Protection

Protection is a keyword ability that grants several different effects to the permanent or player it is affecting. It was first introduced in Alpha and still sees frequent use on cards.

Rules

The current reminder text for protection reads "This [object] can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything [quality]."

The effects of protection are often described using the mnemonic DEBT. The permanent or player with protection can't be:

• Damaged by sources with the given quality (all such damage is prevented)
• Enchanted or equipped by permanents with the given quality
• Blocked by creatures with the given quality (if it's a creature)
• Targeted by spells of the given quality, or abilities with sources of the given quality.

Protection is commonly misunderstood as being complete exemption from effects created by cards with the quality being protected from, which would allow, for example, a creature with protection from white to survive the effect of Wrath of God. This is not the case, however, as anything other than the specific things mentioned above is not hampered by protection in any way. Thus, as Wrath does not attempt to damage or target the creature, it will still be destroyed.

History

In chronological order:

Protection type	Set in which first appeared	Cards on which first appeared
protection from [color]	Alpha	Black Knight, Black Ward, Blue Ward, Green Ward, Red Ward, White Knight, White Ward
protection from artifacts	Antiquities	Artifact Ward
protection from [chosen color]	Mirage	Prismatic Boon, Ward of Lights
protection from [creature type]	Invasion	Shoreline Raider, Tsabo Tavoc (later errataed to protection from supertype and type)
protection from all colors	Odyssey	Iridescent Angel
protection from creatures	Odyssey	Beloved Chaplain
protection from enchantments	Odyssey	Tattoo Ward
protection from instants	Odyssey	Devoted Caretaker
protection from sorceries	Odyssey	Devoted Caretaker
protection from [converted mana cost]	Future Sight	Mistmeadow Skulk
protection from everything	Conflux	Progenitus
protection from lands	Worldwake	Horizon Drake