Can creatures with protection be targeted?

Can Creatures with Protection be Targeted?

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, creatures with protection from a specific color or ability can be quite formidable. But the question remains: can these creatures be targeted? In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of protection and explore the answer to this question.

What is Protection?

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s define what protection is. Protection is a mechanic that prevents a creature from being targeted by spells and abilities of a specific color or ability. This means that a creature with protection from blue, for example, cannot be targeted by blue spells or abilities.

Can Creatures with Protection be Targeted?

The short answer is: it depends. Creatures with protection can be targeted by certain types of spells and abilities, but not others. Here’s a breakdown of the possibilities:

• Targeted spells and abilities: Creatures with protection can be targeted by spells and abilities that don’t rely on targeting the creature directly. For example, a creature with protection from red can still be affected by a board wipe like Wrath of God, which doesn’t target the creature specifically.
• Non-targeted spells and abilities: Creatures with protection cannot be targeted by spells and abilities that rely on targeting the creature directly. For example, a creature with protection from blue cannot be targeted by a spell like Lightning Bolt, which specifically targets the creature.

Protection and Board Wipes

One common question is whether creatures with protection can be affected by board wipes. The answer is: it depends. Some board wipes, like Wrath of God, don’t target creatures specifically and can affect creatures with protection. However, other board wipes, like Day of Judgment, do target creatures and cannot affect creatures with protection.

Protection and Commander Damage

Another common question is whether creatures with protection can be affected by commander damage. The answer is: yes, creatures with protection can still be affected by commander damage. Commander damage is a special type of damage that can’t be prevented, so even creatures with protection can take damage from a commander.

Protection and Equipping

Creatures with protection cannot be equipped or enchanted by permanents with the same color or ability as the protection. For example, a creature with protection from red cannot be equipped with a red equipment.

Protection and Blocking

Creatures with protection cannot be blocked by creatures with the same color or ability as the protection. For example, a creature with protection from blue cannot be blocked by a blue creature.

Summary

In conclusion, creatures with protection can be targeted by certain types of spells and abilities, but not others. They can be affected by board wipes, commander damage, and equipping, but not by targeting spells and abilities. Here’s a summary of the key points:

By understanding the intricacies of protection, you can make more informed decisions about which creatures to play and how to interact with them on the battlefield.