Can Defender Block Flying creatures in Magic: The Gathering? Absolutely, but there are a few nuances to understand. This article, brought to you by flyermedia.net, will explore the defender ability, its interactions with flying creatures, and how you can strategically use defenders in your MTG decks. We’ll delve into the specifics of defender, examining its history, rules, and best card options to utilize this mechanic effectively. Learn how to defend against aerial threats with the right tools and strategies!
1. How Does Defender Work in MTG?
The defender ability in Magic: The Gathering is straightforward: a creature with defender cannot attack. Creatures with defender excel at defense, acting as steadfast blockers. This limitation doesn’t prevent them from blocking or using any activated abilities. This keyword is crucial for building defensive strategies, allowing players to protect themselves while setting up more powerful plays.
Pramikon, Sky Rampart | Illustration by Richard Wright
2. The Origins of Defender in Magic: The Gathering
The defender keyword officially debuted in Champions of Kamigawa in 2004. However, the concept existed long before. According to research from Wizards of the Coast, in October 2004, the ‘Defender’ keyword was introduced to codify a trait already present in ‘Wall’ creatures. Older cards with the “walls cannot attack” rule were retroactively given the defender ability. Betrayers of Kamigawa, released in February 2005, featured the first cards with the defender keyword explicitly printed on them, such as Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo, Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch, and Traproot Kami. This solidified defender as a core mechanic in MTG.
3. Attacking with Defender Creatures: Is It Possible?
Generally, defender creatures cannot attack. However, certain cards and effects can bypass this restriction. For instance, cards like Arcades, the Strategist or Crashing Drawbridge specifically allow creatures with defender to attack. Additionally, effects that remove abilities, such as Dress Down or Trickster’s Elk, can temporarily eliminate the defender restriction, enabling these creatures to join the offense.
4. Cards That Grant Attack to Defenders
Several cards allow creatures with defender to attack. Arcades, the Strategist is a prime example, enabling all creatures with defender to attack and even boosting their power based on their toughness. High Alert offers a similar effect, allowing creatures to attack using their toughness instead of power. The Pride of Hull Clade can also weaponize defenders, and Walking Bulwark grants defenders the ability to attack under specific conditions.
Pramikon, Sky Rampart | Illustration by Richard Wright
Cards like Dress Down temporarily remove abilities, including defender, allowing these creatures to attack. These cards turn defensive liabilities into offensive assets.
5. Walls vs. Defender: What’s the Difference?
While all wall creatures have defender, they are not the same thing. A wall is a creature type, whereas defender is a keyword ability. Wall is specifically a creature type, so it has synergy with other creature types. All walls have defender, but the keyword is broader and can apply to any creature, regardless of its type.
6. Do All Wall Creatures Have Defender?
Yes, all wall creatures inherently have the defender ability. When the defender keyword was introduced, it was retroactively applied to all existing wall cards. This means that any creature with the type “Wall” also has the restriction of not being able to attack, unless another effect overrides it.
7. Understanding Defense and Toughness with Defender
Toughness represents the amount of damage a creature can sustain before being destroyed. Defender creatures often feature high toughness, making them excellent blockers. The number to the right of the slash on the lower right corner of a card is the toughness.
For example, Escarpment Fortress has a high toughness, allowing it to absorb significant damage. At the end of the turn, any damage dealt to the creature is removed, effectively resetting its health for the next turn.
8. Can a Defender Creature Fight?
Yes, a defender creature can engage in a fight. Fighting is distinct from attacking during the combat phase. Spells or abilities like Ancient Animus, Pit Fight, and Longstalk Brawl can force a defender creature to fight another creature. Since fighting does not involve declaring an attacker, the defender ability does not prevent the creature from participating.
9. Can a Defender Block Flying Creatures?
A defender creature can block flying creatures, but only if it has flying, reach, or another ability that allows it to do so. Cards like Consulate Skygate can block flying creatures due to their abilities. One underrated strategy is to use defender creatures in conjunction with cards like Sky Tether to neutralize flying threats. These combinations create a strong defensive line against aerial assaults.
Pramikon, Sky Rampart | Illustration by Richard Wright
10. Are Defender Creatures Forced to Block?
No, you are not obligated to block with a defender creature. You have the option to choose whether or not to block, just like with any other creature. The defender ability only restricts attacking; it does not compel blocking.
