Preventing Damage vs. Commander Damage: Untangling the Rules
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The short answer is yes, preventing damage generally does stop commander damage, with one crucial caveat. If an effect specifically states that damage cannot be prevented, then that damage, even if it doesn’t alter your life total due to other prevention effects, still counts toward the 21 commander damage threshold. Let’s delve into why this is, and how it works in the wild world of Magic: The Gathering Commander (EDH).
Understanding Commander Damage
First, let’s recap the fundamentals. In Commander, each player starts with 40 life. Standard damage reduces that life total. However, Commander has an alternate win condition: if a player is dealt 21 or more combat damage by a single commander over the course of the game, that player loses, regardless of their remaining life. This damage is tracked separately for each commander and each player. It’s cumulative; every hit from the same commander adds to the total. Now, on to damage prevention.
Damage Prevention Explained
Magic: The Gathering is filled with ways to prevent damage. Spells like Fog prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. Creatures with Protection can prevent damage from sources of a specific color or type. Even effects like Indestructible can indirectly prevent damage by ensuring the permanent isn’t destroyed by it. These abilities generally work exactly as written. If they prevent the damage, the damage is not dealt, and therefore does not contribute to the commander damage total.
The Exception: Unpreventable Damage
The key exception lies when an effect explicitly states that damage cannot be prevented. These are rarer, but they exist. Examples include certain triggered abilities on creatures or specific card effects. If a commander’s attack triggers such an effect, and that unpreventable damage hits a player, it will count towards the 21 damage threshold, even if other protection or prevention measures are in place that would otherwise negate the damage. The crucial thing to understand is that the commander damage rule cares about damage dealt, not necessarily damage that changes your life total. If the game recognises that damage was dealt by a commander but states it cannot be prevented then commander damage still adds to your total even if no life is lost.
Why This Matters
This distinction is crucial for strategic play. Relying solely on general damage prevention might not be enough. You need to be aware of potential effects that bypass these defenses. Cards that make damage unpreventable can be devastating against opponents who are building their defenses on prevention effects. Conversely, understanding how typical prevention does work against commander damage helps you build robust defenses.
FAQs: Deep Diving into Commander Damage
To further clarify this complex interaction, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions:
1. Does Protection from [Color] Stop Commander Damage?
Yes, Protection from [Color] will prevent combat damage dealt by a commander of that color. For example, Protection from Red will prevent damage from a Red commander. It is important to remember that protection only prevents damage, targeting, enchanting/equipping and blocking with creatures of that color.
2. If I Have Indestructible, Can I Still Take Commander Damage?
Yes, Indestructible prevents permanents from being destroyed, but it doesn’t prevent damage. You will still take commander damage.
3. If an Effect Says “Damage Can’t Be Prevented This Turn,” Does That Apply to Commander Damage?
Absolutely. If an effect states that damage can’t be prevented, any combat damage dealt by a commander will count towards the 21 damage threshold, even if other effects would normally prevent it. Even if you lose no life, commander damage is still applied.
4. What if I Redirect Commander Damage?
Redirecting damage means that damage is dealt to a different target. That player then suffers the damage including any commander damage.
5. Does Commander Damage Count if My Life Total is Already at Zero?
No. A player loses the game as soon as their life total reaches zero or less. Therefore, any commander damage dealt after that point is irrelevant.
6. If I Gain Life, Does It Reduce Commander Damage?
No, gaining life does not reduce the accumulated commander damage. Commander damage is tracked separately from your life total and is cumulative.
7. Can I Use a Commander to Deal Commander Damage to Myself?
Yes. If you somehow gain control of your own commander, it can deal commander damage to you. 21 points will cause you to lose the game. Remember that it needs to be from a single commander, not a cumulative total from various commanders.
8. What Happens if My Opponent’s Commander Becomes a Copy of Mine?
A commander is still considered the original commander even if its name is changed. For example, even if your opponents commander takes the name of your commander, the damage from each is still tracked separately.
9. Does Commander Damage Apply to Tokens?
No, token copies of commanders don’t deal commander damage. Being a commander is a unique property of the chosen card.
10. Who is Responsible for Tracking Commander Damage?
While all players should be aware of the damage dealt, typically the attacking player is responsible for keeping track of the commander damage they deal. Playgroups often have different house rules, but this is the common practice.
11. What is Rule 0 in Commander?
Rule 0 is an unofficial rule that encourages players to discuss and agree upon any modifications to the game before playing, such as allowing banned cards or unique mechanics. Rule 0 encourages fair and fun games that everyone enjoys. For further exploration of game design and community collaboration, consider exploring resources provided by the GamesLearningSociety.org.
12. Does “Protection From Everything” Prevent Commander Damage?
Creatures can still attack you while you have protection from everything, although combat damage that they would deal to you will be prevented.
13. If I Steal a Commander, Does It Still Deal Commander Damage?
Yes! Players can be dealt commander damage with commanders that are not their own if you control them. This includes their own.
14. Can I Counter a Commander?
Yes, a commander that is cast from the command zone can be countered like any other spell. Effects like Hinder are valuable as they can put the commander into the library.
15. What Happens to a Commander When It Dies?
The owner of the commander may choose to have it return to the command zone or go to the graveyard. If the owner chooses to send it to the command zone, the cost to cast it again from the command zone increases by {2}.
Building Your Commander Strategy
Understanding the nuances of damage prevention and its interaction with commander damage is vital for any serious Commander player. By strategically using prevention spells, knowing when damage is unpreventable, and tracking commander damage effectively, you can significantly improve your chances of victory. So, the next time you’re building your deck or planning your strategy, remember these key points, and may the best commander win! And while you’re strategizing, consider the learning potential within games, as explored by the Games Learning Society.