Does Phyrexian Revoker Stop Planeswalkers?
Phyrexian Revoker is a powerful card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, capable of shutting down entire combos and strategies. But one of the most common questions about Revoker is whether it can stop planeswalkers. In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Phyrexian Revoker and explore whether it can indeed stop planeswalkers.
Yes, it stops planeswalkers
The short answer to the question is yes, Phyrexian Revoker can stop planeswalkers. According to the card’s text, "The ability of source with the chosen name can’t be activated." This means that if you name a planeswalker with Phyrexian Revoker, its ability can’t be activated, rendering it unable to do anything.
But what about loyalty abilities?
Loyalty abilities are a type of ability that planeswalkers have, and they’re different from other abilities. These abilities allow planeswalkers to attack and defend, and they’re crucial to their function. But Phyrexian Revoker can still shut them down. According to the Magic: The Gathering official rules, "A planeswalker’s loyalty abilities can’t be activated unless it’s in the graveyard, exile, or in play." This means that if you name a planeswalker with Phyrexian Revoker, its loyalty abilities can’t be activated, effectively shutting it down.
But what about loyalty abilities that don’t care about the planeswalker’s status?
Some planeswalker loyalty abilities don’t care about the planeswalker’s status, such as Liliana of the Veil‘s ability, which reads, "Liliana’s loyalty ability can’t be activated unless you’ve lost 2 or more life this turn." In this case, Phyrexian Revoker can’t stop the ability, as it doesn’t care about the planeswalker’s status. However, this is a rare exception, and most planeswalker loyalty abilities are affected by Phyrexian Revoker.
Does Phyrexian Revoker work on planeswalkers with abilities that care about the planeswalker’s status?
Yes, Phyrexian Revoker can still work on planeswalkers with abilities that care about the planeswalker’s status. For example, Jace, the Mind Sculptor has an ability that reads, "You can’t cast Jace unless you’ve lost 2 or more life this turn." If you name Jace with Phyrexian Revoker, its ability can’t be activated, effectively shutting it down.
Table: Phyrexian Revoker vs. Planeswalkers
| Planeswalker | Loyalty Ability | Effect of Phyrexian Revoker |
|---|---|---|
| Liliana of the Veil | "Liliana’s loyalty ability can’t be activated unless you’ve lost 2 or more life this turn." | Does not stop the ability |
| Jace, the Mind Sculptor | "You can’t cast Jace unless you’ve lost 2 or more life this turn." | Stops the ability |
| Other planeswalkers | "You can activate this ability at any time." | Stops the ability |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Phyrexian Revoker can indeed stop planeswalkers, but there are some exceptions. If you name a planeswalker with Phyrexian Revoker, its ability can’t be activated, rendering it unable to do anything. However, some planeswalker loyalty abilities don’t care about the planeswalker’s status, and Phyrexian Revoker can’t stop them. Always remember to check the specific text of the planeswalker and its ability before using Phyrexian Revoker, and you’ll be well on your way to shutting down your opponents’ combos and strategies.