What does Regenerate do in MTG?
Regenerate is a replacement effect in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) that allows a creature to be restored to its normal state, removing all damage from it, and removing it from combat if it’s an attacking or blocking creature. This effect can be activated at any time, not just when the creature is about to die.
How Regenerate Works
When a creature with regenerate is about to die, the regenerate ability kicks in, and the following happens:
- The creature is removed from combat, if it’s an attacking or blocking creature.
- All damage marked on the creature is removed.
- The creature is restored to its normal state, with all its abilities and powers intact.
Key Points to Note
- Regenerate can only be activated once per turn, and only on a creature.
- If a creature with regenerate is put into the graveyard, it can’t be regenerated.
- Regenerate doesn’t restore a creature’s life total or remove it from the battlefield.
- Regenerate doesn’t prevent a creature from being sacrificed or sent to the graveyard through other means, such as a sacrifice spell or a destruction effect.
Benefits of Regenerate
- Regenerate can be a powerful way to save a creature from destruction, especially in situations where you’re trying to maintain a board presence.
- Regenerate can also be used to get a creature out of combat, allowing you to play defensively and protect your life total.
- Regenerate can be used in combination with other effects, such as regeneration-inducing creatures or regeneration-granting enchantments, to create powerful and resilient creatures.
Limitations of Regenerate
- Regenerate can only be activated once per turn, which means you can’t repeatedly regenerate a creature to keep it alive indefinitely.
- Regenerate doesn’t remove a creature from the battlefield, which means you can still lose the game if your opponent has a way to destroy your creatures.
- Regenerate doesn’t restore a creature’s life total, which means you can still lose the game if your life total drops to zero.
Strategies for Using Regenerate
- Use regenerate to save a creature from destruction and maintain a board presence.
- Use regenerate to get a creature out of combat and play defensively.
- Use regenerate in combination with other effects to create powerful and resilient creatures.
- Use regenerate to delay the game and buy time to develop your board.
Examples of Cards with Regenerate
- Regenerate (Instant) – Regenerate target creature.
- Vines of Vastwood (Enchantment) – Enchanted creature has regenerate.
- Luminous Angel (Creature) – Flying, regenerate. Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.
Conclusion
Regenerate is a powerful and versatile ability in MTG that can be used in a variety of situations to save a creature from destruction and maintain a board presence. By understanding how regenerate works and using it strategically, you can gain an edge over your opponents and improve your chances of winning.