealing with hexproof creatures.
The fact that a counterspell can target a creature spell with hexproof is not a flaw of hexproof but is how MTG is intended to operate. It prevents the game from becoming unbalanced by ensuring that all spells can be countered on the stack, even if they will become a very difficult to remove permanent when they resolve. It allows for interaction and strategic gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Hexproof Protect Against All Spells?
No. Hexproof only prevents spells and abilities that target the permanent with hexproof. Spells that do not target, such as board wipes that destroy all creatures, or effects like proliferate, can still affect hexproof permanents. Hexproof does not protect a permanent from non-targetting removal.
2. Can I Counter a Creature with Hexproof After It Enters the Battlefield?
No. Once a creature with hexproof resolves and becomes a permanent on the battlefield, you can no longer target it with counter spells or any other spells or abilities that target. The counter spell must be cast while the creature is on the stack.
3. If I Control the Hexproof Creature, Can I Target It With My Spells?
Yes. Hexproof only prevents targeting by your opponents. You can still target your own hexproof creatures with your spells and abilities. This is a key distinction when building strategies that involve buffing up your hexproof creatures.
4. What is the Difference Between Hexproof and Shroud?
Hexproof prevents targeting by opponents, while shroud prevents targeting by anyone, including you. Shroud offers more comprehensive protection, but also limits your own ability to interact with the shrouded permanent. Shroud is functionally similar to Hexproof but without the ability to target them with your own effects.
5. Does Hexproof Protect Against Combat Damage?
No. Combat damage is not a targeted action. Hexproof does not protect against damage from creatures in combat. Your hexproof creature can still be dealt damage or destroyed via combat.
6. Does Hexproof Stop Sacrifice Effects?
It depends. If the sacrifice effect targets the player, forcing them to sacrifice a creature (e.g., “Target opponent sacrifices a creature”), hexproof will not prevent it. This is because the sacrifice effect targets the player, not the creature. If the effect targets a creature, however, the hexproof ability will prevent the sacrifice.
7. Can Planeswalker Abilities Target a Hexproof Permanent?
No. Planeswalker abilities are still considered abilities. If the ability targets a permanent with hexproof controlled by an opponent, the hexproof prevents that targetting.
8. Does Hexproof Prevent Tapping?
Yes, if the tapping is the result of a spell or ability that targets the hexproof creature. If the creature is not being directly targetted by a card’s ability or spell that taps it, it can be tapped.
9. Does Deathtouch Work Against Hexproof?
Yes. Deathtouch is an ability that does not target, rather, it is a passive effect of damage. Therefore, hexproof does not protect a creature from damage from a creature with deathtouch.
10. Does Indestructible Prevent Deathtouch?
Yes. Indestructible creatures are not destroyed by lethal damage, and the damage that deathtouch inflicts is lethal. Therefore, indestructible creatures are not affected by deathtouch.
11. Does Hexproof Survive Board Wipes?
Yes and no. If it’s a board wipe like “destroy all creatures”, the creature will be destroyed. Hexproof only prevents targeting. So yes, hexproof will not save it from being destroyed, but no, it will not die from the targeted part of a board wipe because it doesn’t get targeted.
12. Is Hexproof Better Than Indestructible?
Both hexproof and indestructible are very powerful mechanics, but each has their weaknesses. Indestructible is vulnerable to exile and effects that require players to sacrifice permanents. Hexproof is vulnerable to non-targeting effects, including board wipes.
13. How Do I Get Rid of a Hexproof Indestructible Creature?
The most effective methods for removing hexproof, indestructible creatures involve forcing an opponent to sacrifice the creature or applying enough negative counters to reduce it to 0 toughness. Also, effects that do not target a permanent and remove it in one way or another (such as effects that exile) will bypass both Hexproof and Indestructible.
14. Does Hexproof Prevent Instants and Sorceries?
Yes, but only if the instants and sorceries target a hexproof permanent. If the spells or abilities do not target it, the hexproof has no effect.
15. Can You Counter Spells with Protection?
If a spell is red with protection from blue can my opponent counter it? Yes. Protection only works when the card is a permanent on the field and not when it’s a spell on the stack.
Conclusion
Understanding how hexproof interacts with counter spells is vital for effective gameplay. While hexproof is a strong defensive ability, it doesn’t stop counter spells because a spell is not a permanent, the protection only works on permanents. By understanding these mechanics, you can make more informed decisions in your card games. Always remember that the stack is a powerful place, and timing is everything.