What Does Indestructible Protect Against?
Indestructible is a crucial keyword ability in the world of Magic: The Gathering that can turn a game around. But what exactly does it protect against? In this article, we’ll dive into the intricacies of indestructible and explore its limitations.
Definition of Indestructible
Indestructible is a static ability that prevents a permanent (creature, planeswalker, or planeswalker token) from being destroyed. This ability is not limited to any specific type of destruction, including combat damage, sacrifice, or removal spells.
Protection from Destruction
So, what does indestructible protect against? To answer this question, let’s break down the different forms of destruction that indestructible can mitigate:
• Combat Damage: Indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed by combat damage. This means that even if an indestructible creature is attacked and has 0 toughness, it will not be destroyed. Instead, it will continue to exist and can still attack or defend.
• Removal Spells: Indestructible creatures cannot be destroyed by removal spells, such as those that say "destroy" or "annihilate." However, some removal spells may have other effects that can still affect indestructible creatures.
• Sacrifice: Indestructible creatures cannot be sacrificed to another effect. This includes sacrificing a creature to a sac-effect ability or to a sacrifice clause on a card.
• Other Destruction: Indestructible creatures are also immune to other forms of destruction, such as destroy effects caused by abilities or triggered abilities.
Exceptions to Indestructible
While indestructible offers excellent protection, there are some exceptions to keep in mind:
• Toughness 0: If an indestructible creature has 0 toughness, it can still be destroyed. This is because toughness determines whether a creature is destroyed by combat damage, not indestructible.
• Deathtouch: If a creature has deathtouch, it can destroy indestructible creatures regardless of their indestructible ability. Deathtouch overrides indestructible, allowing the deathtouch-possessing creature to destroy the indestructible creature.
• Other Overriding Abilities: Some abilities can override indestructible, such as the "destroy" effect on some cards. These abilities may destroy an indestructible creature even if it would otherwise be protected.
Additional Considerations
When considering the implications of indestructible, here are some additional factors to keep in mind:
• Game State: Indestructible can have a significant impact on the game state, particularly in longer games where creatures with indestructible ability can persist and continue to impact the board.
• Strategy: The availability of indestructible creatures can influence gameplay strategy, as players may focus on controlling the board or using removal spells to clear the way for their indestructible creatures.
• Combos and Synergies: Indestructible creatures can create interesting combos and synergies when paired with other cards or abilities that rely on their indestructible nature.
In conclusion, indestructible is a powerful ability that protects a permanent from destruction in various forms. While it offers excellent protection, there are some exceptions to keep in mind, including toughness 0, deathtouch, and other overriding abilities. By understanding the intricacies of indestructible, players can better navigate the world of Magic: The Gathering and harness its power to their advantage.