Does Protection From Black Stop Fear? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: No, protection from black does not stop fear. This is because “fear” as used in the provided context is referring to a creature keyword ability in the context of a game like Magic: The Gathering, where “fear” grants a form of evasion, meaning the creature cannot be blocked by creatures that do not have specific properties, not the emotional experience of being afraid. This confusion often arises because the term “fear” is also a common word in everyday language that describes a strong negative emotion. In the game, it is a mechanic. In this article, we will delve deeper into how protection from black functions in relation to in-game abilities like “fear” as a creature mechanic and clarify common misconceptions about it. We will also explore what protection from a color actually does and address many related questions.
Understanding Protection from Black
What Does Protection From Black Mean?
Protection from black is a powerful ability in games that have creature combat mechanics. In essence, a creature with protection from black cannot be:
- Damaged by black sources: This means any damage dealt by black creatures, spells, or abilities is prevented.
- Enchanted or equipped by black: Black auras and equipment cannot be attached to a creature with this protection, and if they somehow are, they’ll be removed immediately.
- Blocked by black creatures: This ensures the protected creature can pass through black defenses in combat.
- Targeted by black spells or abilities: Black instants, sorceries, or activated/triggered abilities cannot target a creature with protection from black.
How Protection Works
It’s important to remember DEBT, an acronym that helps remember exactly what protection prevents: Damage, Enchanting/Equipping, Blocking, and Targeting. Protection from black is very specific; it only offers protection from anything that has the color black, it does not protect from other types of sources.
Why the Confusion with “Fear”?
The confusion between “protection from black” and “fear” arises from the common use of the word “fear” in everyday language. In games with these mechanics, “fear” is a keyword that indicates a specific ability a creature might have. A creature with “fear” can only be blocked by artifact creatures or black creatures. Having “fear” has nothing to do with being or causing the emotional experience of being afraid, or fear as it is understood in common use. The presence of “fear” is entirely an in-game mechanic, while protection from black, is also a game mechanic which has no inherent relationship to the emotion of fear.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Protection from Black Stop Multicolored?
Yes, protection from black does stop multicolored spells that include black, even if the spell also has another color. For example, a black/red spell is still considered black and would be stopped by protection from black. This is because the game checks if any of the colors of a spell match the color it’s protected against.
2. Does Protection from Black Stop Activated Abilities?
Protection from black prevents the use of an activated or triggered ability if the source of that ability is black and it targets the creature with protection, or attempts to deal damage to it. However, if a black creature triggers a board wipe ability that doesn’t target, or deal damage, then it is not prevented by the protection from black.
3. Does Protection from Black Stop a Board Wipe?
It depends on the type of board wipe. If the board wipe uses an ability that targets or deals damage to creatures, then yes protection can protect from these. However, most board wipes do not target or deal damage, instead affecting all creatures on the battlefield. In these cases, protection does not stop board wipes like Wrath of God or Day of Judgment because such board wipes do not target, enchant, equip, or block and they do not deal damage. Protection only protects against targeted destruction.
4. Does Indestructible Prevent Deathtouch?
No, indestructible does not prevent deathtouch. Deathtouch deals ‘lethal damage’ but indestructible creatures cannot be killed by ‘lethal damage’, they still can be affected by effects like a deathtouch attack. If something has indestructible, it cannot be destroyed by damage and effects that would say “destroy” the creature.
5. Does Protection Stop Deathtouch?
Yes, protection from a color will prevent any damage dealt by a source of that color. If damage is prevented, the deathtouch effect does not occur. For example, if a creature with protection from black is attacked by a creature with deathtouch, the damage is prevented, and so the creature with protection will not be affected by deathtouch.
6. What is a Protection From Black Sorcery?
A black instant or sorcery cannot target a creature with protection from black, and if a black sorcery deals damage that damage will be prevented. If an aura is a black enchantment, that also can not target and attach. If the enchantment does end up attached, it is immediately removed.
7. Does Protection Stop Auras?
Yes, protection prevents auras of the protected color from being attached to a creature, and any existing auras of that color will be removed. Protection also protects from auras attempting to target a creature with the protection.
8. What Does Protection from Everything Mean?
Protection from everything means that a creature cannot be blocked, damaged, or targeted by any source at all. This is an incredibly powerful form of protection, which grants near immunity, but does not protect from board wipes that do not directly target and destroy, or inflict damage.
9. Does Protection Stop Trample?
No, protection does not stop trample. Trample works by allowing a creature to assign lethal damage to the creatures blocking it, and it can then assign the rest of the damage to the player. Trample does not interact with the damage prevention part of protection. The protection will not prevent the trample effect which may cause damage.
10. Can You Have Protection from Colorless?
There are no cards that currently grant ‘protection from colorless.’ However, if it did exist, it would work just like other forms of protection. Meaning, a creature with protection from colorless would not be able to be targeted, damaged, blocked, enchanted, or equipped by colorless sources.
11. Does Protection Stop Destroy Effects?
No, protection does not protect from destroy effects that do not target the creature. Protection only protects from targeted damage, equip, block, and target effects. If an effect doesn’t do these, and simply “destroys” all creatures, then it is not affected by a creature having protection.
12. What Color Represents Reluctance?
The color black is often associated with reluctance, pessimism, and conservatism. It can also represent control and negativity.
13. What Color is Associated with Fear?
The color black is often associated with fear. This may contribute to the common misinterpretation of protection from black in a game as a source of the emotional concept of “fear”. However, in the game, “fear” is a keyword ability in a game where color mechanics are also present.
14. What Colors Protect You From Evil?
Several colors are thought to offer protection, the most common of which are:
- Red: Symbolizes strength and courage.
- Dark Blue: Represents protection from bad karma.
- Light Blue: Encourages self-acceptance and expanding horizons.
15. What Color Represents Anxiety?
The teal ribbon is often used to bring awareness and support to anxiety disorder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the word “fear” might bring to mind strong emotions, in the context of mechanics within games, it’s important to understand that protection from black is a very specific ability, which does not prevent the emotion “fear” and in no way interacts with it. It only prevents specific effects from black sources, meaning anything that is of the color “black” in a mechanical sense. A creature with protection from black cannot be damaged, targeted, enchanted, or blocked by anything with that color. Hopefully, this article and its FAQs have clearly explained the relationship between protection from black and “fear” within the context of gameplay mechanics. Understanding these distinctions can significantly improve any player’s strategic approach.