Magic the gathering, no defense = dead?

Question

If I place a -1/-1 counter on a 2/1 creature, does this kill the creature it doesn't have a defense? Or, if a creature loose it defense - like it's now a 3/0- does it die immediatley?

Answer 1

Once a creature's toughness is 0, it is automatically and immediately sent to the graveyard.  There is no chance for you to change it's toughness after the fact.  Now, if someone used an ability to give the 2/1 a -1/-1, you can respond to the ability and pump it up or sacrifice it.  But once the -1/-1 resolves, there is nothing else you can do to it to keep it alive.

Answer 2

If a creature has 0 toughness it's dead. State base effect says if a creature's toughness hits 0, it automaticly dies. This also applies to the Indestructible creatures, if their toughness hit's zero they die regardless of their ability. If their toughness hits 0 and you try to regenerate hit, it will still die cause regen doesn't remove the negative counters off of him.

Answer 3

If any creature's toughness become zero or less than zero, the creature will be send to the graveyard as part of the state based effects.

In your example, you give a 2/1 -1/-1 (from a counter). Thus the creature will become 1/0. As soon as it becomes 1/0, it will be send to the graveyard.

Good Luck

Answer 4

it dies and goes to the graveyard/discard pile immediately if there is a night of souls betrayal for example as soon as it hits the table its dead,

the only thing you can respond that is with a sacrifice or ability use if you can work it in to the stack. i think but don't quote me.  

hope this helps.

Answer 5

first off it would be a 1/0 if it didtnt die but if no defense it does equal death.