Unbreakable Formation vs. Cry of the Carnarium
My opponent played Cry of the Carnarium in MTG Arena. I immediately played Unbreakable Formation after. The intended result was for my creatures to not die or get exiled, but they did. Shouldn't Unbreakable Formation resolve, granting me indestructible until end of turn?
magic-the-gathering mtg-arena
New contributor
add a comment |
My opponent played Cry of the Carnarium in MTG Arena. I immediately played Unbreakable Formation after. The intended result was for my creatures to not die or get exiled, but they did. Shouldn't Unbreakable Formation resolve, granting me indestructible until end of turn?
magic-the-gathering mtg-arena
New contributor
2
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
2
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52
add a comment |
My opponent played Cry of the Carnarium in MTG Arena. I immediately played Unbreakable Formation after. The intended result was for my creatures to not die or get exiled, but they did. Shouldn't Unbreakable Formation resolve, granting me indestructible until end of turn?
magic-the-gathering mtg-arena
New contributor
My opponent played Cry of the Carnarium in MTG Arena. I immediately played Unbreakable Formation after. The intended result was for my creatures to not die or get exiled, but they did. Shouldn't Unbreakable Formation resolve, granting me indestructible until end of turn?
magic-the-gathering mtg-arena
magic-the-gathering mtg-arena
New contributor
New contributor
edited Apr 8 at 22:17
doppelgreener
16.4k861124
16.4k861124
New contributor
asked Apr 8 at 20:16
RonnieRonnie
412
412
New contributor
New contributor
2
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
2
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52
add a comment |
2
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
2
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52
2
2
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
2
2
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
The card Unbreakable Formation will not generally save your creatures from dying from Cry of the Carnarium, because the ability Indestructible does not save creatures from dying from toughness loss.
The ability Indestructible is defined in rule 702.12b:
A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
The rule it references, 704.5g, is part of the State-based action rules:
If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
The previous rule, 704.5f, says this:
If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
As you can see, if a creature takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness, it is "destroyed", so Indestructible can stop it. But if a creature loses all of its toughness, it is just put into the graveyard, so Indestructible doesn't do anything about that.
Magic Arena displays damage the same way it displays toughness loss, but they are not the same thing.
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
add a comment |
Indestructible does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 toughness. It only prevents creatures from being destroyed.
702.12. Indestructible
702.12a Indestructible is a static ability.
702.12b A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
Dying as a result of having 0 toughness is not being destroyed. A creature with 0 toughness dies because of this state-based action:
704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
Also see this definition of destroyed in the rules:
701.7. Destroy
701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.
701.7b The only ways a permanent can be destroyed are as a result of an effect that uses the word "destroy" or as a result of the state-based actions that check for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g) or damage from a source with deathtouch (see rule 704.5h). If a permanent is put into its owner's graveyard for any other reason, it hasn't been "destroyed."
Similarly, you cannot use regeneration to prevent a creature from dying this way.
add a comment |
Unbreakable Formation did make your creatures indestructible. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save them.
"Indestructible" means that lethal damage and 'destroy' effects won't destroy your creatures. However, if a creature had zero toughness it dies as a state-based-effect, and that isn't prevented by indestructible. Cry of the Carnarium reduces the power and toughness of your creatures, dodging indestructible.
Arena confuses this by showing damage as if it was reducing the toughness of the creature, but in actuality the effects are distinct. A 2/2 with two damage still has 2 toughness, but a 2/2 with -2/-2 has 0 toughness.
(Technically speaking, death by lethal damage is also a state-based-effect, but it's one that is specifically protected against by indestructible. )
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "147"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Ronnie is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fboardgames.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f45782%2funbreakable-formation-vs-cry-of-the-carnarium%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The card Unbreakable Formation will not generally save your creatures from dying from Cry of the Carnarium, because the ability Indestructible does not save creatures from dying from toughness loss.
The ability Indestructible is defined in rule 702.12b:
A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
The rule it references, 704.5g, is part of the State-based action rules:
If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
The previous rule, 704.5f, says this:
If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
As you can see, if a creature takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness, it is "destroyed", so Indestructible can stop it. But if a creature loses all of its toughness, it is just put into the graveyard, so Indestructible doesn't do anything about that.
Magic Arena displays damage the same way it displays toughness loss, but they are not the same thing.
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
add a comment |
The card Unbreakable Formation will not generally save your creatures from dying from Cry of the Carnarium, because the ability Indestructible does not save creatures from dying from toughness loss.
