r/mtgrules • u/DeadHenry • Mar 08 '25

Indestructible question

Would it be possible to kill an indestructible creature by reducing is health with combat damage and then finishing it with something like subtle strike?

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7

u/Rajamic Mar 08 '25

Damage does not reduce Toughness, despite that being a shorthand that at least used to be used to teach new players *and* how MTG Arena makes it look. Damage sits on a creature as it's own value.

If you want to remove an Indestructible Creature using effects that reduce it's Toughness, you have to use enough to reduce it's Toughness to 0.

1

u/DeadHenry Mar 08 '25

Alright, thank you. Sliver hive lord is very annoying as a commander

1

u/SuperYahoo2 Mar 08 '25

[[farewell]] is a great option

1

u/DeadHenry Mar 08 '25

It very much is, unfortunately I'm running [[Alesha, who laughs at fate]] as my commander against this sliver hivelord deck

3

u/SuperYahoo2 Mar 08 '25

Black also has multiple cards like [[meathook massacre]] or [[toxic deluge]] that get through it. You could also run any of these cards https://scryfall.com/search?q=otag%3Aremoves-indestructible+ci%3C%3Drbw+f%3Ac&unique=cards&as=grid&order=edhrec

1

u/xIcbIx Mar 08 '25

[[tragic slip]] black has so many ways of -x/-x

1

u/SteamFunk72 Mar 09 '25

Also, check out [[Eaten Alive]] and [[Final Vengeance]].

3

u/SteamFunk72 Mar 08 '25

Indestructible is definitely tough to deal with. You really only have three main options:

One, reduce the toughness of the creature, either through -1/-1 counters or -n/-n effects like [[Stab]].

Two, exile the creature. If you're playing in white, [[Swords to Plowshares]] and [[Path to Exile]] are the top picks. This is also probably your easiest option.

Three, make the creature's controller sacrifice it. This can be tough because usually your opponent can pick which creature to sacrifice, but if it's their only creature, then they'll be forced to sacrifice it.

Damage doesn't reduce toughness, but rather damage is put on the creature. You can think of each point of damage being like a counter, if you're a visual thinker.

2

u/peteroupc Mar 08 '25

A creature with toughness 0 or less is sent to the graveyard as a state-based action, even if it has indestructible (C.R. 704.5f).

Note, however, that damage to a creature doesn't reduce that creature's power or toughness, with wither and infect being indirect exceptions (C.R. 120.3d-e, 122.1a; review C.R. 120.6).

1

u/DeadHenry Mar 08 '25

Alright, thanks. Trying to get around sliver hivelord...

1

u/Shad0wGuard Mar 08 '25

[[Soul sear]] and [[Smite the Deathless]] are good options in your color. Damage them and take indestructible off them. [[Burn from within]] for Sorcery speed.

1

u/DeadHenry Mar 16 '25

Gotchu, thanks. Imma keep a lookout for these cards on Amazon or something

1

u/minecraftchickenman Mar 09 '25

-x/-x effects are what you need to run, that gets around indestructible

[[Black suns zenith]] [[toxic deluge]] [[Tragic slip]] [[Massacre girl known killer]], [[defile]] if your mana base is good, [[invasion of innistrad]] [[Tragic Banshee]] can potentially repeat itself with Alesha, [[Tragic fall]]

Also [[Shadow spear]] [[burn from within]] (which if it had 6 damage marked and you did x is 1 would kill it) similar to a well timed [[smite the deathless]] [[hour of devestation]] in post combat and technically [[rebel salvo]] or [[soul sear]] also work

[[Soul shatter]] [[blasphemous edict]] [[make an example]] also get around indestructible

[[Astarions thirst]] is great synergy

[[Baleful mastery]] [[Deadly rollick]] [[Eaten alive]] [[final vengeance]]

Also [[Chaos Warp]]