In Magic: The Gathering, protecting a permanent designated for a specific purpose, often combo-oriented, by making it difficult to interact with is a common strategic element. This typically involves manipulating the game state so that the permanent becomes untargetable, indestructible, or otherwise difficult for opponents to remove. A characteristic example might involve giving a creature hexproof and then using its activated ability to win the game.
This strategic approach is crucial for securing victory, particularly in combo or control decks. By ensuring key permanents remain on the battlefield, players can execute complex strategies and reliably achieve win conditions. The historical development of the game has seen a fluctuation in the prevalence of such strategies, influenced by the release of new cards and the evolution of the metagame. These protective measures increase the consistency of these archetypes and contribute to their overall viability.
