Does Hexproof Work Against Abilities?

Hexproof is an evergreen keyword ability that prevents a permanent or player from being the target of spells or abilities played by opponents, meaning it effectively protects against any abilities that would target the creature or player. This protection extends to all types of targeting effects, including those from instants, sorceries, auras, enchantments, and planeswalker abilities, ensuring that a player or permanent with hexproof cannot be directly targeted by an opponent’s ability.

Understanding Hexproof

What is Hexproof?

Hexproof is a keyword ability that grants a permanent or player protection from being targeted by spells or abilities controlled by opponents. This means that any spell or ability that would require a player to choose a target cannot target a permanent or player that has hexproof, unless the controller of the hexproof permanent or player is the one casting the spell or using the ability.

Related FAQs

1. Does Hexproof protect against Planeswalker abilities? Yes, hexproof protects against planeswalker abilities because these abilities are considered abilities and thus fall under the protection granted by hexproof.
2. What can counter Hexproof? Anything that affects all creatures or uses effects that do not require targeting, such as board wipes or sacrifice effects, can counter or work around hexproof.
3. Does Hexproof protect against sorcery? Hexproof protects against sorceries that target, such as targeted removal spells, but does not protect against sorceries that do not target, like board wipes.
4. Does Hexproof stop Deathtouch? No, hexproof does not stop deathtouch because deathtouch is a static ability that does not target.
5. Does protection from sorcery stop board wipes? No, protection from sorcery does not stop board wipes if those board wipes are instants or do not target.
6. What does Hexproof not protect against? Hexproof does not protect against effects that do not target, such as board wipes, sacrifice effects, or spells and abilities that interact with cards in the graveyard or library.
7. Do board wipes affect Hexproof creatures? Yes, board wipes can affect creatures with hexproof if the board wipe does not target specific creatures.
8. Is Hexproof immune to Counterspell? No, hexproof on a creature does not make the creature spell that created it immune to Counterspell.
9. Does Hexproof stop destroy all? No, hexproof does not stop effects that say “destroy all” because these effects do not target specific creatures.
10. Does Hexproof stop sacrifice? Hexproof stops sacrifice effects that target the creature, but not those that target the player.
11. Does Hexproof stop aura? No, hexproof prevents a creature from being targeted by auras that require targeting, but existing auras on the creature remain.
12. What’s the difference between hexproof and shroud? Shroud prevents the object from being targeted by any player’s spells or abilities, while hexproof only prevents targeting by opponents.
13. Does protection from color stop board wipes? No, protection from a color does not stop board wipes because board wipes typically do not target based on creature color.
14. Does Hexproof stop Wrath of God? No, hexproof does not stop Wrath of God or similar effects because they do not target specific creatures.
15. Is Blasphemous Act a board wipe? Yes, Blasphemous Act is considered a board wipe because it can destroy all creatures, though its effectiveness can depend on the number of creatures on the battlefield.

Conclusion

Hexproof is a powerful ability that protects permanents or players from being targeted by opponents’ spells and abilities, but it is not a universal protection. Understanding what hexproof protects against and what it does not is crucial for strategic gameplay, especially when dealing with board wipes, sacrifice effects, deathtouch, and other non-targeting effects. By leveraging hexproof effectively and knowing its limitations, players can enhance their defensive capabilities and improve their overall game strategy.