Vigor the Elemental. Does he prevent damage from kill spells like a go for the throat?

Asked by SithLord 9 years ago

Vigor . I know he can prevent damage if another creature you control gets Lightning Bolt or Dismember , but what about cards that say "destroy," target creature? And if it does prevent "destroy," damage as well, how many counters would the creatures receive?

GreatSword says... #1

You need to remember what damage actually is. Damage is a value marked on a creature as a result of a source dealing damage to that creature. An effect that reduces a creature's toughness (like Dismember is 'not' damage, so Vigor 's replacement effect will not apply in that event.

A destroy effect like Doom Blade puts a permanent into it's owner graveyard. It doesn't deal any damage like a Lightning Bolt , so it won't be affected by Vigor either.

July 4, 2014 6:39 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #2

Spells and abilities that destroy do not do any damage, they simply destroy the permenant in question. This means that Vigor does not interact with spells that say "destroy". As a note, Vigor also does not interact in any way with Dismember . Spells that give -x/-y until the end of turn also do not do any damage. Damage also doesn't cause toughness decrease.

TL:DR Vigor only interacts with damage and as such the only spells it interacts with are damage spells such as Lightning Bolt . It does not interact in any way with spells such as Dismember , Swords to Plowshares , or Go for the Throat .

July 4, 2014 6:44 p.m.

PrimeEpoch says... #3

Damage is a very specific term, it only applies to combat damage and things that specifically say 'damage' in the ability (or if it's in the reminder text of a mechanic). Anything that doesn't say 'damage' doesn't deal damage, like with Debt to the Deathless . It doesn't deal damage to the player even though the effect would be the same. Dismember doesn't deal damage, damage never decreases the power of a creature, and it doesn't decrease the toughness either despite the online games showing that it does. Things that destroy don't deal damage either, and that's the same with sacrifice effects from Liliana of the Veil , so she can kill Mirran Crusader ect. If I need to explain, then tell me. The same thing applies to destroy like Damnation can also kill Mirran Crusader .

July 4, 2014 7:21 p.m.

SithLord says... #4

I am still a new player in Magic the Gathering so the technicality of the game is a slow process for me. What if someone was to "reduce," the toughness of one of my creatures with Vigor , on the field. If the creature has a toughness of 6 and it is reduced to 1, will the ability still trigger or is it really all in burn and combat damage?

July 4, 2014 8:01 p.m.

Devonin says... Accepted answer #5

Damage is dealt by creatures during the combat damage step, and by spells and abilities which use the word "damage"

Reducing toughness is not damage. Destruction is not damage. Exile is not damage.

July 4, 2014 8:19 p.m.

GreatSword says... #6

Damage is the result of a source dealing damage to a permanent or player. A spell or ability must use the words "deals damage" to result in damage (a la Sorin's Thirst , Shock , Prodigal Sorcerer , etc). Again, an effect that reduces toughness (like Dismember ) do not deal damage.

Vigor 's 2nd ability is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability. Triggered ability start with the words "When/Whenever/At" (like it's 3rd ability). Replacement effects start with "If". Triggered abilities use the stack to resolve. Replacement effects do not use the stack. They actually change the result of an event.

July 4, 2014 8:27 p.m.

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