What happens when Deathtouch/first strike faces Indestructible

Asked by Kalani 14 years ago

I had a semi-ridiculous situation in playtest where an Etched Champion equipped with Sword of Vengeance and Basilisk Collar blocked my Enatu Golem , but i responded to the block by casting Withstand Death on the golem. I'm assuming that the golem survives, because deathtouch is a destroy effect, but does he deal his damage despite the first strike touch of death he just recieved? Thanks for any insight.

MagnorCriol says... Accepted answer #1

Yes, he does. All Indestructible does is make it so that whenever a creature would be destroyed - i.e. sent to the grave through lethal damage or sweeper effects - it doesn't. He doesn't get removed from combat and still gets to smash the pimped out Champion's face.

The Champion, it should be noted, DOES still deal damage - it just doesn't affect your indestructible golem - so your opponent does gain life from the collar's Lifelink ability.

November 19, 2010 2:54 p.m.

Joshwarudd says... #2

Magnor is correct but there is an added benefit... due to your champion having trample and deathtouch you only have to assign one damage to the golem (ordinarily enough to be lethal due to deathtouch) and trample the rest over to their life.

November 19, 2010 5:20 p.m.

Jarrod_0067 says... #3

Mind you, Sword of Vengeance +Basilisk Collar is one of the best - if not the best - equipment combos in the game. With added Grafted Exoskeleton on an Indomitable Archangel and a Liquimetal Coating out, unless they DOJ or the equivalent board wiper, you will swing for lots of poison.

November 19, 2010 7:06 p.m.

supernick says... #4

ive been told lethal damage can kill indestructable creatures. like blocking with a Darksteel Myr . it would die due to 1 damage and his toughness being 0

November 19, 2010 9:32 p.m.

xeratheenigma says... #5

if you read the rules/reminder text for indestructible itt says that indestructible creatures are not destroyed by destroy effects or lethal damage. the only exception to the lethal damage part is wither/infect.

November 19, 2010 10:12 p.m.

SwiftDeath says... #6

this would occur with Grasp of Darkness because technically its toughness becomes 0 with out the use of damage or destruction.

November 20, 2010 12:22 a.m.

NoSkillManiac says... #7

The only way to kill something that is indestructible is to create a state-based -/- effect or 0/- effect using something like Grasp of Darkness or Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief . Therefore all combat damage or damage from Lightning Bolt , Fireball , Leaf Arrow or any destroy effects such as Doom Blade or Plummet do nothing to said indestructible creature. Therefore, Etched Champion is dead no matter what, because the golem cannot be destroyed.

November 20, 2010 11:28 a.m.

ranban says... #8

indestructable means cant be destoryed by damage, card effect, or abilities. this means deathtouch would have no effect. same with lethal damage. only way to kill indestrucable creatures nowadays in standard is infect or any form of -1/-1 counters. and anyway to exile works well too.

November 20, 2010 1:19 p.m.

ranban says... #9

and he would deal damage bc he wouldnt die by the damage dealt by the first strike.

November 20, 2010 1:22 p.m.

This discussion has been closed