What can kill an indistructible creature?
Asked by Lotacus 10 years ago
My friends say that creatures with indestructibility can still be killed in combat and be burned by spells such as Searing Spear . I say that isnt so, they can't be dealt lethal damage but can still get -1/-1 counters and be exiled. If thats the case, i can just burn everything from now on.
nobu_the_bard says... Accepted answer #2
Indestructible permanents specifically ignore effects that would result in destruction. That includes creatures being dealt lethal damage (such as from combat or via Searing Spear ) or effects that destroy them (such as Murder or Smelt ). They can still be dealt damage, and have damage marked on them, they simply don't get destroyed by any amount of it.
Effects that lower an indestructible creature's toughness, whether via -1/-1 counters or otherwise (such as Tragic Slip ) can effectively remove them from play by reducing their toughness or zero or less. This isn't a destruction effect, and does not directly interact with whatever damage is marked on them.
Other more indirect options involve bouncing them (such as Unsummon ) or exiling them (like on Swords to Plowshares ). Anything that isn't destruction-based still works.
Rhadamanthus says... #1
Two things destroy: "destroy" effects and lethal damage. Anything with indestructible won't be destroyed by either of those things. You have the right understanding about this.
July 18, 2014 4:49 p.m.