Does Protection from Everything Prevent Blocking in Magic: The Gathering?
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Yes, protection from everything prevents a creature from being blocked. Protection, in its essence, prevents a creature from being Dealt damage, Enchanted/Equipped, Blocked, or Targeted by sources with the specified quality. Since “everything” encompasses all qualities, a creature with protection from everything literally cannot be blocked by any creature. Understanding the nuances of protection is key to mastering Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding Protection: The DEBT Acronym
The shorthand “DEBT” is your friend. It encapsulates what protection does:
- Damage: Prevents all damage from sources of the specified quality.
- Enchanting/Equipping: Cannot be enchanted or equipped by permanents of the specified quality.
- Blocking: Cannot be blocked by creatures of the specified quality.
- Targeting: Cannot be targeted by spells or abilities from sources of the specified quality.
Protection from Everything: The Ultimate Defense
“Protection from everything” is the most comprehensive form of protection, granting immunity to all objects in the game based on their characteristic values for targeting, damage, enchanting, or equipping, and especially, in preventing the creature from being blocked by any other creatures.
Beyond Blocking: Other Effects of Protection
While blocking is a crucial aspect, it’s vital to remember that protection from everything extends far beyond combat. It safeguards against virtually all forms of targeted removal, equipment, and aura attachments, with a few key exceptions that we will discuss further below.
Important Considerations and Exceptions
While protection is powerful, it isn’t foolproof. It’s crucial to understand what protection doesn’t do:
- Board Wipes: Protection from everything does not protect against board wipes like Wrath of God or Day of Judgment because these spells do not target individual creatures.
- Global Effects: Protection from everything also doesn’t stop global effects, like a card that reduces the cost of all spells or a triggered ability that does not target.
- Effects That Don’t Target, Damage, Block, Enchant, or Equip: If something isn’t trying to affect the protected creature using one of the DEBT axes, protection is irrelevant.
FAQs About Protection in Magic: The Gathering
1. Can you block something with protection from everything?
No. A creature with protection from everything cannot be blocked.
2. Does protection from a color prevent blocking?
Yes. A creature with protection from a color cannot be blocked by creatures of that color.
3. Does protection stop you from blocking MTG?
No, protection doesn’t stop you from blocking in general. It affects what can block a creature with protection.
4. Does protection from everything protect from board wipes?
No, protection from everything does not protect from board wipes because they don’t target.
5. Can you block a creature with protection from creatures?
No, you cannot block a creature with protection from creatures using any creatures.
6. Can you block with protection magic?
“Protection magic” isn’t a specific term, but generally, giving a creature protection affects what can block it. A creature with protection from [quality] cannot be blocked by things of that [quality].
7. Does Hexproof prevent blocking?
No, hexproof only prevents targeting by your opponents, so Hexproof doesn’t affect whether or not a creature can be blocked or can block.
8. Does protection allow you to block?
Protection doesn’t inherently allow you to block; it affects what can block a creature with protection. It allows your creature with protection to block with no damage taken from the specified source.
9. How does protection work for blocking?
If a creature has protection from the creature blocking it, all combat damage dealt to the creature with protection is prevented. The blocker still blocks, however.
10. Does indestructible prevent Deathtouch from blocking?
Yes, indestructible prevents Deathtouch from destroying a creature due to combat damage from a creature with Deathtouch because indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed by damage.
11. Can you block with summoning sickness?
Yes, you can block with a creature that has summoning sickness.
12. What happens if a creature gains protection after blockers are declared?
Once blockers are declared, the creature is blocked, so if the attacking creature gains Protection from the declared blocker after it has already been blocked, then combat continues as normal, including damage and other applicable effects.
13. Does protection make a creature unblockable?
Protection can make a creature effectively unblockable by creatures with the specified quality, but a card like Fog Patch can still declare it blocked.
14. Does protection mean unblockable MTG? Pretty much does protection from blue let me block a blue unblockable creature?
No, protection does not remove the unblockable ability. An unblockable creature with protection from blue still cannot be blocked by blue creatures, but it still has the unblockable ability, which takes precedence.
15. Does protection prevent commander damage?
Yes, protection prevents the commander from dealing damage to you, including commander damage, from a source of the quality you have protection from.
Conclusion: Mastering Protection in Magic
Protection is a powerful mechanic, but understanding its limitations is crucial. While protection from everything offers near-complete immunity, it’s important to remember the exceptions. Use it wisely, and you’ll significantly improve your game. Remember that the Games Learning Society promotes the use of games for educational purposes, including enhancing strategic thinking, like the application of the DEBT acronym for protection in Magic: The Gathering. Explore more about the Games Learning Society and their mission at GamesLearningSociety.org.