Decoding Hexproof: Your Ultimate Guide to Magic’s Elusive Ability
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Hexproof. Just the word itself conjures images of mystical shields and impenetrable barriers. In Magic: The Gathering, hexproof is a powerful ability that protects permanents and players from targeted spells and abilities controlled by opponents. Essentially, hexproof prevents your opponent from directly aiming their spells or abilities at whatever possesses it. It’s a defensive wall against the most common forms of removal and disruption, giving you a strategic edge.
Understanding the Core of Hexproof
At its heart, hexproof is all about invalidating targets. It stops your opponent from singling out a permanent or player for destruction, manipulation, or any other effect that requires them to choose a target. It’s crucial to understand that hexproof only works against spells and abilities your opponents control. You can still target your own creatures with beneficial effects, equipment, and auras. It doesn’t protect from effects like “destroy all creatures,” which aren’t targeted.
The Key Phrase: “Target”
The magic word, quite literally, is “target.” If a spell or ability controlled by your opponent uses the word “target” when specifying what it affects, hexproof renders that target invalid. This includes:
- Direct Damage Spells: Lightning Bolt, Murder, etc.
- Auras: Pacifism, Arrest, etc. (once they’re on the battlefield controlled by your opponent)
- Equipment: Anything your opponent attempts to attach.
- Planeswalker Abilities: The loyalty abilities of enemy planeswalkers.
- Targeted Abilities of Creatures: Any ability with the word “target” on an opponent’s creature.
What Hexproof Doesn’t Protect Against
It’s just as important to know what hexproof doesn’t do. Understanding these limitations is key to formulating effective strategies against it:
- Non-Targeting Removal: Board wipes like Wrath of God, Damnation, or Supreme Verdict.
- Sacrifice Effects: Spells or abilities that force you to sacrifice a permanent, such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana of the Veil’s ability, so long as these effects target the player and not the hexproof permanent.
- Combat Damage: Hexproof doesn’t prevent creatures from being blocked or taking damage in combat.
- Life Loss: Spells that directly cause life loss without targeting, such as Gray Merchant of Asphodel.
- Effects that Change the Rules: Cards that affect how the game is played.
- Abilities You Control: You can still target your own creatures with hexproof for beneficial effects.
- Global Effects: Anything that affects all players or permanents regardless of targeting.
Hexproof in Action: Examples
Imagine you have a creature with hexproof. Your opponent casts a Lightning Bolt intending to destroy it. Because Lightning Bolt says “target creature or player,” hexproof prevents them from targeting your creature. The Lightning Bolt will fizzle, and nothing happens.
However, if your opponent casts Wrath of God, which destroys all creatures without targeting, your creature with hexproof will still be destroyed. The board wipe doesn’t “target” anything, so it bypasses the protection.
Now, suppose you want to attach an equipment card to your hexproof creature. Since you control both the equipment and the creature, hexproof doesn’t hinder you. You can attach the equipment as normal.
Hexproof is a strong defensive mechanic but not invincible.
A solid defense against targeted removal, hexproof requires careful consideration and strategic gameplay for best use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hexproof
Here’s a breakdown of common questions to further clarify the intricacies of hexproof:
1. Does Hexproof Protect From Board Wipes?
No. Board wipes, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, destroy all creatures without targeting. Since hexproof only protects against targeted spells and abilities, board wipes bypass its protection.
2. Does Hexproof Prevent Tapping?
It depends on how the tapping occurs. If an opponent’s spell or ability specifically targets the permanent and says to tap it, hexproof will prevent that. However, if the tapping is part of a broader effect that doesn’t involve targeting, then the permanent will still be tapped. For instance, if a spell says “Tap all creatures your opponent controls,” hexproof offers no protection because no specific creature is targeted.
3. Does Hexproof Protect From Creature Spells?
No. Hexproof only matters once the creature is on the battlefield. While the card is a creature spell on the stack, it doesn’t have hexproof yet.
4. Does Hexproof Block Deathtouch?
Yes and no. Hexproof allows the creature with it to still be blocked. While it will prevent the creature from being targeted it can still be blocked and die from deathtouch because it’s not a spell or ability that targets that creature.
5. What Kills Hexproof?
Any non-targeting removal or sacrifice effect will bypass hexproof. Board wipes, effects that force you to sacrifice a creature, or even reducing a creature’s toughness to zero are all viable options.
6. Does Shroud Protect From Board Wipes?
Yes. Like hexproof, shroud only protects against targeted spells and abilities.
7. Does Hexproof Protect From Planeswalkers?
Planeswalker abilities are abilities, and they cannot target objects with hexproof that your opponent does not control, just like any other ability in the game.
8. Can You Counter Hexproof?
Yes, you can counter the spell that would create a creature with hexproof if it’s a creature spell on the stack. The hexproof ability doesn’t exist until the permanent is on the battlefield.
9. What is the Difference Between Hexproof and Sacrifice?
Hexproof protects against targeted spells and abilities. Sacrifice effects, if they target you and force you to sacrifice a creature, bypass hexproof. The key is whether the creature is targeted directly.
10. What is the Difference Between Hexproof and Ward?
Hexproof prevents targeting altogether. Ward allows targeting but imposes an additional cost on the targeting player. It’s like a tollbooth before the spell can resolve.
11. Does Indestructible Prevent Exile?
No. Indestructible only protects from destroy effects and lethal damage. Exile bypasses indestructible entirely.
12. What is the Difference Between Hexproof and Indestructible?
Hexproof prevents targeting. Indestructible prevents destruction. A creature with indestructible can still be exiled or sacrificed, while a creature with hexproof can still be destroyed by non-targeting effects.
13. Does Shroud Negate Deathtouch?
No. Shroud prevents the card from being targeted. Deathtouch deals damage through combat, which cannot be protected by shroud.
14. Is Hexproof or Shroud Better?
Hexproof is generally considered better because it only prevents your opponents from targeting the permanent. Shroud prevents everyone, including you, making it harder to buff or equip your own creatures.
15. Does Hexproof Stop ETB (Enter the Battlefield) Triggers?
It depends. If the ETB trigger targets a creature, and you give that creature hexproof in response to the trigger, the trigger will be countered due to an illegal target.
Mastering Hexproof for Strategic Advantage
Hexproof is a potent ability in Magic: The Gathering. It provides a layer of protection against common removal and disruption strategies. However, it’s crucial to understand its limitations. Knowing what hexproof protects against, and what it doesn’t, is essential for building strong decks and making informed decisions during gameplay. By carefully considering your opponents’ strategies and the types of removal they’re likely to employ, you can effectively leverage hexproof to gain a significant advantage on the battlefield. Remember to check out Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.