Aroma's Vengeance: Effective Against Totem Armor?

Totem Armor is a mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that appears on Auras. It states that if the enchanted permanent would be destroyed, all damage is removed from it and the Aura is destroyed instead. This is a replacement effect, meaning that Totem Armor changes the effect of the spell or damage so that the Aura is destroyed instead of the enchanted permanent. This leads to the question: does Akroma's Vengeance, which destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments, work on Totem Armor? The answer is yes, as Totem Armor is a replacement effect that happens simultaneously with the destruction of the creature and the Aura, resulting in the creature surviving.

Akroma's Vengeance destroys artifacts, creatures and enchantments

Akroma's Vengeance is a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering that can be used to destroy artifacts, creatures, and enchantments. This "board wipe" effect can be very useful for players who want to clear the battlefield of their opponent's threats.

When Akroma's Vengeance is cast, it targets and destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments. This means that any permanent cards on the battlefield that fall under these types will be destroyed and put into their owner's graveyard. This includes not only standalone artifacts, creatures, and enchantments but also any creatures or enchantments that are attached to other permanent cards, such as equipment or auras.

The order in which Akroma's Vengeance resolves is important. Unlike some other board wipe spells, Akroma's Vengeance does not use the word "then" or specify a particular order of destruction. This means that all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments are destroyed simultaneously. This distinction is crucial when it comes to interacting with certain abilities, such as Totem Armor.

Totem Armor is an ability found on some aura enchantments, such as Hyena Umbra and Bear Umbra. Totem Armor is a replacement effect that protects the enchanted creature from being destroyed. If a spell or ability would destroy both the Totem Armor aura and the creature it is enchanting at the same time, Totem Armor's effect will save the creature by replacing its destruction with the destruction of the aura.

In the case of Akroma's Vengeance, since all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments are destroyed simultaneously, Totem Armor's replacement effect will trigger. The creature with Totem Armor will survive, but the aura providing Totem Armor will be sacrificed and destroyed. This interaction showcases the intricacies of Magic: The Gathering's rules and how card interactions can create interesting scenarios.

Totem Armor is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability

In the case of Akroma's Vengeance, which destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments, Totem Armor will protect the creature while sacrificing itself. The creature will survive but will no longer have the Totem Armor enchantment. This is because Totem Armor is a replacement effect that occurs at the same time as the destruction effect, and it doesn't matter what order the effects are written in on the card.

It's important to note that Totem Armor will not save a creature with toughness of 0 or less, as this is not considered destruction. Additionally, if the creature is sacrificed, Totem Armor will not trigger since it is not considered destruction either.

Understanding Totem Armor as a replacement effect is crucial in scenarios where both the creature and the enchantment are targeted for destruction. In such cases, Totem Armor modifies the instruction, redirecting the destruction to itself instead of the creature.

Totem Armor doesn't work if the enchanted permanent gets sacrificed, exiled or bounced

Totem Armor is a replacement effect that protects an enchanted permanent from being destroyed by sacrificing itself instead. However, Totem Armor does not protect the enchanted permanent from other removal effects such as exile or bounce. If the enchanted permanent is exiled or bounced, Totem Armor will not save it, and both the permanent and the enchantment will be removed from the game.

Totem Armor specifically mentions only destruction, so it has no interaction with exile effects. If a creature with Totem Armor is exiled, the enchantment will also go to the graveyard. Similarly, if a creature with Totem Armor is bounced back to its owner's hand, the Aura will be put into the graveyard as a state-based action.

Sacrifice effects also take precedence over Totem Armor. Totem Armor does not prevent the creature from being sacrificed, and both the creature and the Aura will be sent to the graveyard.

It's important to note that Totem Armor only works on destroy effects. If a creature with Totem Armor is targeted by a spell or ability that would destroy it, Totem Armor will save the creature by sacrificing itself. However, if the creature is removed from the game through other means, such as exile or bounce, Totem Armor will not offer any protection.

In summary, Totem Armor is a powerful ability that can protect enchanted permanents from destruction, but it has limitations. It does not protect against exile, bounce, or sacrifice effects. When facing an opponent with Totem Armor, it's crucial to understand these limitations and plan your strategy accordingly.

Totem Armor's effect is mandatory, the creature cannot be chosen to die instead

Totem Armor is a mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that appears on Auras. It states that if an enchanted permanent would be destroyed, all damage is removed from it and the Aura is destroyed instead. This is a mandatory replacement effect—the creature cannot be chosen to die instead. Totem Armor only works with destroy effects, like damage or spells that say "destroy". If the enchanted permanent is sacrificed, exiled, bounced, or anything else, the Aura doesn't do anything special.

Totem Armor can protect a creature from a board wipe. For example, if a spell says "destroy all permanents," Totem Armor will cause that spell to destroy the Aura twice, leaving the creature alive. However, Totem Armor will not protect a creature from being sacrificed, bounced, tucked, exiled, or from having its toughness reduced to zero or less.

The order of destruction on a sweeper matters. For example, Akroma's Vengeance destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments. The creature will be saved by Totem Armor because all these things are destroyed at the same time. On the other hand, Austere Command destroys enchantments and then creatures, so Totem Armor will be ineffective because the Aura is destroyed before the creature.

Totem Armor's effect is not regeneration

Totem Armor is a keyword ability that was introduced as Totem Armor in Rise of the Eldrazi and later renamed to Umbra Armor. It is a simple mechanic that appears on Auras, stating that if the enchanted permanent would be destroyed, all damage is removed from it and the Aura is destroyed instead. This is a mandatory replacement effect, and it does not involve sacrificing the Aura – Totem Armor actually changes the effect of the spell or damage so that the Aura is targeted instead of the enchanted permanent.

Totem Armor is not the same as regeneration. If a creature with regeneration also has Totem Armor and takes lethal damage, the controller must choose whether to apply the regeneration effect or the Totem Armor effect. The other effect remains unused and can be applied later if the permanent would be destroyed again.

In the case of Akroma's Vengeance, which destroys all artifacts, creatures, and enchantments, Totem Armor will protect the creature. The Totem Armor effect is a replacement effect that happens simultaneously with the destruction effect, so the creature will survive but lose the Totem Armor enchantment.

Totem Armor only works with "destroy" effects, such as damage or spells that specifically say "destroy." If the enchanted permanent is sacrificed, exiled, bounced, or affected by any other game mechanic, the Totem Armor ability does not trigger.

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