Destroy

Keywords · beginner

To destroy a permanent means to move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.

How it works

• "Destroy target creature" and similar effects send the permanent to the graveyard.
• Lethal damage and the "lethal damage" state-based action also destroy creatures.

Rules notes

• Indestructible permanents cannot be destroyed: destruction effects and lethal damage simply do not work on them.
• Destroying is only one way a permanent can leave play. Exiling, bouncing to hand, and sacrificing are different and are not stopped by indestructible.
• Regeneration replaces a destruction event with a different outcome.

Rule reference

[701.8]