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'''Flying''' is a [[evasion ability]] that makes [[creature]]s without flying unable to block creatures with flying. It has been in '''[[Magic]]''' since the original ''[[Alpha]]'' set. <ref>{{MTGref|mr98|Up, Up and Away|[[Mark Rosewater]]|Monday, November 17, 2003}}</ref> Flying appears on over 1,000 different cards and is scattered wildly on the [[color wheel]], mostly being found on [[blue]] and [[white]] cards, but also appearing in [[black]] and to a lesser extent [[red]]. [[Green]] rarely has flying creatures, but is the best color at destroying them (e.g. <c>Hurricane</c>, <c>Plummet</c>).  There are a number of creature types that almost always have flying, such as [[Angels]], [[Birds]], [[Sphinxes]], [[Dragons]], and [[Griffins]] (each of these generally being creatures with wings).
{{Infobox keyword
| icon = mtga_flying.png
| icon2 = Duels Flying.png
| type = Evasion
| first = Alpha
| last = Evergreen
| reminder = This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach.
| storm = 1
| storm_ref=<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/180676882038/|title=So I’m curious what lands on a 1 for each of the major scales?|2018-12-01}}</ref>
| stats =
}}
'''Flying''' is an [[evergreen]] [[evasion ability]] that makes [[creature]]s without flying unable to block creatures with flying. It has been in ''[[Magic]]'' since the original ''[[Alpha]]'' set.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/and-away-2003-11-17|Up, Up and Away|[[Mark Rosewater]]|Monday, November 17, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/evergreen-eggs-ham-2015-06-08|Evergreen Eggs & Ham|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 8, 2015}}</ref> It was the first and most resonant mechanic that [[Richard Garfield]] designed for the game.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/mechanically-inclined-2009-06-01|Mechanically Inclined|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/looking-back-part-1|Looking Back, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 11, 2024}}</ref>


{{rules|text='''From the [[Comprehensive Rules]]''':
==Description==
*'''702.9.''' Flying
Flying appears on over 1,000 different cards and is scattered wildly on the [[color wheel]], mostly being found on [[blue]] and [[white]] cards, and to a lesser extent in [[black]] and [[red]].<ref name="Color Pie 2017">{{DailyRef|making-magic/mechanical-color-pie-2017-2017-06-05|Mechanical Color Pie 2017|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 5, 2017}}</ref>  [[Green]] rarely has flying creatures, but is the best color at [[destroy]]ing them (e.g. <c>Hurricane</c>, <c>Plummet</c>).<ref name="Color Pie 2017"/> There are a number of creature types that almost always have flying, such as [[Angel]]s, [[Bird]]s, [[Sphinx]]es, [[Dragon]]s, and [[Griffin]]s (each of these generally being creatures with wings).
**'''702.9a''' Flying is an evasion ability.
 
**'''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 702.16, "[[Reach]].")
The ''[[Mystery Booster]]'' [[test card]]s and ''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]'' introduced [[flying counter]]s.
**'''702.9c''' Multiple instances of flying on the same creature are redundant.
}}


==Reminder text==
==Rules==
The latest [[reminder text]] for Flying reads "This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or [[reach]]."
{{CR+G}}


==Examples==
==Examples==
{{examples|text=''
{{examples|<c>Bog Imp</c> {{1}}{{B}}<br>Creature {{-}} Imp<br>1/1<br>Flying ''(This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)''}}
*<c>Bog Imp</c> - {{1}}{{B}}<br>Creature {{-}} Imp<br>1/1<br>Flying ''(This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)''<br>
}}


==Enchantments that grant just Flying==
==Enchantments that grant just flying==
One creature
One creature
*<c>Flight</c> {{u}}
*<c>Flight</c> {{U}}
*<c>Shimmering Wings</c> {{u}}
*<c>Shimmering Wings</c> {{U}}
*<c>Arcanum Wings</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Arcanum Wings</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Buoyancy</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Buoyancy</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Crown of Ascension</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Crown of Ascension</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Dragon Wings</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Dragon Wings</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Illuminated Wings</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Illuminated Wings</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Launch</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Launch</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Phantom Wings</c> {{1}}{{u}}
*<c>Phantom Wings</c> {{1}}{{U}}
*<c>Flight of Fancy</c> {{3}}{{u}}
*<c>Flight of Fancy</c> {{3}}{{U}}


