Unraveling the Magic: Protection from Black and Deathtouch in MTG
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Imagine a knight clad in shimmering armor, facing a shadowy assassin. The assassin’s blade drips with venom, but the knight remains unscathed. This, in essence, is the dynamic between protection from black and deathtouch in Magic: The Gathering.
Protection from black is a static ability that grants a permanent immunity to black sources. It stands for four distinct effects, often remembered by the acronym DEBT:
- Damage: Prevents all damage dealt by black sources.
- Enchanting/Equipping: Cannot be enchanted or equipped by black Auras or Equipment.
- Blocking: Cannot be blocked by black creatures.
- Targeting: Cannot be targeted by black spells or abilities from black sources.
Deathtouch, on the other hand, is a keyword ability that modifies combat damage. Any amount of damage dealt by a creature with deathtouch to another creature is considered lethal damage, immediately destroying the damaged creature (unless another effect prevents destruction).
The key interaction is this: If a creature with protection from black is dealt damage by a creature with deathtouch, the protection ability prevents the damage. Since the damage is prevented, deathtouch has nothing to modify. The protected creature survives unscathed. It’s a direct counter!
Essentially, protection from black acts as a shield, stopping the damage before deathtouch can even come into play. This makes it a powerful defense against black-heavy strategies and potent removal spells.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Protection and Deathtouch
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of protection from black and its interactions with other abilities in Magic: The Gathering.
1. Does Protection from Black Stop Abilities?
Yes, partially. Protection from black prevents abilities from black sources from targeting the protected permanent. This is a crucial distinction. If an ability doesn’t target, protection won’t stop it.
2. What is Protection from Black Sorcery?
There’s no specific card or ability called “protection from black sorcery.” The general ability, protection from black, applies to all black sources, including sorceries. So, a creature with protection from black cannot be targeted by a black sorcery spell.
3. Can a Deathtouch-Enchanted Grim Lavamancer Kill a Creature with Protection from Black?
No. Grim Lavamancer’s ability is a red source, not a black source. Protection from black only protects against black sources. However, the damage dealt by that ability will still get reduced to zero by Protection, so deathtouch doesn’t come into play either.
4. Does Protection from Black Stop “No Mercy”?
No. No Mercy is a triggered ability that doesn’t target. When a creature deals combat damage to you, No Mercy triggers and destroys that creature. Because the ability is on an enchantment you control, not a black source, it will trigger against a creature even with Protection from Black. Because it doesn’t target, protection from black doesn’t prevent it.
5. Does Protection from Black Stop Multicolored Spells?
Yes. If the multicolored spell includes black, it is considered a black spell. This is very relevant as multicolor spells count as both colors, so a creature with protection from black cannot be targeted by a black/red spell.
6. How Does Protection from a Color Work?
Protection from a color prevents damage, enchanting/equipping, blocking, and targeting (DEBT) from sources of that color. It’s a blanket immunity to anything of the specified color.
7. Does Deathtouch Beat Indestructible?
No. Indestructible prevents a permanent from being destroyed. While deathtouch makes any amount of damage lethal, indestructible overrides this by simply preventing destruction. The creature with indestructible will still take damage, but it won’t be destroyed.
8. What Beats Deathtouch?
Several things can “beat” deathtouch:
- Indestructible: As mentioned above, indestructible creatures ignore deathtouch.
- Protection from the creature’s color or source of damage Prevents damage to the creature, rendering deathtouch moot.
- First or Double Strike: A creature with first or double strike can potentially deal lethal damage to the creature with deathtouch before it can deal damage back.
- Removal Spells: Instant-speed removal spells can remove the creature with deathtouch before combat damage is dealt.
- Hexproof/Shroud: Prevents targeted removal to the deathtouch creature and also prevents other spells that might kill the creature with protection.
9. Is Deathtouch Blocked by Hexproof?
No. Hexproof prevents a permanent from being the target of spells or abilities your opponent’s control. Deathtouch doesn’t target, so hexproof doesn’t prevent it. If a creature with hexproof is dealt damage by a creature with deathtouch, it will be destroyed.
10. Does Protection from Black Stop Fear?
No. Fear restricts blocking options. It doesn’t deal damage, enchant, equip, or target. Therefore, protection from black has no effect on fear. A creature with fear can still be unblockable by a creature with protection from black, unless that creature is also an artifact or black.
11. What is Protection from Black and Blue MTG?
This means the creature has both protection from black and protection from blue. It cannot be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything black or blue.
12. Does Protection from a Color Prevent Destroy?
Only if the “destroy” effect comes from a source of that color AND targets the protected permanent. Global destroy effects (like board wipes) don’t target, so protection won’t prevent them.
13. Is Black a Good Color for Protection?
Black, while known for its removal and discard abilities, can offer protection in other forms. Cards that give hexproof, or abilities that prevent damage can provide some forms of “protection”. Black can also force opponents to sacrifice creatures, removing threats before they can become problems.
14. Does Protection from Color Stop Board Wipes?
No. Board wipes typically don’t target. Protection only protects against targeting, damage, enchanting/equipping, and blocking (DEBT). Since board wipes like Wrath of God don’t target specific creatures, they bypass protection.
15. Can You Block Something with Protection from Everything?
Protection from everything means the creature cannot be blocked, targeted, dealt damage by any source, or enchanted/equipped by anything. The protection will prevent it from being blocked as one of its effects.
The Strategic Implications
Understanding the nuances of protection is crucial for strategic play. Knowing when to use it, how to play around it, and which abilities it counters can significantly impact your chances of winning. The interaction between protection from black and deathtouch is just one example of the many intricate rules and interactions that make Magic: The Gathering so engaging.
For more in-depth knowledge about gaming and its educational potential, explore the resources available at the Games Learning Society: GamesLearningSociety.org.