Hexproof

Hexproof (Hexproof from [quality])
[[File:{{#setmainimage:mtga_hexproof.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Type	Static
Introduced	Portal Three Kingdoms (mechanic) Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 (keyword)
Last used	Evergreen
Reminder Text	Hexproof (This permanent can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.) Hexproof from [quality] (This permanent can't be the target of [quality] spells your opponents control or abilities of [quality] sources your opponents control.)
Other Symbols
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Shroud.png}}|70x70px]]
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Hexproof"

Hexproof is an evergreen keyword ability that prevents a permanent or player from being the target of spells or abilities played by opponents.

Description

Hexproof was first introduced in Portal Three Kingdoms on two green creatures, but was only keyworded in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. It functions as onesided Shroud: a permanent with hexproof can't be the target of spells or abilities its controller's opponents control, though it can be targeted by its controller's spells or abilities. In a multiplayer scenario, a permanent with hexproof can also be targeted by its controller's teammates' spells or abilities. Players can also be granted hexproof.

Hexproof debuted in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 and appears in subsequent card sets, including Commander and the Magic 2012 Core Set. All cards printed prior to these sets' release that have text that exactly matches what hexproof does have received updated official wordings with the new keyword. Since Magic 2012, Hexproof has been considered an "evergreen" ability, largely replacing shroud. However, R&D found that hexproof was problematic in cases, winding down on standard hexproof and experimented with conditional hexproof; this resulted in a mechanic that was originally referred to as "frost armor" and is now known as ward. Another conditional version is "hexproof if untapped", which lets it be a good defensive play and avoids having it be an uninteractable attacker; similar options are "hexproof if not attacking", "hexproof if it hasn't dealt damage", "hexproof until your next turn" or "hexproof if it entered the battlefield this turn".

Hexproof is primary in blue. Blue both has the most creatures with hexproof out of all colors and often grants it to creatures as a pseudo-counterspell. Green is secondary: it tends to get hexproof on larger creatures without evasion. White is tertiary: it gets hexproof infrequently, sometimes on players, as a form of shielding.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced hexproof counters.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Hexproof

A keyword ability that precludes a permanent or player from being targeted by an opponent. See rule 702.11, “Hexproof.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 702.11. Hexproof
  • 702.11a Hexproof is a static ability.
  • 702.11b “Hexproof” on a permanent means “This permanent can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.”
  • 702.11c “Hexproof” on a player means “You can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.”
  • 702.11d “Hexproof from [quality]” is a variant of the hexproof ability. “Hexproof from [quality]” on a permanent means “This permanent can’t be the target of [quality] spells your opponents control or abilities your opponents control from [quality] sources.” A “hexproof from [quality]” ability is a hexproof ability.
  • 702.11e Any effect that causes an object to lose hexproof will cause an object to lose all “hexproof from [quality]” abilities. Any effect that allows a player to choose a creature with hexproof as a target as though it didn’t have hexproof will allow a player to choose a creature with a “hexproof from [quality]” ability. Any effect that looks for a card with hexproof will find a card with a “hexproof from [quality]” ability.
  • 702.11f “Hexproof from [quality A] and from [quality B]” is shorthand for “hexproof from [quality A]” and “hexproof from [quality B]”; it behaves as two separate hexproof abilities.
  • 702.11g “Hexproof from each [characteristic]” is shorthand for “hexproof from [quality A],” “hexproof from [quality B],” and so on for each possible quality the listed characteristic could have; it behaves as multiple separate hexproof abilities.
  • 702.11h Multiple instances of the same hexproof ability on the same permanent or player are redundant.

Hexproof from

Dominaria introduced "hexproof from [quality]" as a variant of the hexproof ability, and mirroring "protection from [quality]". For example, "hexproof from black" means "this permanent can't be the target of black spells your opponents control or abilities of black sources your opponents control."

Hexproof type	Set in which it first appeared	Cards on which it first appeared
Hexproof from [color]	Dominaria	Knight of Grace, Knight of Malice
Hexproof from monocolored	Ravnica Allegiance	Sphinx of the Guildpact
Hexproof from artifacts, creatures, and enchantments	Commander Legends	Nevinyrral, Urborg Tyrant
Hexproof from planeswalkers	Kaldheim	Eradicator Valkyrie
Hexproof from each color	Modern Horizons 3	Breaker of Creation

Icons

• 

  Hexproof from White

• 

  Hexproof from Blue

• 

  Hexproof from Black

• 

  Hexproof from Red

• 

  Hexproof from Green

Rulings

• A permanent with hexproof can still be the target of spells or abilities controlled by that permanent's controller or that player's teammates. The same is true for a player with hexproof.
• Aura spells target a permanent or player. You can't cast an Aura spell targeting an opponent's permanent with hexproof.
• Auras on the battlefield don't target anything. Granting hexproof to a permanent or player doesn't cause opponents' Auras to become unattached.
• A card that has ‘hexproof’ is still affected by board wipes that don't target specifically that card.

Examples

Example 1

Sacred Wolf
Creature — Wolf
3/1
Hexproof (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

Example 2

Knight of Grace
Creature — Human Knight
2/2
First strike
Hexproof from black (This creature can’t be the target of black spells or abilities your opponents control.)
Knight of Grace gets +1/+0 as long as any player controls a black permanent.

Enchantments that grant just Hexproof

One player (yourself)

• Imperial Mask
• Leyline of Sanctity

Creatures you control

• Asceticism
• Archetype of Endurance (creatures you control, remove it from creatures your opponents control)

Permanents (besides itself) you control

• Privileged Position

Cards that negate Hexproof

Planeswalkers

• Kaya, Bane of the Dead

Enchantments

• Nowhere to Run

Artifacts

• Glaring Spotlight

Lands

• Detection Tower

Trivia

• This mechanic was colloquially referred to as "Troll Shroud" before the introduction of the keyword, in reference to Troll Ascetic, one of the first and most popular cards with hexproof.
• Wizards of the Coast has stated that with the introduction of Hexproof, there is no intent to print any new cards with shroud.
• Detection Tower, Glaring Spotlight and Kaya, Bane of the Dead make it possible that creatures your opponents control with hexproof can be the targets of spells and abilities you control as though they didn't have hexproof.
  • Shadowspear's second ability can temporarily remove hexproof from permanents under opponents' control.
• Thrun, Breaker of Silence ostensibly has "hexproof from nongreen", however testing showed that players found it unclear whether multicolored green cards could target him, as those spells had an aspect of "nongreen".