The Shield and the Skullcrack
Judge Level 2Skullcrack goes right through your prevention shield — but doesn't use it up.
Cards involved
You raise the shield
You cast Healing Salve on yourself: "Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to you this turn." A classic prevention shield.
Skullcrack!
Healing Salve resolves and the shield is up. Now your opponent casts Skullcrack: 3 damage to you — and "damage can't be prevented this turn."
What happens?
Shield vs. unpreventable.
What happens to the damage — and to your shield?
Pick an answer to continue.
CR 615.12: when unpreventable damage meets prevention effects, they prevent nothing — but their additional effects still happen, and existing shields are NOT reduced. Your 3-point shield is still fully intact after the Skullcrack.
615.12Some effects state that damage “can’t be prevented.” If unpreventable damage would be dealt, any applicable prevention effects are still applied to it. Those effects won’t prevent any damage, but any additional effects they have will take place. Existing damage prevention shields won’t be reduced by damage that can’t be prevented.
The follow-up fails
You drop to 17. Your shield is still there (615.12) but useless this turn: Skullcrack's ban applies to the whole turn, so also to a Lightning Bolt cast afterwards, and Healing Salve's shield ends with the turn anyway. The difference matters for shields without a time limit, or when only one source is unpreventable, such as Questing Beast: then a later Bolt meets the full shield. Rule of thumb: "can't be prevented" doesn't burn shields away — it just ignores them.
615.12Some effects state that damage “can’t be prevented.” If unpreventable damage would be dealt, any applicable prevention effects are still applied to it. Those effects won’t prevent any damage, but any additional effects they have will take place. Existing damage prevention shields won’t be reduced by damage that can’t be prevented.
Stack
Your life:
Healing Salve
Prevent the next 3 damage that would be dealt to you
Skullcrack
3 damage; damage can't be prevented this turn
Lightning Bolt
The follow-up — 3 damage
The stack is empty.
In short
Does unpreventable damage like Skullcrack use up a prevention shield?
Show answer Hide answer
CR 615.12: when unpreventable damage meets prevention effects, they prevent nothing — but their additional effects still happen, and existing shields are NOT reduced. Your 3-point shield is still fully intact after the Skullcrack.
615.12Some effects state that damage “can’t be prevented.” If unpreventable damage would be dealt, any applicable prevention effects are still applied to it. Those effects won’t prevent any damage, but any additional effects they have will take place. Existing damage prevention shields won’t be reduced by damage that can’t be prevented.