Explain "indestructible"
Asked by DZhopefully 12 years ago
im just not getting it, if it is dealt "lethal damage" doesn't its toughness go to 0 destroying it? but its immune to lethal damage. so what happens when its attacked by a monster stronger then it? if its immune to lethal damage doesn't that mean the monster cant deal lethal damage to it? if so then how can its toughness go to 0?
If it's attacked by a creature larger than it, they take the damage, ignore the lethal damage state based action and move on, see rule 700.4. It basically just doesn't die to damage or effects that say destroy.
700.4. If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can't destroy it. (See rule 701.6, Destroy.) Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based action (see rule 704.5g). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or exiled.
Now if you put enough -1/-1 counters on an indestructible creature it will go to 0 and the state-based action isn't ignored, killing the creature.
May 13, 2013 3:44 p.m.
When dealt damage, a creature's toughness is not reduced. Toughness represents the total damage a creature can take. But it does not reduce as damage is taken.
To put it in gaming terms, it's a hit point total not a current count of hit points.
Normal creatures when they take a lethal amount of damage are destroyed. Indestructible creatures just ignore the effects of destroy. They continue to remain on the field long after the amount of damage they have taken this turn exceeds their toughness.
This also extends to spells that destroy such as Putrefy .
May 13, 2013 3:46 p.m.
GreatSword says... #5
Indestructibly prevents "destroy" effects like Terror and the creature dying from lethal damage.
"Lethal damage" is when the damage marked on a creature is equal to or greater than its toughness. Damage does not reduce a creature's toughness. Effects like Tragic Slip do.
May 13, 2013 3:47 p.m.
vampirelazarus says... #6
Holy crap.
This day shall be known as indestructible Monday.
I hear that the line of thinking where damage reduces toughness comes from poor execution in the way damage is marked on DOTP.
Indestructible creatures take damage. It doesn't reduce their toughness.
However, effects that give minuses to toughness can, notably Black Sun's Zenith , and also infect.
GoblinsInc says... Accepted answer #1
Damage does not reduce toughness. a 5/5 indestructible creature that has 2 lightning bolts cast on it will end up with 6 damage marked on it. It is still a 5/5 creature, and does not get destroyed as it is indestructible.
It is not immune to damage, it just isn't destroyed by it. Things that actually reduce the creature's toughness, like wither damage or or Dismember can reduce its toughness to 0 or less, thus sending it to the graveyard (which is not destruction).
700.4. If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can't destroy it. (See rule 701.6, "Destroy.") Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based action (see rule 704.5g). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or exiled.
May 13, 2013 3:44 p.m.