Unbreakable: A Deep Dive into Indestructible in Magic: The Gathering

The indestructible ability in Magic: The Gathering is a powerful keyword that grants a permanent immunity to destruction effects and lethal damage. A permanent with indestructible cannot be destroyed by damage (including combat damage), or by effects that specifically state “destroy.” However, it’s crucial to understand that indestructible does not make a permanent invulnerable to everything. It merely shields it from destruction, opening the door for various other removal methods. Think of it as a powerful shield, not an impenetrable fortress.

Understanding the Nuances of Indestructible

Indestructible primarily interacts with two major types of destruction:

• Destruction Effects: These are card effects that explicitly state that they “destroy” a permanent. Examples include cards like Murder or Languish (which may reduce the toughness of a creature to 0, leading to its destruction).

• Lethal Damage: In Magic, a creature with damage marked on it equal to or greater than its toughness is normally destroyed as a state-based action. Indestructible prevents this destruction. Combat damage falls under this category, meaning a creature with indestructible can block indefinitely without dying from the damage.

It’s equally important to understand what indestructible doesn’t prevent. It’s a defense against destruction, not a universal shield against removal or other adverse effects.

How to Circumvent Indestructible

While indestructible can be frustrating for opponents, there are several common ways to deal with indestructible permanents:

• Exile: Cards that exile a permanent, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile, completely remove the permanent from the game. Exile effects are highly effective against indestructible creatures.

• Sacrifice: Effects that force a player to sacrifice a permanent bypass indestructible. This is because the player chooses to put the permanent into the graveyard; it’s not being destroyed by a game rule or effect. Cards like Diabolic Edict are prime examples.

• Reducing Toughness to Zero or Less: While indestructible stops lethal damage, it doesn’t protect against having a creature’s toughness reduced to 0 or less. Creatures with zero or less toughness are put into the graveyard as a state-based action, even if they are indestructible. Grasp of Darkness or mass -X/-X effects like Toxic Deluge work well here.

• Bounce: “Bouncing” a permanent refers to returning it to its owner’s hand. Cards like Unsummon or Into the Roil don’t destroy the permanent; they simply remove it from the battlefield temporarily.

• “Tucking” or Returning to the Library: Permanents can be put into their owner’s library, either on top, bottom, or shuffled in. This removes the permanent from the battlefield without destroying it.

• Stealing Control: Taking control of an opponent’s indestructible permanent is another way to neutralize it. You can use cards like Mind Control to gain control and either use the permanent yourself or sacrifice it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Indestructible

Does Deathtouch Kill Indestructible Creatures?

No, deathtouch does not kill indestructible creatures. Deathtouch normally causes any amount of damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch to be considered lethal damage. However, indestructible creatures are immune to destruction from lethal damage, regardless of the source.

Can an Indestructible Creature be Destroyed by Counters?

Yes, an indestructible creature can be dealt with via counters. -1/-1 counters are the most direct method, as they can reduce the creature’s toughness to zero, causing it to die.

Does Indestructible Prevent Sacrifice?

No, indestructible does not prevent sacrifice. Sacrifice is not a form of destruction. The controller of the permanent is choosing to put it into the graveyard.

Does Indestructible Work Against Exile Effects?

No, indestructible does not work against exile effects. Exile removes a permanent from the game entirely; it’s not considered destruction.

If a Creature with Indestructible has 0 Toughness, Does it Die?

Yes, a creature with indestructible and zero toughness dies. State-based actions will put the creature into the graveyard because its toughness is 0 or less, regardless of its indestructible status.

How Does Indestructible Interact with Board Wipes?

It depends on the board wipe. If the board wipe uses the word “destroy” or deals lethal damage, indestructible creatures will survive. If the board wipe exiles creatures or reduces their toughness to 0, the indestructible creatures will be affected.

Can I Counter a Spell that Would Give My Opponent’s Creature Indestructible?

Yes, you can counter a spell that would grant indestructible. Counterspells target the spell on the stack, not the permanent itself.

What Happens if an Indestructible Creature is Assigned Lethal Damage in Combat?

The creature will survive. It will have the damage marked on it, but because of its indestructible ability, it will not be destroyed as a state-based action. The damage will remain on the creature until the end of the turn (or until an effect removes the damage).

Does Indestructible Prevent a Creature from Being Returned to its Owner’s Hand (Bounced)?

No, indestructible does not prevent a creature from being returned to its owner’s hand. “Bouncing” a creature is not considered a form of destruction.

If a Creature Loses Indestructible After Taking Lethal Damage, Will It Be Destroyed?

Yes, if a creature loses indestructible after being dealt lethal damage, it will be destroyed the next time state-based actions are checked.

Does Indestructible Protect Against Being Forced to Discard?

No, indestructible only applies to permanents on the battlefield. It does not prevent cards in a player’s hand from being discarded.

Can Indestructible Prevent a Creature from Being Put into its Owner’s Library?

No, indestructible does not prevent a creature from being put into its owner’s library. This effect removes the creature from the battlefield without destroying it.

Can I Enchant an Indestructible Creature?

Yes, you can enchant a creature with indestructible. Indestructible only prevents destruction; it doesn’t prevent a permanent from being enchanted or equipped.

Does Trample Damage Go Through Indestructible?

Yes, to an extent. You must assign lethal damage to the indestructible creature. In this case, lethal damage is zero (because no amount of damage will destroy it) before any damage can trample over to the defending player.

Can You Give All Your Permanents Indestructible?

Yes, cards like Avacyn, Angel of Hope can grant indestructible to all your permanents. This makes it incredibly difficult for opponents to remove your board.

Understanding indestructible and how to play around it is crucial for success in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a powerful ability, but it’s far from invincible. Strategic deck building and smart gameplay will allow you to overcome even the most resilient indestructible threats.

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