Flying — what does it mean?
Can only be blocked by creatures with flying or reach.
Flying appears on 3,288 cards.
How does Flying work?
Flying is an evasion ability: it makes a creature harder to block. An attacking creature with flying can't be blocked except by creatures with flying and/or reach. None of your opponent's other creatures can block it, no matter how big they are.
The restriction doesn't go the other way. A creature with flying can block whatever it wants, flying or not. So a flyer is also a fine defender against ground creatures. Flying only changes who can block this creature when it attacks, not how it deals or takes damage.
What counts is the moment blockers are declared. If an attacker gains flying after it's already been blocked, the block stands. If it loses flying before blocks, anything can block it again. Evasion abilities stack: a creature with flying and menace can only be blocked by two or more creatures that each have flying or reach. Multiple instances of flying on one creature don't add anything.
An example at the table
You attack with a 2/2 with flying. Your opponent is at 10 life and has a 4/4 without flying and a 1/3 with reach. The 4/4 can't block your creature. The 1/3 with reach can. If it blocks, the 1/3 takes 2 and survives, and your 2/2 takes 1 and survives too. If your opponent doesn't block, they go to 8 life. On their turn, your 2/2 can block an attacking 2/1 without flying just fine.
Cards with Flying
Birds of ParadiseIllustration: Kevin Sidharta
Ornithopter of ParadiseIllustration: Raoul Vitale
Mirkwood BatsIllustration: John Tedrick
Faerie MastermindIllustration: Kai Carpenter
Baleful StrixIllustration: Nils HammCommon mistakes
- Thinking a creature with flying can't block creatures without flying. It can block anything; the restriction only goes one way.
- Forgetting that reach lets a creature without flying block a flyer.
- Thinking a block falls apart if the attacker gains flying afterward. Once a block is legally declared, it stays.
- Thinking reach is the same as flying. Reach only lets a creature block flyers; when it attacks, any creature can block it.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a creature with flying block a creature without flying?
- Yes. Flying only limits who can block this creature when it attacks. It can block any attacker itself.
- Can a creature without flying block a flyer?
- Only if it has reach.
- What if a creature gains flying after it's been blocked?
- It stays blocked. Evasion only matters at the moment blockers are declared.
- How do flying and menace work together?
- Both apply. The creature can only be blocked by two or more creatures that each have flying or reach.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.9. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
LifelinkTrampleFlashVigilanceTreasure
Which cards with Flying do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026