MTG is complicated, and this game is a little more complex than its keywords – like flying. I’m sure we’ve all played a match where our opponents attacked us with a creature we couldn’t block. What’s up with that; how does flying work in MTG?
You can’t block a creature with flying except using another creature with flying or reach. So, flying is an evasion keyword ability that makes a creature deadlier in combat and helps it avoid blockers.
Now that we understand the basics of flying, we can look at how this keyword mechanic functions in practice. This article will look at the most frequently asked questions about flying in MTG and give examples to explain them.
How Do You Use Flying In Magic?
Flying helps a player move the board state forward – with flying; a creature can avoid many blockers and attack the opponent directly. Doing so isn’t only fun, but it also wins games.
Since most creatures can’t block flying creatures, they’re far more versatile and aggressive than the competition. While you can easily block normal creatures, flying demands various answers.
Not only that, but flying creatures are a helpful distraction. Because they’re so deadly, they can often force your opponent to react to them instead of your other, more late-game threats.
Cards like Delver of Secrets are cheap but evasive because of flying, which lets them economically trade with your opponent.
For example, if I attack with Delver of Secret’s reversed side – Insectile Aberration – my opponent can’t block it with a standard creature like Arrogant Outlaw. Instead, they must defend with a creature like Atushi, the Blazing Sky, a card with flying.
Or, of course, my opponent could block my flying creature using a card with the Reach keyword.
This ability lets a regular creature block flying even though it doesn’t have that ability. However, it doesn’t allow a creature attack as though it had the flying keyword.
In that case, they could use a creature like Endurance to block my Insectile Aberration. Not only does Endurance have the reach keyword, but it has better stats than Delver, too – so it’s a good trade for my opponent.
Can Flying Block Ground Creatures MTG?
“Ground” isn’t a term that MTG uses, but often refers to creatures on the ground that don’t have Flying.
Flying creatures can block creatures that don’t have this ability. Nothing in the rules text prevents creatures with flying from blocking typically no flying creatures.
It makes sense if you think about it. Even though it might typically be floating in the air, a dragon or an angel could swoop down and fight an attacker standing on the ground.
So, only the reverse is true. “Ground” creatures can’t block flying unless they have the reach keyword.
However, creatures with and without flying have other differences. Certain cards only impact creatures with flying or vice versa.
For instance, Defenestrate only destroys a creature without flying. Plummet does the opposite.
Can Giants Block Flying MTG?
Giants can block flying in MTG if they have the right abilities – either flying or reach. For example, Arbor Colossus, Howling Giant, and Skyraker Giant are giants with reach.
Although it might be surprising that there aren’t many MTG giants with the reach keyword, you can understand why if you look at the color pie. Green, the primary anti-flying color, isn’t giants’ main color.
Instead, most giants are white or red. MTG shows their massive size by designing these creatures with high stats or abilities like vigilance and trample.
On the other hand, there are a couple of flying giants too. Sage of the Beyond and Thryx, the Sudden Storm, has flying and can block it too. Not only that, but these blue giants also reduce the costs of your spells.
How Do You Stop Flying In Magic The Gathering?
The best way to stop flying in MTG is to use removal – flying creatures don’t have protection abilities by default, so they’re vulnerable to kill spells.
Unlike other types of removal, green has the best way to kill flying creatures.
Because this color doesn’t have many flying creatures, it instead gets the most powerful ways to remove them. Not only does the green color have the reach keyword, but many of its creatures and other spells can burn or outright destroy flying creatures.
Similarly, feel free to use your counterspells and hand attacks to deal with these pesky creatures before they hit the battlefield.
Pro Tip: Remember that a clever opponent might play flying creatures to bait your removal spells. It’s best to prioritize your answers so you deal with your opponent’s most potent threats, not the first creature they play.
However, if you can’t use removal, blocking flying creatures can still be an option. It’s often best to use your reach creatures to do that – blocking flying is precisely what the reach keyword means.
If you use your reach creatures to block, you can counterattack with your flying creatures. It’s often possible to race your opponent this way, especially if you have other ways to deal damage – like with burn damage.
Similarly, you can also block with your flying creatures if you have any. Ensure that you pick good trades, however. It’s usually a waste of time to chump block unless you’ll lose the game otherwise.
Last, you can always take the damage yourself. Sometimes getting your opponent to tap out all their creatures leaves them vulnerable to a decisive counterattack.
Can A Wall Block Flying In Magic The Gathering?
MTG Walls can’t inherently block flying – like any other creature; they’d need flying or reach.
Fortunately, some Walls have the reach keyword. Aether Membrane, Brimstone Trebuchet, and Tuktuk Rubblefort are all Walls that can block flying this way.
Other Walls have the flying ability themselves.
Although that might not make sense in the lore, the Wall creature type is surprisingly diverse and represents far more than only brick and mortar structures. Wall of Denial, Wall of One Thousand Cuts, and Wall of Reverence are examples of flying Walls.
MTG Flying Official Rules
702.9a Flying is an evasion ability. (Source)
702.9b A creature with flying can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach. A
creature with flying can block a creature with or without flying. (See rule 509, “Declare
Blockers Step,” and rule 702.17, “Reach.”)
702.9c Multiple instances of flying on the same creature are redundant. (Source)
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, flying is an MTG keyword ability that lets a creature attack without being blocked – unless the blocker also has flying or reach.
It is one of MTG’s oldest and most popular mechanics. Not only that, but the evasion it gives is extremely helpful in breaking up a stale board state and closing out the game.
