Enchant — what does it mean?
This Aura is put onto the stated permanent or player and stays attached to it.
Enchant appears on 1,262 cards.
How does Enchant work?
Enchant appears on Auras and says what the Aura can be attached to: “Enchant creature,” “Enchant land,” “Enchant artifact,” “Enchant player,” and so on. That means an Aura spell always has a target. When you cast it, you choose a creature, land, or player that matches, and when the spell resolves, the Aura enters the battlefield attached to it.
Because it targets, it can go wrong. If the target is no longer legal when the Aura tries to resolve, say your opponent destroys the creature in response or gives it hexproof, the Aura spell doesn't resolve and goes to your graveyard. You've lost two cards to your opponent's one. That's the big risk with Auras.
Enchant keeps applying after that. If the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, or no longer matches the enchant ability (an “Enchant creature” Aura on something that stopped being a creature), the Aura goes to its owner's graveyard as a state-based action. An Aura you put on an opponent's creature is still yours. And if an Aura enters the battlefield without being cast, the player chooses what it enchants as it enters; since that isn't targeting, hexproof doesn't stop it.
An example at the table
You have a 2/2 and cast a 2-mana Aura with “Enchant creature” and “Enchanted creature gets +3/+3,” targeting your 2/2. Your opponent responds with an instant that destroys the 2/2. When your Aura tries to resolve, its target is gone, so it doesn't resolve and goes to your graveyard. If your opponent hadn't responded, your 2/2 would have become a 5/5. If that 5/5 gets destroyed later, the creature and the Aura both go to your graveyard.
Cards with Enchant
Wild GrowthIllustration: Tony Szczudlo
Animate DeadIllustration: Bastien L. Deharme
Utopia SprawlIllustration: Ron Spears
CuriosityIllustration: Igor Kieryluk
Darksteel MutationIllustration: Daniel LjunggrenCommon mistakes
- Thinking the Aura stays around when the creature leaves. An Aura with nothing legal to enchant goes to the graveyard; an Equipment is what stays behind.
- Thinking an Aura spell still resolves if its target disappears in response. It doesn't resolve and goes to the graveyard.
- Thinking an Aura on your opponent's creature now belongs to them. You still control the Aura; they control the creature.
- Thinking “Enchant creature” means only your own creatures. Any creature you can target is fine unless the card says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens to an Aura when the enchanted creature dies?
- The Aura goes to its owner's graveyard. It's a state-based action, so it happens right away.
- Can I put an Aura on a creature with hexproof?
- On your own creature, yes, since hexproof only stops your opponents. You can't target an opponent's hexproof creature with an Aura spell.
- What if my Aura's target disappears in response?
- The Aura spell doesn't resolve and goes to your graveyard.
- Who controls an Aura I put on my opponent's creature?
- You do. You control the Aura, your opponent controls the creature.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.5. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
FlashGoadUmbra armorDoubleTransform
Which cards with Enchant do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026