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How to Get Rid of Planeswalker Emblems in Magic: The Gathering

The bane of many a Magic: The Gathering player’s existence, Planeswalker emblems are persistent, powerful effects that are notoriously difficult to deal with. Directly, there’s only one card in the entire game that can answer them: Karn Liberated. His ultimate ability, which restarts the game and allows you to exile a card from outside the game and put it onto the battlefield, is the only in-game mechanic that removes emblems. Outside of Karn Liberated, the usual means of removing permanents (destroying, exiling, bouncing, etc.) are useless. This is because emblems are created in the command zone, not on the battlefield, and are not permanents. In short: Emblems stick around for the entire game, unless Karn Liberated resets everything.

Understanding Planeswalker Emblems

What Exactly Is a Planeswalker Emblem?

Think of emblems as lasting enchantments that aren’t actually enchantments. They represent a planeswalker’s most potent, game-altering abilities, usually achieved through activating their ultimate loyalty ability. Once an emblem is created, it sits in the command zone, out of reach of standard removal spells. This is a deliberate design choice by Wizards of the Coast, intended to make emblems feel impactful and difficult to overcome. They provide a powerful and lasting effect that can swing the game in favor of the emblem’s controller.

Why Are Emblems So Persistent?

The persistence of emblems comes down to game design. They’re meant to be a reward for successfully protecting a planeswalker long enough to activate their ultimate ability. Removing emblems easily would diminish the strategic value of planeswalkers and their ultimate abilities. Furthermore, emblems don’t reside on the battlefield, bypassing typical removal spells.

Counteracting Emblems Indirectly

While you can’t directly destroy or remove an emblem (barring Karn Liberated), there are ways to mitigate their effects. The goal becomes undermining their impact or finding alternative win conditions that render them irrelevant. Here are some strategies to consider:

Aggressive strategies: Overwhelm your opponent before the emblem’s effect becomes too debilitating. A fast, aggressive deck can often close out the game before the emblem provides significant value.
Combo Decks: If your deck can assemble a game-winning combo quickly, the emblem may become irrelevant. Some combos win the game outright, regardless of the board state or emblem effects.
Lockdown/Stax strategies: Prevent your opponent from taking actions that benefit from the emblem. This might involve preventing them from attacking, drawing cards, or playing spells.
Life gain/prevention: If the emblem deals damage, focus on gaining life or preventing damage to outpace the emblem’s effect.
Sideboard Tech: While you can’t directly target the emblem, consider including cards in your sideboard that can help you survive or mitigate the effects of common emblems. For example, if you know your opponent plays a deck that uses a damage-dealing emblem, consider bringing in cards that prevent or redirect damage.
Ignoring the emblem: Focus on your game plan and try to win despite the emblem’s effect. Sometimes, the best strategy is to simply ignore the emblem and focus on your own win condition.
Commander specific strategies: In Commander, strategies that target specific players or utilize political effects can be effective. For instance, encouraging another player to attack the emblem’s controller.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Planeswalker Emblems

Can planeswalker emblems be removed by sacrificing the permanent that created them? No. Emblems are created in the command zone, separate from the permanent that triggered their creation. Sacrificing the permanent has no effect on the emblem.
Do emblems go away when the planeswalker dies or leaves the battlefield? Absolutely not. Once an emblem is created, it exists independently of the planeswalker that created it. Removing the planeswalker will not remove the emblem.
Can you have multiple of the same planeswalker emblem? Yes. If you can somehow activate the same planeswalker’s ultimate ability multiple times, you will get multiple copies of that emblem, and their effects will stack. This can lead to incredibly powerful and game-ending situations.
Are planeswalker emblems colorless? Yes, emblems have no color. They are colorless entities residing in the command zone.
Are there any cards in Magic: The Gathering besides Karn Liberated that can remove emblems? As of the current card pool, Karn Liberated is the only card that interacts with emblems by resetting the game.
What happens to emblems in a subgame (like the one created by Shahrazad)? Emblems created in the main game do not affect subgames, and vice versa. A subgame is a completely separate game of Magic.
If I gain control of an opponent’s emblem, can I get rid of it? Unfortunately, no. You still can’t destroy emblems. However, if you take control of a player who possesses a beneficial emblem, that emblem now benefits you, while they no longer receive the advantages.
Can a planeswalker emblem be countered when it’s created? No. Planeswalker emblems are not spells or abilities on the stack. They are created as a result of a planeswalker’s ability resolving. Because of this, they cannot be countered.
If I restart the game with Karn Liberated, do I keep my emblems? No. The game restart removes all emblems except for the player controlling Karn Liberated. They exile a card from outside the game as part of Karn’s ability, which is then unaffected by the restart.
Are there any creatures or permanents that interact with emblems? No, there are no creatures or permanents that have abilities that directly target or interact with emblems.
Do emblems count towards my permanent count for cards like “Overwhelming Stampede”? No, emblems are not permanents. They are in the command zone, not on the battlefield.
If a card refers to “all permanents,” does that include emblems? No. Cards referring to permanents only affect things on the battlefield. Emblems are not permanents.
Can I copy an emblem with a copy effect? No. Copy effects typically target permanents on the battlefield or spells on the stack. Emblems are neither.
If I control multiple planeswalkers with the same name (due to cards that ignore the legendary rule, like Mirror Box or Sakashima of a Thousand Faces) and they both reach their ultimate loyalty ability, can I activate them both in the same turn? Yes. As long as you control multiple planeswalkers that share a name but are distinct cards due to effects that override the legendary rule, you can activate the loyalty abilities of each one during your turn, provided you haven’t activated any of them previously this turn. Remember, you can only activate one loyalty ability per planeswalker per turn.
Are emblems considered an artifact or enchantment? No, emblems are neither artifacts nor enchantments. They are a unique game element that reside in the command zone and have their own specific rules and interactions.

Conclusion: Emblems are Here to Stay (Mostly)

While the lack of direct removal options can be frustrating, remember that Magic: The Gathering is a game of resource management, strategic maneuvering, and calculated risks. Don’t despair when an opponent establishes a powerful emblem. Instead, analyze the situation, adapt your strategy, and explore alternative paths to victory. Consider delving deeper into the strategic aspects of Magic: The Gathering by visiting the GamesLearningSociety.org, where you can find resources and discussions about the game’s mechanics and educational potential. Remember, even the most daunting emblem can be overcome with clever play and a little bit of luck.

How do I get rid of Planeswalker emblems?