<p>A creature with 0 or less toughness will be sent to the graveyard immediately, so yes, getting -3/-3 can kill a creature.</p>

<p>Note that this is not technically being "destroyed", it is a different way of sending the creature to the graveyard. This matters for things like regeneration.</p>

<p>From the <a href="http://www.wizards.com/magic/rules/EN_Magic_Basic_Rulebook_20090710.pdf">basic MTG rules</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Your creatures go to your graveyard if the damage they’re dealt 
  in a single turn is equal to or greater than their toughness, 
  or if their toughness is reduced to 0 or less.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-20T14:55:58.123Z
Just in case anyone is looking for the comprehensive rules, rule **704.5f** describes the action that moves a creature to the graveyard, and rule **121.1a** explains how counters affect toughness. I didn't post this as an answer because the basic rules are definitely more suitable here.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-16T18:11:08.827Z
It's moved to the graveyard the next time SBA are checked, which for most purposes is effectively "immediately", but there are cases where it's not.
Acccumulation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-20T14:41:44.153Z
2014-05-20T20:19:44.473Z
2014-05-20T20:19:44.473Z
GendoIkari
<p>There are some spells and abilities that subtract from a creature's power/toughness: for example, part of <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bUlcerate%5d">Ulcerate</a> says "Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn."</p>

<p>If the target creature is only a 2/2, is that target destroyed (goes to graveyard) from the -3 toughness given to it? If not what happens, does it stick around with negative toughness?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can negative toughness effects kill a creature?
Greg
# Can negative toughness effects kill a creature?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-20)

There are some spells and abilities that subtract from a creature's power/toughness: for example, part of [Ulcerate](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bUlcerate%5d) says "Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn."

If the target creature is only a 2/2, is that target destroyed (goes to graveyard) from the -3 toughness given to it? If not what happens, does it stick around with negative toughness?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-20. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

A creature with 0 or less toughness will be sent to the graveyard immediately, so yes, getting -3/-3 can kill a creature.

Note that this is not technically being "destroyed", it is a different way of sending the creature to the graveyard. This matters for things like regeneration.

From the [basic MTG rules](http://www.wizards.com/magic/rules/EN_Magic_Basic_Rulebook_20090710.pdf):

> Your creatures go to your graveyard if the damage they’re dealt
> in a single turn is equal to or greater than their toughness,
> or if their toughness is reduced to 0 or less.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Just in case anyone is looking for the comprehensive rules, rule **704.5f** describes the action that moves a creature to the graveyard, and rule **121.1a** explains how counters affect toughness. I didn't post this as an answer because the basic rules are definitely more suitable here.  
> **username_3**: It's moved to the graveyard the next time SBA are checked, which for most purposes is effectively "immediately", but there are cases where it's not.  

---

