Does Protection from Artifacts Make Equipment Fall Off?
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Yes, protection from artifacts does make equipment fall off. When a creature gains protection from artifacts, any equipment already attached to it that are artifacts will immediately become unattached and placed in the graveyard. This is a consequence of one of the core tenets of protection: that the protected permanent cannot be equipped by artifacts. It’s a rules interaction that can dramatically impact gameplay, so understanding it is crucial.
Understanding Protection
Protection is a powerful keyword ability in trading card games that grants a permanent (usually a creature) immunity to certain detrimental effects from sources of the specified quality. In the case of protection from artifacts, this immunity manifests in four key ways:
- Damage: A creature with protection from artifacts cannot be dealt damage by artifacts.
- Enchanting/Equipping: It cannot be enchanted or equipped by artifacts. This is the crucial rule that causes equipment to fall off.
- Blocking: It cannot be blocked by artifacts.
- Targeting: It cannot be targeted by artifact spells or abilities from artifact sources.
It’s important to note that protection only works against things of the specified quality. A creature with protection from artifacts is still vulnerable to non-artifact spells, creatures, and abilities.
The Mechanics of Equipment Falling Off
The reason equipment falls off when a creature gains protection from artifacts stems from the game’s rules governing equipment and protection. The game constantly checks if all game states are legal. When a creature gains protection from artifacts, the game recognizes that the creature is now illegally equipped. As a state-based action, the equipment is detached and put into the graveyard.
State-Based Actions
State-based actions are the game’s way of automatically enforcing certain rules. They are checked at the beginning of each priority sequence (the period when players can cast spells or activate abilities), and they happen automatically. The un-equipping of an artifact due to protection is one such state-based action.
Example Scenario
Imagine you have a creature equipped with a powerful artifact equipment that is boosting its power and toughness. An opponent then casts a spell that gives your creature protection from artifacts. Immediately, the equipment will become unattached and put into your graveyard, and your creature will lose the bonus from the equipment. This can be a devastating blow, especially if you were relying on the equipment to win the game.
FAQs: Protection and Equipment
1. Does Protection from a Color Make Equipment Fall Off?
No, protection from a color (e.g., protection from red) only affects sources of that color. It has no impact on equipment unless the equipment itself is of that color, and that is very rare.
2. If a Creature Has Protection from Artifacts, Can I Equip an Artifact to It at All?
No, a creature with protection from artifacts cannot be equipped by an artifact. Any attempt to do so will fail.
3. What Happens If a Non-Artifact Equipment Later Becomes an Artifact?
If a non-artifact equipment attached to a creature later becomes an artifact (due to an effect that changes its type), and that creature has protection from artifacts, the equipment will immediately fall off.
4. Does Protection from Everything Make Equipment Fall Off?
Yes, protection from everything is the ultimate protection ability. It protects against damage, enchanting/equipping, blocking, and targeting from any source. Therefore, it will cause any equipment attached to the creature to fall off.
5. Can I Target My Own Creature with an Artifact If It Has Protection from Artifacts?
No, protection from artifacts prevents a creature from being targeted by artifacts, regardless of who controls them. You cannot target your own creature with an artifact spell or ability if it has protection from artifacts.
6. Does Indestructible Protect Equipment from Falling Off Due to Protection?
No, indestructible only protects a permanent from being destroyed by damage or effects that say “destroy.” It does not prevent equipment from falling off due to protection.
7. Can Auras Fall Off Due to Protection?
Yes, just like equipment, auras fall off due to protection. If a creature has protection from a specific color, any auras of that color attached to it will also be removed and put into the graveyard.
8. How Does Protection Interact With Board Wipes?
Protection does not inherently protect from board wipes. A board wipe that destroys all creatures, for example, will affect a creature with protection unless the board wipe is an artifact, or the creatures are specifically targeted by a board wipe. Protection only protects against the specific effects it grants immunity to.
9. Does Hexproof Prevent Equipment from Falling Off Due to Protection?
Hexproof prevents a permanent from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. It has no effect on protection abilities or whether equipment falls off.
10. Is Protection the Best Enchantment for Armor?
This question originates from Minecraft, not trading card games. In the context of Minecraft, “Protection” is a general armor enchantment, and its effectiveness depends on the situation and desired balance against other specific protection enchantments like “Fire Protection” or “Blast Protection.”
11. Can You Stack Multiple Instances of Protection?
In trading card games, you typically only need one instance of protection from a specific source. Having multiple instances of protection from the same source offers no additional benefit.
12. What Happens if Protection is Gained and Then Lost Quickly?
If a creature gains protection from artifacts and then loses it before state-based actions are checked again, the equipment will remain attached. However, if the protection is lost after the equipment has been detached, the equipment will remain in the graveyard unless another effect can return it to the battlefield.
13. Does Protection from Artifacts Stop Artifact Creatures from Blocking?
Yes, a creature with protection from artifacts cannot be blocked by artifact creatures. This is a significant advantage in combat.
14. Can I Use Artifact Lands to Pay the Cost of a Spell Targeting a Creature with Protection from Artifacts?
No, you cannot pay the cost of a spell targeting a creature with protection from artifacts with artifact lands.
15. Where Can I Learn More About Game Mechanics?
You can learn more about game mechanics and design at the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The GamesLearningSociety.org is dedicated to the study and advancement of games and learning.
Conclusion
Protection from artifacts is a powerful ability that can significantly impact the game, especially when it comes to equipment. Understanding how it interacts with equipment and other game mechanics is crucial for any serious player. Remember that it causes artifacts to fall off and can also be a game-changing strategy.