Can a Non-Flying Creature Fight a Flying Creature in Magic?
Yes, a non-flying creature can absolutely fight a flying creature in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). The ability “flying” only affects combat during the declare blockers step. Outside of blocking scenarios, the game treats a flying creature the same as a non-flying one for the purposes of spells, abilities, and interactions such as Fight. This means that a non-flying creature can engage a flying creature in combat via a fight effect, and vice-versa.
How Fight Mechanics Work with Flying Creatures
The Fight mechanic in MTG is a keyword that forces two creatures to deal damage to each other. It’s important to note that the Fight mechanic does not involve the combat step of a turn. When two creatures are engaged in a Fight, they simply deal damage to each other equal to their power. This bypasses the usual rules of blocking and evasion abilities like flying. Thus, whether a creature can fly or not is irrelevant when a Fight effect is triggered.
For example, if a card says, “Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control,” the non-flying creature you control can engage a flying creature that your opponent controls. The flying creature’s evasion ability has no impact in this scenario, and they will deal damage to each other. This interaction is crucial for understanding how flying, a commonly misunderstood ability, functions.
Flying’s Primary Function: Blocking Restrictions
The primary purpose of the flying ability in MTG is to restrict which creatures can block it. A creature with flying can only be blocked by other creatures with flying or reach. If a non-flying creature attempts to block a flying creature, it cannot do so. However, this blocking restriction does not extend to fight abilities. The combat rules of flying are limited, and do not apply outside of the combat phase.
In summary, flying is an evasion ability that is specifically concerned with the combat step, not with game mechanics such as Fight. This understanding is fundamental in developing effective strategies when you are playing against or with flying creatures.
Flying is Not a Blanket Immunity
It’s imperative to understand that flying does not make a creature immune to all forms of interaction outside of the declared blockers step. Flying creatures are still vulnerable to spells, abilities, and effects that target creatures. They can be dealt direct damage, targeted by removal spells, or affected by abilities that reduce power or grant hexproof to the other creature. These are crucial factors to consider when assessing the effectiveness of your strategy.
Therefore, while a non-flying creature cannot block a flying one, it is perfectly capable of engaging it in combat using cards and abilities that initiate a fight action, as well as using spells and other effects that do not directly involve the combat phase.
15 Frequently Asked Questions About Flying in Magic
1. Can a non-flying creature block a flying creature?
No, a non-flying creature cannot block a flying creature unless it has the ability reach, or an effect that allows it to target a flying creature. Reach is a keyword that grants creatures the ability to block those with flying.
2. Can a flying creature block a non-flying creature?
Yes, a flying creature can block a non-flying creature without any issues. The flying ability only dictates what can block it, not who it can block.
3. What is the “Reach” keyword and how does it relate to flying?
Reach is a keyword ability that allows a creature to block other creatures with flying. It’s the primary way for non-flying creatures to interact with flying creatures in combat without special abilities.
4. If two creatures with Deathtouch fight, does it cancel out?
No, deathtouch does not cancel out. Each instance of deathtouch will deal 1 damage that is considered lethal, so in a fight, both creatures will be destroyed if they deal any damage to each other.
5. Can Walls block flying creatures?
Walls can block flying creatures if the wall itself has the flying or reach keyword. Otherwise, Walls follow the general rule that non-flying creatures cannot block flying ones.
6. Does trample work on flying creatures?
Trample damage can be dealt to a defending player even if the attacking creature is blocked by a flying creature. The trample ability is about excess damage, not evading the blocker itself. The flying creature simply still blocks the attacker as it normally would.
7. Can a Planeswalker block flying creatures?
Planeswalkers cannot block any creatures, including those with flying. Planeswalkers are not creatures and are targeted differently with specific removal, spells, and abilities.
8. Can a creature with “defender” block flying creatures?
Yes, a creature with defender can block flying creatures if it itself has the flying or reach keyword. Defender simply restricts a creature from attacking; it does not affect its blocking capabilities.
9. Does a flying creature fall if incapacitated or stunned?
Yes, in most cases, a flying creature falls if it is incapacitated or stunned, unless it has the hover ability. This is mostly relevant in games like Dungeons and Dragons, as Magic uses a different system.
10. What happens if a flying creature is restrained?
Restrained creatures lose their speed and are put at a disadvantage in combat, but it does not force the creature to fall in most scenarios. They may still use their flying ability as long as it is not explicitly limited or prohibited.
11. What happens if you cast levitate on a flying creature?
The spell Levitate essentially replaces the flying ability with its own method of movement by pushing off of fixed surfaces. The targeted creature stops flying in the traditional sense.
12. Are there spells or abilities to counter flying creatures in MTG?
Yes, there are many spells and abilities to counter flying creatures. These include cards that deal direct damage, removal spells that destroy or exile, and cards that give your creatures reach or other beneficial effects. Examples of these include spells like Lightning Bolt to deal damage or Doom Blade to destroy.
13. Can creatures with summoning sickness block?
Yes, creatures with summoning sickness can block as normal. Summoning sickness only prevents the affected creature from attacking on the turn it comes under your control.
14. How do abilities like “Ezuri’s Archers” interact with flying creatures?
Abilities like Ezuri’s Archers that increase a creature’s power when blocking flying creatures enhance its combat abilities when blocking flying creatures. This does not remove the block restriction, but it ensures the blocker will have an edge in damage.
15. Can a flying creature block another flying creature?
Yes, a flying creature can block another flying creature without issues. The primary interaction of flying is that it can only be blocked by reach or other flying creatures, not that it can’t block others with that ability.