Indestructible

Indestructibility as Substitute for Regeneration

I noticed that "tap this creature, It gains indestructible until end of turn." Seems to be used occasionally as psuedo regeneration. Since regenerate target creature exists mainly as reminder text anyway, has there been any thoughts about just functionally errataing regeneration into the new tap+indestructible combo that we see lately?

It’s a bit more functional errata than we tend to do.

Creatures Errata Functional Errata Indestructible Regenerate Tap / Untap Regenerate

Darksteel Relic Trivia

Hi Mark! Today is my birthday. If it's not too specific, I was wondering if you had some trivia regarding my favorite Magic card, Darksteel Relic. Thanks!

The design of Darksteel Relic was actually a bit controversial. Shortly after I made indestructible, I designed this card. A lot of R&D was “Why print this? It doesn’t do anything.” I said that players would figure out things to do with it, and finally managed to keep it in the set.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Card Printing Controversies Darksteel Darksteel Relic Indestructible

Marit Lage Token Mystery

RE: marti lage. personally i like the fact that she is only ever represented by the same 20/20 flying indestructible token. it makes her seem more mysterious. and different.

I agree it’s cool.

Flying Indestructible Tokens

Keywording and Deviation

"Indestructible was used consistently in its template, while unblockability was not." What's wrong with keywording Unblockable and just spelling out anything different like "can't be blocked by green creatures"? Menace is a keyword, but you don't say "menace for 3 creatures", you just spell it out if isn't exactly the same "can't be blocked by less than 3 creatures". Trample is a keyword, but you don't say "trample over planeswalkers".

It was a matter of how often we deviated from the default.

Creatures Green Indestructible Keywords Menace Planeswalkers Templating Trample

Keywording and Blocking Queries

Out of curiosity, is there a particular reason why "This creature is indestructible" became keyworded as "indestructible", but "This creature is unblockable" was abandoned in favor of "this creature can't be blocked"?

The key to a keyword is that the same template is used, as a keyword has to replace an exact line(s) of text. Indestructible was used consistently in its template, while unblockability was not. We did spend some time trying to unify it, but we couldn’t find an acceptable answer, as there are a bunch of different ways we use it. We changed how unblockability was templated to lessen players falsely believing it was a keyword.

Blocking Creatures Indestructible Keywords Templating

Enchantment Lands Concept

You have artifact lands. Have you ever thought of making enchantment lands? How about enchantment dual lands (equivalent to the bridges). If so, what ideas did you have for them as far as abilities for the dual lands? [like how the bridges have indestructible, temples scry on etb, etc]

There’s one:
I’m sure we’ll eventually make more.

Artifacts Blogatog / Tumblr Dual Lands Dual Lands Enchantments Enter The Battlefield Indestructible Lands Scry

Die vs Destroyed

When cards say die vs destroyed does it mean something different

“Die” means a creature card goes from the battlefield to the discard. This can happen from the creature being destroyed, but there are many others ways, such as sacrifice. “Destroy” is a keyword action that puts a permanent from the battlefield into the graveyard. Any permanent type can be destroyed, not just creatures. If a permanent is indestructible, destroy won’t work on it, and it won’t go to the graveyard.

Creatures Destroy Discard Indestructible Keyword Actions Sacrifice The Graveyard

Indestructible Players

If destroying a player was a thing would we ever see players gain indestructible?

Destroying a player was never a real possibility, as much as I hoped it was.

Indestructible

Hexproof vs. Indestructible

What tends to e more problematic: Hexproof or Indestructible?

Hexproof.

Hexproof Indestructible

Indestructible Keyword Possibility

If/when keyword for "gains indestructible until end of turn"?

If. It doesn’t save us many words, and not in the places we need to save them.

If/When Indestructible Keywords

Creature Death Mechanics

For the record, it is worth noting that when creatures die due to having 0 toughness, they are not actually destroyed, which is why you can kill indestructible creatures this way

FYI

Creatures Indestructible Mechanics

Indestructible Design Challenges

What are the most glaring rules issues that come with trying to make something that can't leave the battlefield? Couldn't you come close by just having the card go to exile and come back at end of turn if it would leave? I presume R&D must have tried that angle as well?

I don’t know all the details. I just know it’s something we’ve been trying to make for twenty-five or so years, so it’s not an easy problem to solve.

Game Design Indestructible Rules The Exile Zone

Indestructible Card Rules

Do you think it would work in the rules to have a card that says "CARDNAME can't leave the battlefield"? Would you ever make a card like that?

We’ve tried. It’s a lot harder to do in the rules than it might appear.

Indestructible Rules

Indestructible on Storm Scale

Where is indestructible on the storm scale? And why haven’t gods had it lately?

Indestructible is still evergreen. We don’t use it much as a static ability as it’s hard to deal with.

Evergreen God Indestructible Storm Scale

Regeneration Renovation

is there a chance that regenerate will be renovated? Tightening up keywords isnt exactly common but it's been done, and effects that do what regenerate tried to have been printed a fair amount since it was discontinued. Is that effect common enough to be keyworded?

Indestructible until end of turn has done a good job of hitting most the utility of regeneration.

Card Printing Indestructible Keywords Regenerate Regenerate Regeneration

Evergreen Keywords Removal

When we see an evergreen keyword stop being printed, we normally have a replacement (hexproof instead of shroud) or at least something that fills the gap (menace giving evasion to black/red instead of fear, activated indestructible for regeneration). Would you ever just remove something evergreen? Like, something that isn't worth doing anymore, without need for a replacement.

We have in the past. Banding went away and nothing like it became evergreen. I think us doing something today is a little less likely, but not impossible.

Banding Card Printing Evasion Evergreen Fear Hexproof Indestructible Keywords Menace Rakdos (B/R) Red Regeneration Shroud

Regeneration vs Indestructible

In a magical universe where regeneration posed no confusion whatsoever to players, would it see print?
Or, even disregarding the advantage indestructible has over regenerate in the understandability department, does R&D prefer the play patterns of indestructible over regeneration?

We do. Regeneration implies game play this isn’t accurate.

Card Printing Game Design Game Play Indestructible Regenerate Regenerate

Shadowfax Design Choice

The Shadowfax, Lord of Horses card grants itself haste without just having the keyword (Avacyn was errataed to have the indestructible keyword, not just grant it to all permanents). Is this a sign of a shift in philosophy, or is there some reference I missed?

No, it’s not a shift, just an individual card design choice.

Haste Horse Indestructible Keywords Permanents Shadowfax, Lord of Horses

Split Cards Limitations

So a split card that one half gives your creatures indestructible and the other half destroys all creature would be white, but if it had fuse, it couldn't be white? Or does this change because of split cards vs entwine?

If we wouldn’t do it as entwine, we wouldn’t do it as a split card with fuse.

Creatures Entwine Fuse Indestructible Split Cards White

Entwine Card Mechanics

Can white do an Entwine card whose modes are: - creatures you control gain Indestructible until eot and - Destroy all creatures ?

The combination of those effects is black, not white. So, no.

Black Creatures Destroy Entwine Indestructible Mechanics White