Mastering the Indestructible: A Guide to Removing Unbreakable Threats in Magic: The Gathering
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So, you’ve run into an indestructible behemoth on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering? Don’t despair! While you can’t technically “destroy” something with indestructible, you can get rid of it. The key is understanding what indestructible actually prevents, and then exploiting what it doesn’t. The most effective ways to remove an indestructible permanent from the game include:
- Exiling it: Exile effects completely remove the permanent from the battlefield and send it to the exile zone. This is a clean and definitive solution.
- Reducing its Toughness to 0 or less: While damage won’t destroy an indestructible creature, a toughness of 0 or less will still send it to the graveyard as a state-based action. Cards that give -X/-X are your friend here.
- Forcing your Opponent to Sacrifice It: Indestructible only protects against destruction and lethal damage. If you can force your opponent to sacrifice the permanent, it goes to the graveyard, bypassing indestructible altogether.
- Bouncing it: Returning the indestructible permanent to its owner’s hand or library effectively removes it from the battlefield, buying you valuable time.
- Counters: Creature counters, or countering a spell as it’s being cast, can be effective.
These methods allow you to deal with those seemingly invincible threats and maintain control of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Dealing with Indestructible
Here are some common questions, and equally common misconceptions, about how to interact with indestructible in Magic: The Gathering. Let’s dive deep.
Can you block an indestructible creature?
Yes, you absolutely can. Indestructible creatures can be blocked just like any other creature. The difference is that the effects of combat damage, which would normally destroy a non-indestructible creature, simply don’t apply. Your blocker will take the damage, but won’t be destroyed.
Do board wipes kill indestructible creatures?
It depends on the board wipe. If the board wipe uses the word “destroy,” or deals damage in a way that would be lethal, then indestructible creatures are unaffected. However, board wipes that exile creatures or give them -X/-X will work. Read the card carefully! Wrath of God says destroy all creatures. Indestructible creates are unaffected.
Does Deathtouch work against Indestructible?
No. Deathtouch makes any amount of damage assigned by a source with Deathtouch as lethal damage. However, indestructible creatures can’t be killed by lethal damage. Therefore deathtouch does not affect indestructible.
Does Hexproof stop Wrath of God?
Hexproof only prevents spells or abilities your opponent’s control from targeting the enchanted object or creature. Hexproof means the creature can’t be the target spells or abilities your opponent’s control. Wrath of God, which says “Destroy all creatures”, does not target. Therefore, hexproof does not stop the effect of Wrath of God.
Does sacrificing a permanent destroy it?
No. Indestructible only prevents destruction and lethal damage. Sacrificing a permanent simply places it into its owner’s graveyard without destroying it. This is a crucial distinction, making sacrifice effects a powerful answer to indestructible. Sacrifice is very effective against indestructible.
Can you put an indestructible counter on something?
Yes, you can! An indestructible counter simply grants the indestructible ability to the permanent it’s on.
Can you trample over an indestructible creature?
Yes. Trample only requires you to assign enough damage to the blocker to equal its toughness. Damage from sources with Infect or Wither will still place -1/-1 counters on them.
Does First Strike beat Deathtouch?
Yes, a creature with First Strike will deal damage before the creature with Deathtouch. If the creature with First Strike deals lethal damage to the creature with Deathtouch, the creature with Deathtouch will die before it can deal damage back.
Do -1/-1 counters beat indestructible?
Yes. While damage and “destroy” effects are ineffective, -X/-X effects that reduce a creature’s toughness to 0 or less will bypass indestructible entirely, sending the creature to the graveyard as a state-based action.
What happens when you block with an indestructible creature?
Blocking with an indestructible creature means you can absorb damage without losing your blocker. The attacker still has to assign lethal damage, which can then Trample over if applicable.
Does combat damage kill indestructible?
No. Indestructible creatures are impervious to any effects that normally destroy creatures, such as combat damage. The keyword specifically prevents creatures from being destroyed by combat damage.
Does Anger of the Gods get around indestructible?
Not on its own. Anger of the Gods says “If a creature dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead.” Since indestructible creatures do not die as a result of damage, this would not be enough on its own. If something else would make the creature die, though, Anger would exile it instead.
Can you exile an indestructible creature?
Yes, you can. Indestructible only protects against destruction effects, not exile effects. Cards that exile are your best friend when facing down an indestructible threat.
Do shield counters prevent Deathtouch?
Yes, Shield counters work well against deathtouch because they’re a damage prevention effect. The lethal damage that would’ve been dealt from deathtouch is prevented by the shield counter.
Are planeswalkers affected by deathtouch?
No, Planeswalkers are not creatures so they are not affected by deathtouch.
Understanding the limitations of indestructible is key to overcoming this powerful keyword. Remember that exile, sacrifice, -X/-X effects, and other non-destruction methods are your best bets for dealing with these resilient threats. Use this knowledge, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle any indestructible creature that comes your way!
Magic: The Gathering is more than just a game; it’s a complex system of rules and interactions that can teach valuable strategic thinking skills. Check out Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to learn more about the educational aspects of gaming.