Sacrificing the Unsacrificable: What Happens When You Sacrifice an Indestructible Permanent in Magic: The Gathering?

The short answer is: you can absolutely sacrifice an indestructible permanent in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Indestructible only protects a permanent from being destroyed by damage or effects that specifically use the word “destroy.” Sacrificing a permanent is a cost, and it doesn’t involve destruction. The permanent is simply placed into its owner’s graveyard. Indestructible has no bearing on this process.

Understanding Indestructible and Sacrifice

To truly understand why you can sacrifice an indestructible permanent, you need to grasp the distinction between destruction and sacrifice in MTG.

• Destruction: This is when a permanent is sent to the graveyard due to damage exceeding its toughness (for creatures), or because a spell or ability explicitly states it destroys the permanent. This is what indestructible protects against.

• Sacrifice: This is when a player, as a cost to activate an ability or cast a spell, voluntarily puts a permanent they control into the graveyard. This is an action taken by the player, not a result of damage or an effect that destroys the permanent.

Therefore, indestructible doesn’t prevent a player from choosing to sacrifice the permanent. It’s a conscious decision, and the game rules allow it, regardless of indestructibility.

The Nuances of Game Rules

The core of Magic: The Gathering lies in its intricate rule set. Rule 701.17a clarifies sacrifice: “To sacrifice a permanent, its controller moves it from the battlefield directly to its owner’s graveyard.” Notice the absence of the word “destroy.”

The ability to sacrifice persists, unaffected by abilities like indestructible. This creates interesting strategic plays and tactical decisions in the game. Knowing these distinctions is what separates a casual player from a seasoned strategist.

Strategic Implications

Understanding the interaction between indestructible and sacrifice opens up new strategic possibilities. You might sacrifice an indestructible creature to:

• Activate an ability that requires a sacrifice as a cost.
• Prevent an opponent from gaining control of it through a steal effect.
• Trigger a “when a creature dies” ability for value.

This interaction demonstrates the depth and complexity of MTG, where seemingly contradictory concepts can coexist and create unique gameplay scenarios.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the nuances of indestructible and related mechanics in Magic: The Gathering:

1. If a board wipe says “destroy all creatures,” does indestructible protect against it?

   Yes, if the board wipe uses the word “destroy,” indestructible will protect your creatures. However, board wipes that exile creatures or reduce their toughness to zero will bypass indestructible.

2. Can I sacrifice a creature in response to a “destroy” spell targeting it?

   Yes, you can. You can sacrifice the creature as a response, and the “destroy” spell will fizzle because its target is no longer on the battlefield.

3. Does deathtouch cancel out indestructible?

   No. Deathtouch causes damage to be lethal, but indestructible prevents creatures from being destroyed by lethal damage. Indestructible will “win” in this case, and the damage will be inconsequential.

4. Does indestructible stop -1/-1 counters from killing a creature?

   No. Indestructible only prevents destruction, and doesn’t provide immunity to having a creature’s toughness reduced to 0 or less. If enough -1/-1 counters are placed on an indestructible creature to reduce its toughness to 0, it will still die.

5. Can an indestructible creature be exiled?

   Yes. Indestructible only protects against destruction. Exiling a permanent is a completely different action, so indestructible offers no protection against it.

6. If an indestructible creature has 0 toughness, does it die?

   Yes, it does. Although, if it returns to the battlefield it will have indestructible.

7. Can I put indestructible counters on a permanent?

   Yes. Certain cards allow you to put indestructible counters on permanents, granting them the indestructible ability. Proliferating indestructible counters also works.

8. Does trample work if an indestructible creature blocks?

   Yes. You must assign what would be lethal damage to the indestructible creature, and then the excess damage is assigned to the defending player. Indestructible doesn’t change the trample mechanic, only the outcome of damage that would be lethal.

9. Is hexproof better than indestructible?

   It depends on the situation. Hexproof protects against targeted spells and abilities, while indestructible protects against destruction. Both have their weaknesses, and one isn’t strictly “better” than the other.

10. Does indestructible prevent damage?

    No, indestructible doesn’t prevent damage. It simply prevents a permanent from being destroyed by lethal damage or effects that say “destroy”. The damage is still dealt and may trigger other effects.

11. What are some good ways to remove indestructible creatures?

    • Exile effects (e.g., Path to Exile).
    • Effects that force the opponent to sacrifice the creature (e.g., Diabolic Edict).
    • Reducing toughness to 0 or less (e.g., Grasp of Darkness).
    • “Bounce” effects that return the creature to its owner’s hand (e.g., Unsummon).
    • Stealing the creature and then sacrificing it.

12. If I sacrifice a creature, is that the same as it “dying” in MTG?

    Yes. In Magic: The Gathering, “dying” specifically refers to a creature going from the battlefield to the graveyard. This includes being sacrificed, destroyed, or having its toughness reduced to zero.

13. Can I counter a spell that would give a creature indestructible?

    Yes, you can counter the spell before it resolves and gives the creature indestructible. Once a creature has indestructible, it’s much harder to deal with.

14. Does first strike beat deathtouch?

    Yes. If a creature with first strike deals lethal damage (which deathtouch automatically makes any damage) to a creature with deathtouch during the first strike combat damage step, the deathtouch creature dies, and it won’t get a chance to deal damage back.

15. Can I sacrifice an indestructible land?

    Yes, unless it is an animated land with indestructible. Otherwise, indestructible does not prevent you from sacrificing a permanent, including a land.

Conclusion

Understanding the intricacies of indestructible and sacrifice is crucial for mastering Magic: The Gathering. While indestructible provides strong protection against destruction, it doesn’t make a permanent immune to all removal methods. Knowing when and how to exploit these mechanics can significantly improve your gameplay. For those interested in further exploring the educational aspects of gaming, be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They offer valuable resources and insights into the intersection of games and learning.