Magic: The Gathering Indestructible normal damage + -1/-1 counters?

Question

If I have a creature that is 4/4 indestructible and I block another creature with 4/4, it's toughness will reach 0, but the state-based effect won't kill it, right?

But what if my opponent plays a spell that gives my creature a -1/-1 counter on top of the 4 damage it already has, will it then die, or survive the turn with a counter on it?

Answer 1

Damage does NOT reduce a creature's toughness!! You are actually confusing two different state based effects.

1. A creature which has a toughness of 0 or less IS PUT INTO IT'S OWNER'S GRAVEYARD. This is not the same as destruction, so indestructible doesn't stop this.

2. A creature with lethal damage (damage equal to or greater than it's toughness) is destroyed.

So in the situation you are describing, after getting the -1/-1 counter, the indestructible is a 3/3 with 4 damage. Since it's toughness is greater than zero, it is not put into it's owner's graveyard... It does have lethal damage, but indestructible ignores that.

Answer 2

Indestructible stops lethal damage from killing it.  But, if you find a way to make it's toughness 0 or less, it will be put into it's owner's graveyard as a state-based effect.  So, if your blocking 4/4 had wither, it could "kill" a 4/4 indestructible creature.