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Can a Creature With Protection From Creatures Block?

A creature with protection from creatures can legally block another creature. The attacker’s damage to it is prevented, but the blocker still deals combat damage back.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Yes. A creature with protection from creatures can block an attacking creature. Protection stops matching creatures from blocking the protected creature; it does not stop the protected creature from blocking them. The attacker’s combat damage to the protected blocker is prevented, but the blocker still deals its combat damage back unless another effect changes the result.

What happens in combat?

Protection applies in specific ways, including preventing damage from sources that match the protection quality and preventing matching creatures from blocking the protected creature. The blocking restriction works in one direction: a creature with protection from creatures cannot be blocked by creatures, but it can block them. Wizards explains protection’s effects in its Magic Core Set 2020 Release Notes and gives the blocking example in Modern Horizons Mechanics.

Damage from the attacker

When the attacking creature would deal combat damage to the protected blocker, that damage is prevented because the attacker is a creature. The blocker does not take that damage.

Damage from the blocker

The protected blocker still deals its combat damage to the attacker. Protection does not make a creature unable to participate in combat, nor does it prevent that creature from dealing damage. The attacker avoids the blocker’s damage only if it has a relevant protection ability or another effect prevents that damage.

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How protection works—and what it does not do

Wizards describes protection as covering four categories: matching-source damage is prevented; matching Auras and Equipment cannot be attached; matching creatures cannot block the protected permanent; and matching spells or abilities cannot target it. Effects outside those categories are not automatically prevented or made illegal, as the Core Set 2020 Release Notes explain.

So protection from creatures is not general immunity. It prevents creature damage to the protected creature and bars creatures from blocking it, but it does not stop it from blocking creatures or dealing damage to them.

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What if the attacker has trample or deathtouch?

Trample

Trample has a separate damage-assignment rule: an attacking creature with trample must assign lethal damage to its blockers before assigning excess damage to the defending player or planeswalker. Protection can prevent damage assigned to a protected blocker, but the exact assignment and result depend on the combat details. For a specific board state, check the current Comprehensive Rules or ask a judge rather than assuming that protection either stops all trample damage or lets all of it through. Wizards discusses combat damage assignment and the trample requirement in the Foundations Update Bulletin (2024).

Deathtouch

Deathtouch matters when damage is dealt. If the attacker’s creature damage to the protected blocker is prevented, that damage is not dealt, so deathtouch does not cause that blocker to be destroyed from that damage. Wizards’ The Touch of Death explains deathtouch’s relationship to damage.

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Quick outcomes

Combat situation Outcome
A creature with protection from creatures blocks an ordinary creature The block is legal; the attacker’s creature damage to the blocker is prevented, and the blocker deals combat damage normally.
A creature with protection from creatures is attacked Protection does not itself prevent the attack declaration. It prevents matching damage; the cited rules explanations address protection and blocking rather than the full attack-declaration procedure.
The attacker has trample Trample’s lethal-damage assignment rule applies. The precise result depends on the board state and damage assignment.
The attacker has deathtouch If its damage to the protected blocker is prevented, no damage is dealt to trigger deathtouch’s combat consequence.

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