What Happens When You Block with an Indestructible Creature?
Indestructible creatures are a staple in the world of Magic: The Gathering. These creatures can withstand the toughest of opponents and survive even the most brutal attacks. But what happens when you block with an indestructible creature? In this article, we’ll explore the rules surrounding indestructible creatures and what happens when they block.
The Basics
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s review the basics. An indestructible creature is one that can’t be destroyed by any means. This means that creatures with indestructibility can survive combat, destruction, and other forms of elimination.
Blocking with an Indestructible Creature
When you block with an indestructible creature, the blocking creature survives the combat and remains on the battlefield. The attacking creature’s toughness is subtracted from its power, but since the blocking creature is indestructible, it can’t be destroyed. This means that the attacking creature’s damage is essentially nullified, and it doesn’t leave the battlefield.
But What About Excess Damage?
In most cases, when a creature with indestructibility blocks an attacking creature, the excess damage dealt to the blocking creature is removed. This is because the indestructible creature is immune to destruction, and the excess damage can’t destroy it. The excess damage is essentially absorbed by the indestructible creature, leaving it at its starting toughness.
Deathtouch Creatures
When an indestructible creature blocks a creature with deathtouch, things get interesting. Deathtouch creatures deal damage to the blocking creature during combat, but since the blocking creature is indestructible, it can’t be destroyed. In this case, the excess damage dealt to the indestructible creature is not removed, and the indestructible creature takes the full amount of damage.
First Strike and Double Strike
Indestructible creatures with first strike or double strike can deal damage to the opposing creature before it has a chance to block. This means that the indestructible creature can deal damage to the opposing creature without the opposing creature having a chance to block.
Rulings and Examples
To illustrate these points, let’s take a look at some example scenarios:
| Scenario | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Indestructible creature blocks an attacking creature with toughness 5. The indestructible creature’s toughness is 6. The excess damage is removed, leaving the indestructible creature at 6 toughness. |
| 2. | Indestructible creature with first strike attacks an opponent. The opponent’s creature blocks with a toughness of 3. The indestructible creature deals 4 damage to the opponent’s creature before it can block. The opponent’s creature is destroyed. |
| 3. | Indestructible creature blocks a deathtouch creature. The indestructible creature takes 5 damage from the deathtouch creature’s attack. The indestructible creature is now at 1 toughness. |
| 4. | Indestructible creature with double strike attacks an opponent. The opponent’s creature blocks with a toughness of 4. The indestructible creature deals 4 damage to the opponent’s creature with its first strike, then deals another 4 damage with its double strike. The opponent’s creature is destroyed. |
Conclusion
Indestructible creatures are powerful forces on the battlefield, and understanding how they interact with other creatures is crucial to success. By understanding what happens when you block with an indestructible creature, you can better anticipate and react to your opponents’ moves. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this article should provide a solid foundation for navigating the complex world of indestructible creatures.