<p>Damage is one of the ways a creature can be destroyed, but it's not the only way. The Wanderer only prevents (non-combat) damage, not other &quot;destroy&quot; effects like Doom Blade.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>701.7. Destroy</p>
<p>701.7a To destroy a permanent, move it from the battlefield to its owner’s graveyard.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-19T14:20:31.923Z
Since the question is about what counts as damage, not what counts as being destroyed; it would be helpful to list the ways damage can happen. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a simple rule as straightforward as 701.7b, except for damage instead of destroy.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-18T20:07:38.487Z
2019-05-18T20:07:38.487Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
Glorfindel
<p>Does <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=460964" rel="noreferrer">The Wanderer</a>'s static ability prevent 'destroy' or 'exile' effects from working? In a recent game, I had it out and my opponent tried to cast <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDoom%20Blade%5d">Doom Blade</a> on a creature. I argued that it shouldn't work, and he said it should have. </p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Do 'destroy' effects count as damage?
aslightlyvibrantcolour
# Do 'destroy' effects count as damage?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-18)

Does [The Wanderer](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=460964)'s static ability prevent 'destroy' or 'exile' effects from working? In a recent game, I had it out and my opponent tried to cast [Doom Blade](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDoom%20Blade%5d) on a creature. I argued that it shouldn't work, and he said it should have.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-05-18. Score: 10

Damage is one of the ways a creature can be destroyed, but it's not the only way. The Wanderer only prevents (non-combat) damage, not other "destroy" effects like Doom Blade.

> 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.”

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Since the question is about what counts as damage, not what counts as being destroyed; it would be helpful to list the ways damage can happen. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a simple rule as straightforward as 701.7b, except for damage instead of destroy.  

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