Indestructible Planeswalker

[Phoenix Ignition]

How does an indestructible planeswalker behave? If you use That Which Was Taken on a planeswalker, can it die due to loyalty counters? What about damage dealt to it?

Couldn't find this on any of the "answer it yourself" thread's suggestions.

Thanks.

[KillemallCFH]

Yes, it still dies to having 0 Loyalty counters, and yes it dies to damage. Having 0 loyalty counters puts it in the graveyard as a state-based effect. Likewise, damage done to a Planeswalker removes Loyalty counters from it, and follows the same rules.
212.9d
Loyalty is a characteristic only planeswalkers have. The loyalty of a planeswalker not in play is equal to the number printed in its lower right corner. The loyalty of a planeswalker in play is equal to the number of loyalty counters on it. A planeswalker is treated as if its text box included, “This permanent comes into play with a number of loyalty counters on it equal to its printed loyalty number”; this ability creates a replacement effect (see rule 419.1). As a planeswalker gains or loses loyalty, loyalty counters are put on it or removed from it, respectively. Damage dealt to a planeswalker results in that many loyalty counters being removed from it. If a planeswalker’s loyalty is 0, it’s put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based effect. See rule 420.5.
Indestructible
If a permanent is indestructible, rules and effects can’t destroy it. Such permanents are not destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the lethal-damage state-based effect (see rule 420.5c). Rules or effects may cause an indestructible permanent to be sacrificed, put into a graveyard, or removed from the game.

[Sanguine Voyeur]

It's put in graveyard, not destroyed.
212.9d Loyalty is a characteristic only planeswalkers have. The loyalty of a planeswalker not in play is equal to the number printed in its lower right corner. The loyalty of a planeswalker in play is equal to the number of loyalty counters on it. A planeswalker is treated as if its text box included, "This permanent comes into play with a number of loyalty counters on it equal to its printed loyalty number"; this ability creates a replacement effect (see rule 419.1). As a planeswalker gains or loses loyalty, loyalty counters are put on it or removed from it, respectively. Damage dealt to a planeswalker results in that many loyalty counters being removed from it. If a planeswalker's loyalty is 0, it's put into its owner's graveyard as a state-based effect. See rule 420.5.

[Phoenix Ignition]

Thanks... that sort of makes indestructible suck on a planeswalker.

[heroicraptor]

Vindicate won't kill an indestructable plainswalker.

[Cire]

This may be a related question so i didn't make a separate thread, but can a creature do 'damage' to a planeswalker with solitary confinement in play? From what i understand isn't damage done to a planeswalker a redirection effect from damage done to the player, and if that damage is prevented then....idk?

[Forbiddian]

This may be a related question so i didn't make a separate thread, but can a creature do 'damage' to a planeswalker with solitary confinement in play? From what i understand isn't damage done to a planeswalker a redirection effect from damage done to the player, and if that damage is prevented then....idk?

You're correct about damage dealt, but Combat Damage is treated differently.

Planeswalkers essentially modify the combat - Declare Attackers step. You must assign a target for each attacking creature. Before Planeswalkers, it was always your opponent, but now you have the option to attack either the Planeswalker or the enemy player or any other planeswalkers (or enemy players or enemy players' planeswalkers in multiplayer games). You can divide your attacks like have one creature attack the planeswalker and one creature attack the dome.

Trample damage can trample over a blocker to hit a Planeswalker, but will not trample over a Planeswalker to hit a Player (or, in a weird situation, trample over a player and hit a Planeswalker). The buck stops with the target.

You can't switch targets mid-attack, either. Your opponent can Capsize his own Planeswalker and your attackers will be left stranded. Even if they have trample. If unblocked, they'll assign zero combat damage.



Yes, you can declare an attack on a Planeswalker under Solitary Confinement and remove loyalty counters from the Planeswalker. Solitary Confinement only prevents damage that would be dealt to a player.

The second question (although it wasn't asked): No, you can't Lightning Bolt a Planeswalker controlled by a player protected by Solitary Confinement. The player is untargetable.

Now the third question (although it also wasn't asked): No, you can't even Flame Rift a Planeswalker controlled by a player protected by Solitary Confinement (unless he messes up). It's not targetted, but the damage should be prevented before it's redirected.


If a source you control would deal noncombat damage to an opponent, you may have that source deal that damage to a planeswalker that opponent controls instead. This is a redirection effect: you choose whether to redirect the damage as the redirection effect is applied, and it's subject to the normal rules for ordering replacement effects. The player affected by the damage chooses the order in which to apply such effects, but the controller of the source of the damage chooses whether the damage is redirected. Note that this redirection can't be applied to combat damage. - Planeswalker Rules FAQ

[Cire]

Thanks, but now im wondering what if you prevent All combat damage like by using moments peace...would the damage done to the planes walker be prevented and thus not remove loyalty counters from it?

[cdr]

Yes - combat damage is combat damage.


Moment's Peace 1G
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
Flashback 2G


310.2b. An unblocked attacking creature that's attacking a player will assign all its combat damage to the defending player. An unblocked attacking creature that's attacking a planeswalker will assign all its combat damage to the planeswalker it's attacking. If the creature isn't currently attacking anything (if, for example, it was attacking a planeswalker that has left play), it will assign no combat damage.