11. Can Defender Creatures Crew Vehicles?
Yes, defender creatures can crew vehicles. Crewing does not count as attacking, so the defender restriction does not apply. However, many defender creatures have zero power, so you will need additional creatures to meet the vehicle’s crew requirement. They can be tapped in addition to other creatures with the appropriate crew values.
12. Ninjutsu and Defender: A Viable Strategy?
Ninjutsu can be used with defender creatures under certain conditions. If you can enable a defender to attack using cards like Arcades, the Strategist, you can then use ninjutsu to swap it out for a ninja creature. This strategy allows you to surprise your opponent with an unexpected attacker.
13. Goading Defender Creatures: What Happens?
If a defender creature is goaded, it is forced to attack if able. However, the defender ability takes precedence, preventing the creature from attacking. In this scenario, the defender creature will not attack because the restriction overrides the obligation. According to official MTG rules, “Restrictions trump obligations.”
14. Top Defender Cards to Consider
Here are some of the best defender cards to include in your decks:
14.1. Sokrates, Athenian Teacher
Sokrates, Athenian Teacher can remove a key attacker and provide card draw, making it more versatile than a typical defender.
14.2. Overgrown Battlement and Axebane Guardian
Overgrown Battlement and Axebane Guardian are vital for mana generation in defender-themed decks.
These cards can tap for significant amounts of mana and enable infinite combos.
14.3. Thermo-Alchemist
Thermo-Alchemist is a staple in storm decks, dealing damage with each spell cast. Its strength lies in its ability rather than its stats.
14.4. Sylvan Caryatid
Sylvan Caryatid is used for mana ramp in Pioneer and Penny Dreadful formats. It provides both mana fixing and defense.
Pramikon, Sky Rampart | Illustration by Richard Wright
14.5. The Pride of Hull Clade
The Pride of Hull Clade converts toughness into cost reduction and can weaponize defenders.
14.6. Pramikon, Sky Rampart
Pramikon, Sky Rampart shapes the battlefield in Commander, directing attacks to specific opponents. This card is more impactful than goad, influencing the entire game dynamic.
14.7. Arcades, the Strategist
Arcades, the Strategist is a top commander for defender decks, allowing defenders to attack and draw cards based on their toughness. This elder dragon transforms the way defenders are played.
14.8. Thing in the Ice
Thing in the Ice transforms into Awoken Horror, bouncing non-horror creatures and becoming a powerful attacker.
14.9. Crashing Drawbridge
Crashing Drawbridge provides versatility, allowing creatures to attack and providing early game defense.
15. Why Defender Is a Great Mechanic
Defender is a unique and valuable mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. It creates strategic depth by encouraging defensive playstyles and enabling unique combos. Although it may not be as popular as more aggressive mechanics, defender has a significant design space and adds a distinct flavor to the game. Defender helps create cards that players don’t quite like so that the cooler cards in a set shine brighter. It encourages creative deck-building and rewards players who can effectively utilize defensive strategies.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Defender
Here are some frequently asked questions about the defender ability in MTG:
1. Can a creature with defender attack if it gains flying?
No, gaining flying does not allow a defender creature to attack. The defender ability specifically prevents attacking.
2. If I give a creature defender after it has already attacked, what happens?
Giving a creature defender after it has attacked does not remove it from combat, but it will not be able to attack in subsequent turns.
3. Can a defender creature be targeted by spells and abilities?
Yes, defender creatures can be targeted by spells and abilities just like any other creature.
4. What happens if a creature loses defender during combat?
If a creature loses defender during combat, it remains in combat but can now attack in subsequent turns if able.
5. Can I block with a defender creature that is tapped?
No, a tapped creature cannot block, regardless of whether it has defender or not.
6. How does defender interact with vigilance?
Vigilance allows a creature to attack without being tapped, but it does not override the defender ability. A creature with both defender and vigilance still cannot attack unless another effect allows it.
7. Can a defender creature be sacrificed?
Yes, a defender creature can be sacrificed. Sacrificing a creature is not the same as attacking.
8. What happens if a defender creature is also goaded?
The defender ability overrides goad, preventing the creature from attacking.
9. Can I use a defender creature to pay a cost that requires tapping?
Yes, you can use a defender creature to pay a cost that requires tapping, as long as it doesn’t involve attacking.
10. How does defender interact with regenerate?
Regenerate can be used on a defender creature to prevent it from being destroyed, just like any other creature.
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