Unraveling the Enigma: What is Protection from All Colors in Magic: The Gathering?
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Protection from all colors in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a powerful ability that grants a creature immunity to a wide range of negative effects. A creature with this ability cannot be targeted, damaged, enchanted, equipped, or blocked by anything that is colored. This means spells, abilities, and creatures of any color simply cannot interact with it in those specific ways, making it a formidable presence on the battlefield. The ability effectively erects a colored barrier around the creature, deflecting any attempts to directly influence it through colored means.
Delving Deeper: How Protection Works
The protection ability, in general, follows a simple acronym: DEBT. This helps remember what it protects against:
- Damage: Prevents all damage dealt by sources of the specified color(s).
- Enchanted/Equipped: Cannot be enchanted or equipped by Auras or Equipment of the specified color(s).
- Blocking: Cannot be blocked by creatures of the specified color(s).
- Targeting: Cannot be targeted by spells or abilities from sources of the specified color(s).
So, a creature with protection from all colors is immune to these actions from any colored source. It’s important to note that protection only stops these specific interactions; it does not prevent everything.
The Limits of Protection
Despite its strength, protection from all colors is not an absolute shield. It does not protect against the following:
- Colorless sources: Spells, abilities, and creatures that are colorless can still affect a creature with protection from all colors.
- Board wipes: Mass removal spells that destroy all creatures on the battlefield, like “Wrath of God,” affect creatures with protection from all colors because they don’t target, damage, block, or attempt to enchant/equip
- Sacrifice effects: Being forced to sacrifice a creature bypasses protection, as the effect is forcing you to act, not directly affecting the creature.
- Life loss: Effects that cause you to lose life are not prevented by protection.
Essentially, protection only stops direct interactions based on color. Indirect effects or colorless sources can still have an impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Protection from All Colors
1. Does protection from all colors stop destroy effects?
No, protection from all colors does not stop destroy effects, provided the effect doesn’t target the creature. A spell like “Wrath of God,” which destroys all creatures, will still destroy a creature with protection from all colors.
2. Can a creature with protection from all colors block?
Yes, a creature with protection from all colors can block. The protection ability only prevents creatures of a certain type from being able to block it, but doesn’t prevent it from blocking other creatures.
3. Does protection from all colors stop auras that are already attached?
No, protection doesn’t remove Auras that are already attached. If a creature gains protection from all colors while an Aura is attached, the Aura remains. However, new Auras of any color cannot be attached.
4. How does protection from all colors interact with trample?
If a creature with protection from all colors is blocking a creature with trample, the trampling creature must still assign lethal damage (in this case, 0) to the blocking creature before assigning the rest of the damage to the defending player.
5. Does protection from all colors stop Planeswalkers’ abilities?
Protection from all colors prevents planeswalkers from directly damaging the creature or targeting it with abilities. However, it doesn’t prevent planeswalkers from entering the battlefield.
6. Does protection from all colors stop triggered abilities?
Protection only prevents targeting by spells or activated/triggered abilities. Protection from all colors will not stop a triggered ability from a source of a certain color as long as it does not target the creature.
7. Can a creature with protection from all colors be targeted by an opponent’s ability if the source is colorless?
Yes, a creature with protection from all colors can be targeted by an opponent’s ability if the source is colorless. Protection only prevents targeting from colored sources.
8. Does protection from all colors stop infect?
Protection from all colors can prevent damage dealt by a source that has infect, but it won’t stop effects that cause you to get poison counters from sources that don’t deal damage.
9. Does protection from all colors work against multicolored cards?
Yes, protection from all colors works against multicolored cards. Since multicolored cards have more than one color, they fall under the umbrella of “all colors.”
10. Does protection from all colors prevent me from sacrificing a creature?
No, you can still sacrifice a creature with protection from all colors. Sacrifice effects target the player, not the creature.
11. Can a creature with protection from all colors be equipped with a colorless equipment?
Yes, a creature with protection from all colors can be equipped with a colorless equipment. Protection from all colors only prevents being equipped by colored sources.
12. Does protection from all colors stop effects that cause me to lose life?
No, protection from all colors does not stop effects that cause you to lose life. These effects affect your life total directly, not the creature.
13. How does protection from all colors interact with Deathtouch?
Protection from all colors prevents damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch. Since the protection prevents the damage, deathtouch’s effect is nullified.
14. Does “protection from everything” provide the same protection as protection from all colors?
Protection from everything offers broader protection. It protects against damage, equipping, blocking, and targeting from any source, not just colored ones.
15. Are there cards that grant protection from colorless?
As the original document stated, there is no way to grant “protection from colorless” by any existing card. If there were, it would work as detailed for other types of protection.
Conclusion: Mastering the Nuances of Protection
Understanding protection, especially protection from all colors, is crucial for strategic play in Magic: The Gathering. Knowing its limitations and strengths allows players to make informed decisions, navigate complex situations, and maximize the effectiveness of their decks. This article provides a deep dive into protection, but the learning never stops. Engaging with the MTG community and exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org can further enhance your understanding of the game. The world of MTG is complex, dynamic and can serve as a great platform for learning and collaboration.