All your creatures
All your creatures
*<c>Levitation</c> {{2}}{{u}}{{u}}
*<c>Levitation</c> {{2}}{{U}}{{U}}
 
==Pseudo-flying==
Some creatures without flying can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach (but unlike creatures that actually have flying, these cannot block creatures with flying themselves). [[Mark Rosewater]] is not a fan of this design,<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/157302982863/what-is-the-point-of-pseudo-flying-creatures-like|title=What is the point of pseudo-flying creatures like Signal Pest and Orchard Spirit?|February 16, 2017}}</ref> as it does not differentiate itself from flying meaningfully. It also runs into keyword-referencing issues, as whether or not reach can block it depends on whether reach existed at time of printing.
 
* <c>Elven Riders</c> {{3}}{{G}}{{G}}
* <c>Treetop Rangers</c> {{2}}{{G}}
* <c>Treetop Bracers</c> {{1}}{{G}}
* <C>Treetop Scout</c> {{G}}
* <c>Silhana Ledgewalker</c> {{1}}{{G}}
 
==== Includes reach ====
* <c>Canopy Cover</c> {{1}}{{G}}
*<c>Orchard Spirit</c> {{2}}{{G}}
*<c>Signal Pest</c> {{1}}
*<c>Spire Tracer</c> {{G}}
* {{Card|Tatsunari, Toad Rider}} {{2}}{{B}} ({{1}}{{G/U}} activated ability)
 
==Can't be blocked by creatures with flying==
Some creatures without flying can't be blocked by creatures with flying. This is a [[red]] ability, and is sometimes nicknamed "Tunneling"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/173838388783/commanderjim-asked-what-color-is-cant-be|title=What color is "can't be blocked by creatures with flying"?|May 12, 2018}}</ref> However, "Tunneling" is more often used for “target creature with power 2 or less is [[unblockable]] this turn”.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187863654138/whatever-happened-to-tunneling-we-still-do-it|title=Whatever happened to tunneling?|September 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187863717598/i-was-just-reading-a-wiki-article-on-flying-and-it|title=I was just reading a wiki article on flying and it referenced tunneling as "can't be blocked by creatures with flying."|September 21, 2019}}</ref> Given the lack of defensive fliers in a typical game, this use of the keyword has seen little print.
 
* <c>Stone Spirit</c> {{4}}{{R}}
* <c>Gnat Alley Creeper</c> {{2}}{{R}}
* <c>Greater Stone Spirit</c> {{4}}{{R}}{{R}}
* <c>Dust Corona</c> {{R}}
* <c>Skyblinder Staff</c> {{1}}, Equip: {{3}}
 
== Losing flying ==
As the most common keyword ability, it is also the keyword most commonly explicitly removed or lost by certain effects, twice as common as the next keyword removed, defender. Despite the low utility, it has continued to appear on cards as trinket text.
{{Columns-list|;On own creatures
*<c>Chimeric Sphere</c> ({{C}})
*<c>Colossus Hammer</c> ({{C}})
*<c>Downdraft</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Leering Gargoyle</c> ({{W}}{{U}})
*<c>Magebane Armor</c> ({{C}})
*<c>Mist Dragon</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Swooping Talon</c> ({{W}})
 
;On opposing creatures
*<c>Adarkar Windform</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Archetype of Imagination</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Burning Palm Efreet</c> ({{R}})
*<c>Canopy Claws</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Crash Landing</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Downdraft</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Earthbind</c> ({{R}})
*<c>Emerald Charm</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Goblin Skycutter</c> ({{R}})
*<c>Gravity Sphere</c> ({{R}})
*<c>Gravity Well</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Grounded</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Kinscaer Harpoonist</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Invert the Skies</c> ({{U}}{{G}})
*<c>Mammoth Harness</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Mu Yanling, Sky Dancer</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Mystic Decree</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Radjan Spirit</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Ribbon Snake</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Sky Tether</c> ({{W}})
*<c>Short Circuit</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Tightening Coils</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Thundercloud Elemental</c> ({{U}})
*<c>Vertigo</c> ({{R}})
*<c>Whiteout</c> ({{G}})
*<c>Wind Shear</c> ({{G}})|colwidth=15em}}
 
==Player flying==
The ''[[Mystery Booster]]'' [[test card]] <c>Sarah's Wings</c> (a reference to <c>On Serra's Wings</c>) grants flying to a [[player]] (''Players with flying can’t be dealt damage by creatures without flying''). This was also the idea behind {{Card|Form of the Dragon}}, which has a different mechanical implementation.


