Decoding Protection from Card Types in Magic: The Gathering
Protection in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a powerful keyword ability that grants a permanent immunity to certain effects based on a specific characteristic, such as a color or card type. When a card has “Protection from [Card Type],” it means that it cannot be Damaged, Enchanted/Equipped, Blocked, or Targeted (DEBT) by anything that is of that specified card type. In essence, it’s a magical shield against anything matching the card type listed in the Protection ability.
Understanding Card Types and Protection
To fully grasp protection from a card type, it’s crucial to first understand what constitutes a card type in MTG. The card type is a primary characteristic found on every Magic card, prominently displayed in the type line. This type line also can include supertypes (e.g., Legendary, Basic) and subtypes (e.g., Human, Warrior). The card type is the broad category the card belongs to and includes types such as Creature, Artifact, Enchantment, Instant, Sorcery, Land, and Planeswalker.
When a card has protection from a specific card type, say “Protection from Artifacts,” it means that artifacts cannot perform any of the DEBT functions on the protected permanent. Let’s break it down:
- Damage: An artifact source cannot deal damage to the permanent with protection from artifacts.
- Enchant/Equip: You cannot attach an artifact Equipment or Aura to the permanent with protection from artifacts.
- Block: If the protected permanent is attacking, artifact creatures cannot block it.
- Target: Spells and abilities from artifact sources cannot target the permanent with protection from artifacts.
Specific Examples of Protection from Card Type
- Protection from Creatures: A creature with protection from creatures is a formidable blocker, as no creature can block it. Additionally, no creature source can target it with spells or abilities or deal damage to it. This kind of protection can be seen on rare occasions, and usually makes the card really powerful.
- Protection from Instants: While less common, protection from instants would make a permanent immune to being targeted, damaged, blocked, enchanted, or equipped by instant spells. This is useful against instant-speed removal or combat tricks.
- Protection from Enchantments: This is the most common type of protection from a card type. If a creature has this ability, it can not be the target of auras and nothing that produces enchantments, either spells or abilities, can target it.
Limitations of Protection
It’s important to note what protection doesn’t do:
- Non-Targeting Effects: Protection only prevents targeting. Effects that don’t target, such as board wipes (e.g., Wrath of God), can still affect the protected permanent, even if it’s of the specified card type.
- Paying Costs: Protection doesn’t prevent you from paying costs associated with a card type. For example, if a card requires you to sacrifice an artifact, having a permanent with protection from artifacts doesn’t prevent you from sacrificing a different artifact to pay that cost.
- Auras Already Attached: If an Aura of the specified card type is already attached to a permanent before it gains protection, the Aura remains attached. Protection only prevents new attachments.
Strategic Significance
Understanding protection from card types is critical for effective deck building and gameplay in MTG. It allows players to create resilient strategies that can withstand certain types of threats, force opponents to play around specific protections, and create advantageous board states. For instance, a well-timed protection ability can turn the tide of a game by negating an opponent’s key removal spell or preventing crucial blocks.
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FAQs: Protection from Card Types in Magic: The Gathering
What happens if a creature gains protection from the type of an Aura already attached to it?
The Aura will remain attached. Protection only prevents new attachments.
Can a creature with protection from creatures be blocked?
No, a creature with protection from creatures cannot be blocked by any creature.
Does protection from a card type stop triggered abilities?
No, protection only applies to DEBT (Damage, Enchant/Equip, Block, Target). Triggered abilities from sources of the specified card type can still affect the protected permanent if they don’t target.
If a creature has protection from artifacts, can I still equip an Equipment card to it if the Equipment is also a creature?
No, you cannot. The Equipment card is still an artifact, and protection prevents equipping artifacts to the protected creature.
Can a creature with protection from enchantments be targeted by an enchantment spell?
No, a creature with protection from enchantments cannot be targeted by any enchantment spell or ability.
Does protection from creatures prevent combat damage from creatures?
Yes, protection from creatures prevents combat damage from any creature source.
Can I target my own creature with protection from a card type with a spell of that type?
No, protection prevents you from targeting your own creatures with spells or abilities of the specified card type, even if you want to help them.
What happens if a creature gains protection from the card type of a source that is currently targeting it?
The spell or ability from the source loses its target. If the spell or ability requires a legal target to resolve, it will be countered upon resolution.
Does protection from a card type stop board wipes of that type?
Not necessarily. Protection only prevents targeting. If the board wipe doesn’t target (e.g., “Destroy all creatures”), it will still affect the protected permanent.
Can a creature with protection from instants be targeted by an instant spell?
No, the creature cannot be targeted by any instant spell or ability.
What if a card has multiple card types, and a creature has protection from one of them?
Protection only applies to the specified card type. If the card also has another card type not specified in the protection ability, it can still affect the protected permanent in ways related to that other card type.
Can a creature with protection from creatures block a creature?
The protection only prevents creatures from blocking the permanent that has protection. A creature with protection from creatures can block other creatures.
If a creature has protection from artifacts, can an artifact source activate an ability that affects it?
If the ability targets, no. If the ability doesn’t target but still affects the creature (such as a global effect), then yes, it will affect the protected creature.
Does protection from a card type affect lands?
Protection from a card type would only affect lands if a card has protection from lands as a card type.
How is “protection from multicolored” different from “protection from a color”?
“Protection from multicolored” specifically protects against cards with two or more colors, including hybrid mana costs or multicolor indicators. “Protection from a color” protects against sources of that specific color, regardless of whether they are also other colors.
Understanding and utilizing protection effectively can be a key differentiator in becoming a skilled Magic: The Gathering player. It provides a strategic layer that can dictate combat, hinder opponents, and ultimately lead to victory.