Destroying Planeswalkers: A Comprehensive Guide to Removing Them in Magic: The Gathering
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Effectively dealing with Planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is crucial for success. These powerful permanents can quickly dominate the board if left unchecked. So, how exactly do you get rid of them? The short answer: you have multiple options at your disposal, ranging from direct damage to strategic ability counters and even plain old removal spells. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to destroy a planeswalker:
How to Destroy a Planeswalker: Direct and Indirect Methods
Essentially, you can destroy a planeswalker by any of the following means:
- Direct Damage: While you cannot directly target a planeswalker with spells like Fireball, you can target a player and redirect that damage to the planeswalker upon resolution. Similarly, many burn spells like Lightning Bolt can directly target Planeswalkers. Additionally, a creature with the Deathtouch ability can destroy a planeswalker by dealing damage to it, no matter how much damage the creature deals.
- “Destroy Target Permanent” Effects: Spells like Vindicate or abilities from cards like Argentum Armor, which say “destroy target permanent,” will work against a planeswalker because, after it resolves, a planeswalker is indeed a permanent on the battlefield.
- Reducing Loyalty to Zero: The most common method of removing planeswalkers. Damage dealt to a planeswalker results in the removal of loyalty counters. Once a planeswalker reaches zero loyalty, it’s sent to the graveyard as a state-based action. This can be done via combat damage from creatures (by attacking the Planeswalker instead of the Player), or with direct damage spells.
- Ability Removal: Specific cards like Hex Parasite and Snap can remove all loyalty counters from a planeswalker, effectively destroying it.
- Fighting: When your creature “fights” a planeswalker, it deals damage as normal which can reduce its loyalty to zero.
- “Exile Target Permanent” Effects: Similar to “destroy,” many cards can straight up exile a permanent, which also works on planeswalkers.
Understanding these approaches is key to formulating a winning strategy when facing a planeswalker-heavy deck.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Destroying Planeswalkers
Let’s delve deeper into specific scenarios and clarify common misconceptions with these 15 FAQs:
1. Can You Counter a Planeswalker’s Ability Activation?
No, you can’t counter a planeswalker’s ability once it’s been activated and is on the stack. You can, however, counter the actual spell when the planeswalker is being cast. To counter an activated ability, you need a card like Stifle, which specifically counters activated abilities and can stop the activation.
2. Does a Planeswalker’s Indestructible Ability Prevent it from being Destroyed?
Not entirely. While indestructible prevents a planeswalker from being destroyed by effects or lethal damage, it does not prevent it from going to the graveyard if it has zero loyalty counters. Indestructible does not stop the removal of loyalty counters, which is the primary way planeswalkers are often defeated. If a planeswalker with indestructible is dealt enough damage to reach zero loyalty, it is still put into its owner’s graveyard.
3. Can You Attack a Planeswalker?
Yes, you can declare attackers on a planeswalker rather than the player it controls. When you attack a planeswalker, you deal combat damage to it which will reduce its loyalty counters.
4. What if a Planeswalker Has Zero Loyalty?
A planeswalker with zero loyalty is immediately put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. This happens automatically, and the planeswalker is removed from the battlefield.
5. Can You Remove an Emblem Created by a Planeswalker?
No. Emblems are not permanents and can’t be destroyed. The “destroy” keyword only affects permanents, and emblems fall outside of this category. Currently, there are no spells designed to remove emblems.
6. Can You Counter a Planeswalker Spell?
Yes, absolutely! You can use counterspells such as Negate or Counterspell to counter a planeswalker while it’s being cast (i.e., when the planeswalker is on the stack).
7. Can You Redirect Damage to a Planeswalker?
You cannot target a planeswalker with spells that target only players or creatures. However, you can target the player with a spell such as Fireball and then when it resolves, you can redirect the damage to a planeswalker he or she controls. This method is a common way to deal damage to planeswalkers.
8. Can You Lightning Bolt a Planeswalker?
Yes! Lightning Bolt, as well as any spell that targets “any target” or “target player or creature”, can directly damage planeswalkers.
9. Can a Planeswalker Use its Ability the Turn It Comes Into Play?
Yes, a planeswalker can use its ability the turn it enters the battlefield, provided it’s your turn and the planeswalker has enough loyalty counters to activate an ability. The rules against summoning sickness only apply to creatures and not planeswalkers.
10. Can You Have Two Planeswalkers of the Same Name on the Battlefield?
You can have multiple planeswalkers of the same name on the battlefield. This changed when planeswalkers were given the “legendary” supertype and became subject to the “legend rule”. Therefore, if you control more than one planeswalker with the same name, the legend rule forces you to choose one and put the others into your graveyard.
11. Does Wrath of God Destroy Planeswalkers?
No. Wrath of God and similar spells that destroy creatures will not affect planeswalkers. These spells specifically target creatures.
12. What Happens if a Planeswalker Has Deathtouch?
Planeswalkers do not have the ability Deathtouch . It is a creature ability which states that any damage it deals to another creature kills it. However, Deathtouch is a combat damage-based ability, and a Planeswalker can be attacked. If a creature has Deathtouch, it will deal damage as normal to a planeswalker when attacking it.
13. Can You Block a Planeswalker Ability?
No. Planeswalker abilities are activated and do not come in the form of combat. You can’t block activated abilities. A planeswalker itself is not a creature, and it cannot be used to block.
14. Can a Planeswalker Lose Loyalty Counters if it’s not Attacked?
Yes. Planeswalkers lose loyalty counters whenever they take damage. Damage can be dealt from many sources, not just combat.
15. What Does the Legend Rule Do To Planeswalkers?
All planeswalkers have the supertype legendary. If you control two or more legendary planeswalkers with the same name, you must choose one to keep on the battlefield and put the others into your graveyard.
Conclusion: Mastering Planeswalker Removal
Dealing with planeswalkers is an important skill in MTG. By understanding the various methods – from direct damage and targeted destruction to manipulating loyalty counters – you can confidently face these formidable threats. Remember to always consider the strategic context of each match, as different situations may call for different methods of planeswalker removal. Keep these strategies and FAQs in mind as you play, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle any planeswalker that comes your way.