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Rules AnswersTargeting & Protection

Can you redirect noncombat damage targeting you to a planeswalker you control?

Short answer
No. You cannot redirect noncombat damage from spells/abilities targeting you to a planeswalker you control. Redirection only applies to damage from sources targeting a player.

The redirection rule for planeswalkers (CR 306.7) was removed in the July 2019 rules update (with Magic 2020 / Core Set 2020). Previously, you could redirect damage from a spell or ability that targeted a player to a planeswalker they controlled. That rule no longer exists.

Under current rules, if a spell or ability deals damage to you, it deals damage to you — period. There is no mechanism that allows you to redirect that damage to a planeswalker you control. Planeswalkers now have the supertype 'planeswalker' and can be targeted directly by spells and abilities that specifically say they can target planeswalkers or 'any target' (CR 306.7, 114.1).

If your opponent wants to deal damage to your planeswalker, they must use a source that targets it directly (e.g., a spell that says 'deals damage to any target') or attack it in combat. They cannot aim damage at you and have it land on your planeswalker.

Concrete example: Your opponent casts Lightning Bolt targeting you. You control Chandra, Torch of Defiance. The 3 damage goes to you; you cannot choose to have it hit Chandra instead. If your opponent wanted to damage Chandra, they would need to target her specifically with Lightning Bolt (which 'any target' allows).

Citations: CR 306.7 (current — planeswalkers as permanents, no redirection rule), CR 114.1 (targets), CR 118.2 (damage assignment). Confidence is HIGH; this change is well-established post-2019.

HIGH confidence CR 114.1 CR 118.2 CR 306.7
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