Does Hexproof Stop Tapping? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer is no, Hexproof does not stop tapping. Hexproof only prevents a permanent or player from being the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. Tapping a creature doesn’t require targeting it, so Hexproof offers no protection.
Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of Hexproof and explore why tapping is unaffected, accompanied by a series of frequently asked questions to solidify your understanding.
Understanding Hexproof: The Basics
Hexproof is a keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that provides a potent form of protection. Simply put, a permanent with Hexproof can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control. This means your opponent can’t use spells like “Lightning Bolt” or abilities that specifically target your creature with Hexproof.
However, this protection is limited to actions that explicitly involve targeting. Understanding what constitutes “targeting” is crucial to understanding the scope of Hexproof’s protection.
Why Tapping Bypasses Hexproof
Tapping, in most cases, is a cost or an effect of an ability that does not target. Consider a common scenario: you control a creature with Hexproof, and your opponent controls a creature with the ability “Tap: Add one mana of any color.” Activating this ability doesn’t target your Hexproof creature; it simply taps the opponent’s own creature to generate mana. Your creature remains unaffected.
Similarly, many tap abilities, such as those found on creatures with the Defender keyword, can attack “since they don’t target.
The crucial distinction is that the act of tapping itself isn’t a targeted action. Hexproof only protects against spells and abilities that specifically use the word “target” in their text or otherwise require a choice of a specific target.
The “Target” Rule: A Deeper Dive
To clarify further, let’s examine the instances where targeting comes into play in Magic: The Gathering:
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Spells or abilities with the word “target” in their text: If a card says “Target creature…” or “Target player…”, Hexproof will protect the target if it is a permanent you control.
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Aura spells: When you cast an Aura spell, you must choose a permanent to enchant as the target of the spell. Hexproof will prevent an opponent from casting an Aura spell that targets your Hexproof permanent.
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Some Equipment spells: Similar to Auras, some Equipment spells might target a creature upon being cast.
If none of these conditions are met, Hexproof offers no protection.
Limitations of Hexproof: What It Doesn’t Stop
It’s equally important to understand what Hexproof doesn’t protect against:
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Board Wipes: Spells that affect all creatures on the battlefield (like “Wrath of God”) are unaffected by Hexproof. These spells don’t target individual creatures, so Hexproof offers no protection.
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Sacrifice Effects: Abilities that force a player to sacrifice a creature (such as those from cards like “Liliana of the Veil”) bypass Hexproof since they target the player, not the creature.
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Non-Targeted Removal: Spells or abilities that destroy or exile creatures without targeting (e.g., “Supreme Verdict”) ignore Hexproof.
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Deathtouch Damage: Deathtouch does not target, so hexproof does not prevent it.
FAQs: All About Hexproof
Here are some frequently asked questions to further enhance your understanding of Hexproof:
1. Does Hexproof protect against all removal spells?
No. Hexproof only protects against removal spells that target the permanent with Hexproof. Board wipes and sacrifice effects bypass Hexproof.
2. Can my opponent attach an Aura to my Hexproof creature?
Not if they control it. They cannot target your creature with a new Aura spell. However, if an Aura is already attached to a creature and it gains Hexproof, the Aura remains attached.
3. Does Hexproof protect against damage from creatures without Deathtouch?
Yes and no. If the damage is assigned without targeting, then the attacking creature with hexproof cannot be hit.
4. Can I counter a spell targeting my opponent’s Hexproof creature?
Yes. Hexproof only prevents your opponents from targeting the creature. You can still target it with your own spells and abilities.
5. Does Hexproof prevent my opponent from blocking my Hexproof creature?
No. Blocking doesn’t involve targeting. Your opponent can freely block a creature with Hexproof.
6. If a creature gains Hexproof after being targeted by a spell, what happens?
The spell will fizzle upon resolution because its target is now illegal. The spell remains on the stack and then goes to the graveyard upon resolution, but it has no effect.
7. Does Hexproof protect against effects that modify the battlefield without targeting, like “Static Orb”?
No. “Static Orb” affects all players and does not target any specific permanent, so Hexproof provides no protection.
8. Can I enchant my opponent’s creature with Hexproof?
No. You cannot target your opponents creatures that have hexproof.
9. Does Hexproof stop an opponent from copying my creature?
No. Copying a creature doesn’t involve targeting the original creature.
10. Does Hexproof stop a creature from being exiled?
Only if the exile effect targets the Hexproof creature. Non-targeted exile effects, such as “Farewell,” will still work.
11. Does Hexproof negate enchantments?
No. Enchantments already on the creature are not negated by Hexproof.
12. Does Hexproof prevent a creature from being returned to its owner’s hand?
Only if the effect used to return the creature requires targeting.
13. If I control multiple creatures, can my opponent force me to sacrifice a Hexproof creature with a spell like “Diabolic Edict”?
Yes. “Diabolic Edict” targets you, the player, not the creature. You can be forced to sacrifice the Hexproof creature.
14. Can a creature with Hexproof still be countered when it is cast as a spell?
Yes. The creature only gains Hexproof once it is on the battlefield. While it is a spell on the stack, it can be targeted by counterspells.
15. Does proliferate get around Hexproof?
Yes, proliferate does not target. Thematically, the proliferate mechanic is tied in with the Phyrexia faction in Scars of Mirrodin and its related Infect mechanic.
Conclusion
Hexproof is a powerful defensive ability in Magic: The Gathering, but it’s not a universal shield. It specifically prevents targeting by your opponents’ spells and abilities. Understanding the nuances of targeting and the limitations of Hexproof is key to using it effectively and playing around it successfully. Remember, while Hexproof offers significant protection, it’s crucial to build your strategy with its constraints in mind, especially when facing strategies that bypass targeting altogether. Learning more about gaming and its educational applications can be found at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.