The ability Indestructible is defined in rule 702.12b:
A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
The rule it references, 704.5g, is part of the State-based action rules:
If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
The previous rule, 704.5f, says this:
If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
As you can see, if a creature takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness, it is "destroyed", so Indestructible can stop it. But if a creature loses all of its toughness, it is just put into the graveyard, so Indestructible doesn't do anything about that.
Magic Arena displays damage the same way it displays toughness loss, but they are not the same thing.
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
add a comment |
The card Unbreakable Formation will not generally save your creatures from dying from Cry of the Carnarium, because the ability Indestructible does not save creatures from dying from toughness loss.
The ability Indestructible is defined in rule 702.12b:
A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
The rule it references, 704.5g, is part of the State-based action rules:
If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
The previous rule, 704.5f, says this:
If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
As you can see, if a creature takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness, it is "destroyed", so Indestructible can stop it. But if a creature loses all of its toughness, it is just put into the graveyard, so Indestructible doesn't do anything about that.
Magic Arena displays damage the same way it displays toughness loss, but they are not the same thing.
The card Unbreakable Formation will not generally save your creatures from dying from Cry of the Carnarium, because the ability Indestructible does not save creatures from dying from toughness loss.
The ability Indestructible is defined in rule 702.12b:
A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
The rule it references, 704.5g, is part of the State-based action rules:
If a creature has toughness greater than 0, and the total damage marked on it is greater than or equal to its toughness, that creature has been dealt lethal damage and is destroyed. Regeneration can replace this event.
The previous rule, 704.5f, says this:
If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
As you can see, if a creature takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness, it is "destroyed", so Indestructible can stop it. But if a creature loses all of its toughness, it is just put into the graveyard, so Indestructible doesn't do anything about that.
Magic Arena displays damage the same way it displays toughness loss, but they are not the same thing.
answered Apr 8 at 20:44
murgatroid99♦murgatroid99
48.3k7121204
48.3k7121204
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
add a comment |
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
Empathising murgatroid’s damage statement: Damage in Magic is not subtracted from a creature’s toughness at all. It may “appear” to do so in Arena’s display, but it calculates it correctly even if it’s visually misleading. Damage is tracked separately on a creature as a totally different value than it’s toughness. When that damage is equal or greater to a creature's toughness it becomes "Lethal" and the creature is then destroyed (baring other effects). -X/-X values actually reduce toughness (as stated above).
– L.P.
Apr 11 at 20:20
add a comment |
Indestructible does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 toughness. It only prevents creatures from being destroyed.
702.12. Indestructible
702.12a Indestructible is a static ability.
702.12b A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
Dying as a result of having 0 toughness is not being destroyed. A creature with 0 toughness dies because of this state-based action:
704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
Also see this definition of destroyed in the rules:
701.7. Destroy
701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.
701.7b The only ways a permanent can be destroyed are as a result of an effect that uses the word "destroy" or as a result of the state-based actions that check for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g) or damage from a source with deathtouch (see rule 704.5h). If a permanent is put into its owner's graveyard for any other reason, it hasn't been "destroyed."
Similarly, you cannot use regeneration to prevent a creature from dying this way.
add a comment |
Indestructible does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 toughness. It only prevents creatures from being destroyed.
702.12. Indestructible
702.12a Indestructible is a static ability.
702.12b A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
Dying as a result of having 0 toughness is not being destroyed. A creature with 0 toughness dies because of this state-based action:
704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
Also see this definition of destroyed in the rules:
701.7. Destroy
701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.
701.7b The only ways a permanent can be destroyed are as a result of an effect that uses the word "destroy" or as a result of the state-based actions that check for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g) or damage from a source with deathtouch (see rule 704.5h). If a permanent is put into its owner's graveyard for any other reason, it hasn't been "destroyed."
Similarly, you cannot use regeneration to prevent a creature from dying this way.
add a comment |
Indestructible does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 toughness. It only prevents creatures from being destroyed.
702.12. Indestructible
702.12a Indestructible is a static ability.
702.12b A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
Dying as a result of having 0 toughness is not being destroyed. A creature with 0 toughness dies because of this state-based action:
704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
Also see this definition of destroyed in the rules:
701.7. Destroy
701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.
701.7b The only ways a permanent can be destroyed are as a result of an effect that uses the word "destroy" or as a result of the state-based actions that check for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g) or damage from a source with deathtouch (see rule 704.5h). If a permanent is put into its owner's graveyard for any other reason, it hasn't been "destroyed."
