Defender

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Defender
Keyword Ability
Type Static
Introduced Alpha (mechanic)
Champions of Kamigawa (keyword)
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text Defender (This creature can't attack.)
Storm Scale 1[1]
Other Symbols
Scryfall Statistics
This article is about the ability Defender. For the player, see Defending player.

Defender is a static ability that renders a creature unable to attack.

Description

The keyword was introduced as a replacement for the baggage that the creature type Wall carried. Walls could not attack. Much later, the decision was made to keyword the "cannot attack" ability and make sure that all Walls had defender so that functionality wouldn't change. Defender was introduced with Champions of Kamigawa and was retroactively added to all Walls.[2] Ninth Edition was the first core set after that change was made. Once the keyword existed, it allowed the ability to be put on non-Wall creatures.[3]

This also prevents issues with the Changeling mechanic, as a creature that counts as every creature type is also considered a Wall (and be unable to attack as a result under the old rule). This was to benefit typal strategies as Mistform abilities (which did grant defender at the time) was activated-ability only, meaning cast triggers wouldn't trigger and tutor effects couldn't find them. Mistform Ultimus, the first "changeling", originally had text excluding the wall baggage, which was removed when Defender was officalised.

However, this had a knock-on effect with cards that referred to or excluded Walls specifically because of their inherent inability to attack. Some were issued errata to refer to creatures with defender, some were changed to refer to Walls, and some weren't changed from their original text.

Whenever confusion arises, always see the Oracle Card Reference or Gatherer for clarification.

Example 1

Erhnam Djinn has the text: "At the beginning of your upkeep, target non-Wall creature an opponent controls gains forestwalk until your next upkeep."

  • It is perfectly legal to choose a non-Wall creature with Defender, such as Carven Caryatid, even though that was not the original intent.

Example 2

Norritt has the text: "The tap symbol.: Target non-Wall creature attacks this turn if able. If that creature doesn't attack, destroy it at end of turn unless it came under its controller's control this turn. Play this ability only during that creature's controller's turn before the declare attackers step."

  • This ability is designed to work on non-Defenders, but that is not the case. It is legal for Norritt to target any non-Wall creatures with Defender, such as Carven Caryatid.

All colors can have defender. It used to be primary only in white as it is the most defensive color.[4] Lately, blue has also become primary.[5]

Cards that grant defender

As a downside mechanic, it can be granted to the opponent's creatures via an Aura as a passable removal effect. However, letting them block is often an impediment to ending the game, especially if it's a large creature that can block fliers, making it worse than Pacifism effects. As such, most cards on the list of "enchanted creature can't attack" have "or block" and don't include the defender keyword. Some other designs grant defender for other purposes.

Enchantments

Creatures

Equipment

Creatures with defender and haste

For Future Sight, R&D explored the idea of putting haste on blue creatures with defender and 0 power, where the haste was about using the activated ability right away rather than attacking (Bonded Fetch).[6] After 16 years of floating this idea, the second blue haster with defender was printed in Streets of New Capenna with Errant, Street Artist.

Creatures with defender that may be able to attack

Defenders tend to be toughness-oriented, but in recent years common blue defenders with higher power that can attack in certain contexts have been a recurring design: specifically, two mana creatures with 3 power. As defenders with no power can only ward off one creature, defenders with lower toughness but nonzero power can deter multiple attackers and contribute meaningfully to double blocks. Letting them attack also gives players a build-around for matchups where it is favorable to get early hits in. However, the subset of these where the creature is a 1 generic manaBlue mana 3/2 typically leans more towards being an aggressive creature with downside rather than a defensive creature for longer games as they are not as well suited for blocking other cheap creatures compared to the 3/3 statline.

Other designs in this space have also been printed in other colors and rarities, such as green creatures that desire ferocious, but not to the same frequency.

The phrasing is often "as though it didn't have defender" instead of "loses defender", which bypasses the corner case where it is given defender after losing defender. There are also a series of creatures that have the text "Can't attack unless..." which is typically the same but have the "gain defender" issue. Landhome creatures often have this text.

In a greater scope, there is a selection of cards that allow creatures with defender to attack while also sometimes granting them power, which is often done through the unofficial keyword backbone.

Cards that circumvent defender on other cards

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

Defender
A keyword ability that prohibits a creature from attacking. See rule 702.3, “Defender.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

  • 702.3. Defender
    • 702.3a Defender is a static ability.
    • 702.3b A creature with defender can’t attack.
    • 702.3c Multiple instances of defender on the same creature are redundant.
  • Changing a creature's type no longer affects whether it can attack. A Wall that becomes a non-Wall will still have the defender ability. Likewise, a non-Wall that becomes a Wall won't have the defender ability.

    • Examples

    Example

    Wall of Stone 1 generic manaRed manaRed mana
    Creature — Wall
    0/8
    Defender (This creature can't attack.)

    References

    1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2025-03-16). "Where is Defender on the storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
    2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 04, 2004). "Change For the Better". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
    3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
    4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
    5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 18, 2021). "Mechanical Color Pie 2021 Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-10-18.
    6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 17, 2021). "Future Sight Design Handoff Document". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

    External links

     
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