==See Also==
==See also==
*[[High flying]]
*[[High flying]]


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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-pnhX-gqos A Planeswalker's Primer for Magic 2010: Flying]
*{{YouTubeRef|N-pnhX-gqos|A Planeswalker's Primer for Magic 2010: Flying|channel=Magic: The Gathering}}
*{{DailyRef|beyond-basics/invention-flying-2017-02-03|The Invention of Flying|[[Gavin Verhey]]|February 3, 2017}}


[[Category:Keywords]]
{{Mechanics|keyword}}
[[Category:Magic rules]]

Latest revision as of 11:40, 14 March 2024

Flying
[[File:{{#setmainimage:mtga_flying.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Ability
Type Evasion
Introduced Alpha
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach.)
Storm Scale 1[1]
Other Symbols
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Duels Flying.png}}|70x70px]]
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Flying"

Flying is an evergreen evasion ability that makes creatures without flying unable to block creatures with flying. It has been in Magic since the original Alpha set.[2][3] It was the first and most resonant mechanic that Richard Garfield designed for the game.[4][5]

Description

Flying appears on over 1,000 different cards and is scattered wildly on the color wheel, mostly being found on blue and white cards, and to a lesser extent in black and red.[6] Green rarely has flying creatures, but is the best color at destroying them (e.g. Hurricane, Plummet).[6] There are a number of creature types that almost always have flying, such as Angels, Birds, Sphinxes, Dragons, and Griffins (each of these generally being creatures with wings).

The Mystery Booster test cards and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced flying counters.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Flying
A keyword ability that restricts how a creature may be blocked. See rule 702.9, “Flying.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 702.9. Flying
    • 702.9a Flying is an evasion ability.
    • 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.

Examples

Example

Bog Imp {1}{B}
Creature — Imp
1/1
Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)

Enchantments that grant just flying

One creature

All your creatures

Pseudo-flying

Some creatures without flying can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach (but unlike creatures that actually have flying, these cannot block creatures with flying themselves). Mark Rosewater is not a fan of this design,[7] as it does not differentiate itself from flying meaningfully. It also runs into keyword-referencing issues, as whether or not reach can block it depends on whether reach existed at time of printing.

Includes reach

Can't be blocked by creatures with flying

Some creatures without flying can't be blocked by creatures with flying. This is a red ability, and is sometimes nicknamed "Tunneling"[8] However, "Tunneling" is more often used for “target creature with power 2 or less is unblockable this turn”.[9][10] Given the lack of defensive fliers in a typical game, this use of the keyword has seen little print.

Losing flying

As the most common keyword ability, it is also the keyword most commonly explicitly removed or lost by certain effects, twice as common as the next keyword removed, defender. Despite the low utility, it has continued to appear on cards as trinket text.

On own creatures
On opposing creatures

Player flying

The Mystery Booster test card Sarah's Wings (a reference to On Serra's Wings) grants flying to a player (Players with flying can’t be dealt damage by creatures without flying). This was also the idea behind Form of the Dragon, which has a different mechanical implementation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2018-12-01). "So I’m curious what lands on a 1 for each of the major scales?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (Monday, November 17, 2003). "Up, Up and Away". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Brady Dommermuth (June 01, 2009). "Mechanically Inclined". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 11, 2024). "Looking Back, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 16, 2017). "What is the point of pseudo-flying creatures like Signal Pest and Orchard Spirit?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 12, 2018). "What color is "can't be blocked by creatures with flying"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 21, 2019). "Whatever happened to tunneling?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 21, 2019). "I was just reading a wiki article on flying and it referenced tunneling as "can't be blocked by creatures with flying."". Blogatog. Tumblr.

External links

 
Other
 
Other
Digital only
Miscellaneous
Playtest
Unreleased
Former
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