Do Poison Counters Kill Indestructible Creatures?
Direct Answer: Yes, poison counters can still kill indestructible creatures. Indestructible only protects against destruction by lethal damage and destroy effects, while poison counters reduce the creature’s toughness to 0 or less, which would put the creature into its owner’s graveyard.
Understanding Indestructible and Poison Counters
Indestructible is a type of ability that prevents a permanent from being destroyed by lethal damage and destroy effects. It does not protect against other forms of removal, such as exiling or sacrificing. Poison Counters, on the other hand, are a type of state-based effect that reduces a creature’s toughness to 0 or less, causing it to die.
Indestructible vs. Non-Indestructible
| Indestructible | Non-Indestructible | |
|---|---|---|
| Lethal Damage | Prevents destruction | Kills the creature |
| Destroy Effects | Prevents destruction | Kills the creature |
| Other Removal | Not protected | Can be removed |
| Poison Counters | Not protected | Can be killed |
As shown in the table, indestructible creatures are protected against lethal damage and destroy effects, but are not protected against other forms of removal. Poison counters, on the other hand, can kill indestructible creatures by reducing their toughness to 0 or less.
Examples and Interactions
- Example 1: Indestructible creature with 2 toughness is attacked by a 2/2 creature. The indestructible creature would not be destroyed, but the additional damage would still be dealt to it, causing its toughness to be reduced to 0 or less. The creature would then die due to poison counters.
- Example 2: Indestructible creature with 3 toughness is attacked by a 2/2 creature. The indestructible creature would not be destroyed, but the excess damage would be dealt to the player, causing the creature’s toughness to be reduced to 0 or less. The creature would then die due to poison counters.
- Example 3: Indestructible creature with 1 toughness is attacked by a 1/1 creature. The indestructible creature would not be destroyed, but the damage would still reduce its toughness to 0 or less, causing it to die due to poison counters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, poison counters can still kill indestructible creatures by reducing their toughness to 0 or less. Indestructible only protects against destruction by lethal damage and destroy effects, while poison counters can kill creatures through other means. Understanding the differences between indestructible and non-indestructible creatures, as well as the interactions with poison counters, is crucial for effective deck-building and gameplay.