Similarly, you cannot use regeneration to prevent a creature from dying this way.
Indestructible does not save a creature from dying due to having 0 toughness. It only prevents creatures from being destroyed.
702.12. Indestructible
702.12a Indestructible is a static ability.
702.12b A permanent with indestructible can't be destroyed. Such permanents aren't destroyed by lethal damage, and they ignore the state-based action that checks for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g).
Dying as a result of having 0 toughness is not being destroyed. A creature with 0 toughness dies because of this state-based action:
704.5f If a creature has toughness 0 or less, it's put into its owner's graveyard. Regeneration can't replace this event.
Also see this definition of destroyed in the rules:
701.7. Destroy
701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner's graveyard.
701.7b The only ways a permanent can be destroyed are as a result of an effect that uses the word "destroy" or as a result of the state-based actions that check for lethal damage (see rule 704.5g) or damage from a source with deathtouch (see rule 704.5h). If a permanent is put into its owner's graveyard for any other reason, it hasn't been "destroyed."
Similarly, you cannot use regeneration to prevent a creature from dying this way.
answered Apr 8 at 20:43
GendoIkariGendoIkari
44.8k395175
44.8k395175
add a comment |
add a comment |
Unbreakable Formation did make your creatures indestructible. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save them.
"Indestructible" means that lethal damage and 'destroy' effects won't destroy your creatures. However, if a creature had zero toughness it dies as a state-based-effect, and that isn't prevented by indestructible. Cry of the Carnarium reduces the power and toughness of your creatures, dodging indestructible.
Arena confuses this by showing damage as if it was reducing the toughness of the creature, but in actuality the effects are distinct. A 2/2 with two damage still has 2 toughness, but a 2/2 with -2/-2 has 0 toughness.
(Technically speaking, death by lethal damage is also a state-based-effect, but it's one that is specifically protected against by indestructible. )
add a comment |
Unbreakable Formation did make your creatures indestructible. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save them.
"Indestructible" means that lethal damage and 'destroy' effects won't destroy your creatures. However, if a creature had zero toughness it dies as a state-based-effect, and that isn't prevented by indestructible. Cry of the Carnarium reduces the power and toughness of your creatures, dodging indestructible.
Arena confuses this by showing damage as if it was reducing the toughness of the creature, but in actuality the effects are distinct. A 2/2 with two damage still has 2 toughness, but a 2/2 with -2/-2 has 0 toughness.
(Technically speaking, death by lethal damage is also a state-based-effect, but it's one that is specifically protected against by indestructible. )
add a comment |
Unbreakable Formation did make your creatures indestructible. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save them.
"Indestructible" means that lethal damage and 'destroy' effects won't destroy your creatures. However, if a creature had zero toughness it dies as a state-based-effect, and that isn't prevented by indestructible. Cry of the Carnarium reduces the power and toughness of your creatures, dodging indestructible.
Arena confuses this by showing damage as if it was reducing the toughness of the creature, but in actuality the effects are distinct. A 2/2 with two damage still has 2 toughness, but a 2/2 with -2/-2 has 0 toughness.
(Technically speaking, death by lethal damage is also a state-based-effect, but it's one that is specifically protected against by indestructible. )
Unbreakable Formation did make your creatures indestructible. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save them.
"Indestructible" means that lethal damage and 'destroy' effects won't destroy your creatures. However, if a creature had zero toughness it dies as a state-based-effect, and that isn't prevented by indestructible. Cry of the Carnarium reduces the power and toughness of your creatures, dodging indestructible.
Arena confuses this by showing damage as if it was reducing the toughness of the creature, but in actuality the effects are distinct. A 2/2 with two damage still has 2 toughness, but a 2/2 with -2/-2 has 0 toughness.
(Technically speaking, death by lethal damage is also a state-based-effect, but it's one that is specifically protected against by indestructible. )
answered Apr 8 at 20:42
Arcanist LupusArcanist Lupus
4,3121824
4,3121824
add a comment |
add a comment |
Ronnie is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ronnie is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ronnie is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ronnie is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Board & Card Games Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fboardgames.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f45782%2funbreakable-formation-vs-cry-of-the-carnarium%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
2
As discussed in the answers below, I think a lot of the confusion comes from the way MTG: arena displays loss of toughness. (+0/-2 is not equal to 2 damage, even though MTG:A displays them the same way)
– Malco
Apr 8 at 20:53
2
This is, why a Tragic Slip on Ulamog is always funny.
– Erik
Apr 9 at 9:52