Indestructible

Keywords · beginner

A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Damage and "destroy" effects don't kill it.

How it works

• "Destroy" effects (Doom Blade, Wrath of God, deathtouch fight) do nothing to indestructible permanents.
• Damage still gets marked on indestructible creatures, but they don't die from lethal damage as a state-based action.
• Damage marks wear off at the cleanup step like normal.

What still kills indestructible permanents

• Sacrifice effects -- sacrificing is not destroying.
• Exile -- Path to Exile, Swords to Plowshares, Anguished Unmaking. The permanent leaves the battlefield without "destroy" being involved.
• -X/-X effects that reduce toughness to 0 or less -- state-based actions put it in the graveyard for having 0 toughness, not for being destroyed.
• Bouncing to hand or library.
• Counter abilities like "remove all counters" against creatures whose existence depends on counters.
• Legend rule -- still applies (you can only have one legendary permanent of the same name).
• Phasing out -- not destroying, just removing temporarily.
• Commander damage -- 21 commander damage from a single commander still wins regardless of indestructibility (it's an alternate loss condition, not destruction).

Rule reference

[702.12]