Do shield counters prevent destruction?

Do Shield Counters Prevent Destruction?

Shield counters are a type of counter that can be placed on permanents, and they are a signature mechanic of the Broker family. When a permanent with a shield counter on it is dealt damage or destroyed, instead of taking the usual consequences, a shield counter is removed, and the instance of damage or destruction is prevented.

Does Shield Prevent Destruction?

So, to answer the question directly, no, shield counters do not prevent destruction. While they do prevent damage and destruction in the classical sense, they do not completely stop a permanent from being removed from the game.

How Shield Counters Work

Shield counters work by intercepting the usual consequences of damage or destruction. When a permanent is dealt damage, the shield counter on that permanent absorbs the damage, removing the counter instead of dealing the damage. Similarly, when a permanent is destroyed, the shield counter on that permanent absorbs the destruction, removing the counter instead of destroying the permanent.

What Does Shield Counter Absorb?

Shield counters absorb a variety of effects, including:

• Damage from spells and abilities
• Damage from combat
• Destruction effects
• Sacrifice effects

What Doesn’t Shield Counter Absorb?

However, shield counters do not absorb the following effects:

• State-based effects, such as sacrificing a permanent with zero or less toughness
• Activated abilities, such as sacrificing a permanent to gain life
• Triggered abilities, such as triggered abilities that sacrifice a permanent

What Happens When a Shield Counter Is Removed?

When a shield counter is removed, the permanent that it was on returns to its normal state. This means that if a permanent was damaged or destroyed, it will no longer be damaged or destroyed. If a permanent was sacrificed, it will no longer be sacrificed.

Does Shield Counter Have Any Interactions with Deathtouch?

Deathtouch is a keyword ability that causes a creature to deal lethal damage to any creature it touches. While shield counters do prevent damage, they do not prevent deathtouch from dealing lethal damage. However, if a creature with deathtouch is blocked by a creature with first strike or double strike, the blocking creature will deal damage during the first strike or double strike damage step, before the deathtouch creature can return fire.

Conclusion

In conclusion, shield counters are a powerful tool that can help prevent damage and destruction. However, they do not completely prevent destruction, and permanents that are shielded can still be sacrificed or destroyed by certain effects. By understanding how shield counters work and what effects they absorb, players can make more informed decisions about when to use them.