Can Attacks on Planeswalkers be Blocked?
Planeswalkers are powerful, non-creature spells that are a crucial part of any Magic: The Gathering strategy. They offer a unique set of abilities and gameplay mechanics that set them apart from other card types. One of the most pressing questions for any player looking to incorporate planeswalkers into their deck is: can attacks on planeswalkers be blocked?
Accepted Answer: No
The short answer is no, attacks on planeswalkers cannot be blocked. According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, planeswalkers are not creatures and therefore cannot be blocked by other creatures.
Why Can’t Planeswalkers be Blocked?
This may seem counterintuitive, given that planeswalkers can attack and deal damage just like creatures. However, the reason for this lies in the definition of what it means to "block" an attack. Blocking an attack typically involves declaring a creature to block, which then receives the entire attack’s damage. However, since planeswalkers are not creatures, this mechanism does not apply to them.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Planeswalkers?
While you can’t block attacks on planeswalkers, there are several other ways to protect your planeswalkers from damage. Here are a few strategies you can employ:
- Give them protection: Many planeswalkers have built-in protection effects, such as Chandra, Torch of Defiance‘s "Protection from Red" or Jace, Unraveler of Secrets‘s "Protection from Blue". These effects make it difficult or impossible for your opponent to deal direct damage to your planeswalkers.
- Use defensive spells: Spells like Counterspell or Disallow can be used to counter an opponent’s spell that would deal damage to your planeswalker.
- Develop a strong board presence: By developing a strong board presence with other creatures, you can create a hostile environment that makes it difficult for your opponent to target your planeswalkers.
What About Indestructible Planeswalkers?
An indestructible planeswalker is a planeswalker that cannot be destroyed by any means, including damage or effects that would destroy a creature. While an indestructible planeswalker may not take damage, it can still lose loyalty counters if dealt damage. For example, if a planeswalker has 3 loyalty counters and is dealt 2 damage, it would lose 2 loyalty counters, not die.
Conclusion
In conclusion, attacks on planeswalkers cannot be blocked, and players must rely on other strategies to protect their planeswalkers from damage. By giving your planeswalkers protection, using defensive spells, and developing a strong board presence, you can keep your planeswalkers safe and in the game. Whether you’re playing a aggressive or controlling deck, protecting your planeswalkers is crucial to achieving victory.