Does Deathtouch work when blocking?

Does Deathtouch Work When Blocking?

Deathtouch is a powerful ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a creature to deal lethal damage to a target creature or planeswalker. But what happens when that target is a blocking creature? In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Deathtouch and blocking to explore the answer to this question.

Direct Answer: Yes, Deathtouch Works When Blocking

When a creature with Deathtouch deals damage to a blocking creature, it will still be considered lethal damage. This means that if the blocking creature has only 1 or 2 toughness remaining, Deathtouch will kill it immediately. Deathtouch checks any damage, not just combat damage. This means that any type of damage, including damage from spells or abilities, can trigger Deathtouch’s lethal damage effect.

Deathtouch and Blocking: How It Works

When a creature is blocking, it’s trying to absorb damage and prevent the attacking creature from reaching its controller. However, if that blocking creature has Deathtouch, the damage it’s trying to absorb is actually lethal. Here’s an example:

• Creature A with Deathtouch (4/4) attacks Creature B (2/2).
• Creature B blocks Creature A.
• Creature A deals 2 damage to Creature B, but since it has Deathtouch, that damage is lethal and kills Creature B.

In this example, Creature B dies because of the Deathtouch, not because of the block itself. The block simply changed the target of the damage, but didn’t mitigate the lethal effect of Deathtouch.

Indestructible vs. Hexproof: What’s the Difference?

Some creatures have indestructible, which means they cannot be destroyed by any means, including damage from Deathtouch. Other creatures have hexproof, which means they cannot be targeted by spells or abilities. While both abilities seem to protect creatures from harm, there’s a key difference: indigestible creatures can still die to damage, while hexproof creatures are immune to spells and abilities.

• Creature A with Deathtouch and Indestructible (4/4) attacks Creature B (2/2).
• Creature B blocks Creature A.
• Creature A deals 2 damage to Creature B, but since Creature B is indestructible, it doesn’t die.
• Creature A would need to deal more damage than 2 for Creature B to die.

On the other hand, a creature with hexproof would be immune to the effects of Deathtouch:

• Creature A with Deathtouch and Hexproof (4/4) attacks Creature B (2/2).
• Creature B blocks Creature A.
• Creature A deals 2 damage to Creature B, but since Creature B has hexproof, the damage has no effect.
• Creature A cannot deal any more damage to Creature B, since hexproof makes it immune to targeting.

Proliferate: Does it Get Around Hexproof?

Proliferate is a mechanic that allows a creature to copy an ability, including Deathtouch. When a creature with Deathtouch proliferates, it gains an additional ability that says "any number of times, create a 1/1 black spirit creature token with deathtouch". This ability can target creatures with hexproof, allowing Deathtouch to still deal lethal damage. However, this only works when the creature with Deathtouch proliferates, and not when it simply deals damage.

Conclusion

Deathtouch is a powerful ability that can deal lethal damage to a target creature or planeswalker. When a creature with Deathtouch is blocking, it will still be considered lethal damage and can kill the blocking creature. While creatures with indigestible or hexproof abilities can resist damage from Deathtouch, Deathtouch can still deal lethal damage with the right circumstances. Proliferate can even allow Deathtouch to target creatures with hexproof. When building your deck, consider incorporating creatures with Deathtouch and plan around its effects to take advantage of this powerful ability.