May i target a plainswalker directly with a creature?

Asked by TCB4 9 years ago

Even if my opponent has creatures to block, am i allowed to bypass those creatures to attack a plainswalker. If not, can creatures ever attack plainswalkers? Thanks!

BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1

Creatures can attack either opponents or a planeswalker controlled by an opponent (in which case it's controller becomes a defending player). This choice is made when declaring attackers, and defaults to a creature attacking the player. This does not target in any way.

Each defending player may then block creatures attacking them, or a planeswalker they control. If those creatures aren't blocked, they will deal damage equal to their power to the opponent or their planeswalker, as previously decided.

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Cards that let you deal combat damage to the defending player as though they weren't blocked (such as Lone Wolf) even have been errata'd to deal damage to either the player or the planeswalker, depending on which you attacked. The relevant Gatherer rule:

If this creature is attacking a planeswalker, assigning its damage as though it werent blocked means the damage is assigned to the planeswalker, not to the defending player.

September 22, 2016 8:48 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #2

Just nitpicking here, but "plainswalkers" are things like Zodiac Rooster, whereas "planeswalkers" are things like Jace Beleren.

September 22, 2016 2:34 p.m.