What is lethal damage?
Asked by BiggRedd54 13 years ago
IM puzzled what indestructibility realy is, it says lethal damage and effects and abbilities that destroy target creature dont work..
mistergreen527 says... Accepted answer #2
Lethal damage is the amount of damage a creature can take before it goes to the graveyard. Normally, a Runeclaw Bear can take 2 damage. So, when it takes 2 damage, it will go to the graveyard as a state-based effect. If the Runeclaw Bear has Indestructibility on it, then the state-based effect is prevented and the Runeclaw Bear will stay on the battlefield, even after taking two damage.
Side note: Cards that lessen a creature's toughness, such as Grasp of Darkness will still cause an indestructible creature to go to the graveyard as a state-based effect when its toughness becomes 0. Notice that the reminder text of indestructibility does not prevent a creature with 0 toughness from going to the graveyard.
December 24, 2010 10:52 a.m.
MagnorCriol says... #3
Lethal damage is simply as much damage as they have toughness. Indestructible lets them ignore it. It also lets them ignore anything that simply says "destroy" without dealing damage (such as Day of Judgment ).
This DOESN'T protect them from sacrifice effects, as TowerOfBad pointed out, or -X/-X effects - Infect is a strong weapon against indestructible, since it doesn't deal damage normally, instead putting -1/-1 counters on a creature.
TowerOfBad says... #1
It is exactly as you said, damage and "destroy" can't send said creatures to your graveyard. You have to do things such a force a player to sacrifice them.
December 24, 2010 10:12 a.m.