Defender

Defender
Keyword Ability
Type	Static
Introduced	Alpha (mechanic); Champions of Kamigawa (keyword)
Last used	Evergreen
Reminder Text	Defender (This creature can't attack.)
Statistics	227 cards 15.4% 21.6% 21.1% 10.1% 12.3% 14.5% 4.8%
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	keyword:"Defender"

This article is about the 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 of 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

All colors can have defender, but it is primary in white as it's the most defensive color.^[3]

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

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

From the Comprehensive Rules (April 12, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

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.

Walls and Defender

Before defender was introduced all Walls were unable to attack as a definition of their creature type. Now creatures with Defender can potentially lose the ability and attack - this would have been a rules-hassle before. However, Defender has introduced some confusion as well, because not all cards that refer to Walls or non-Walls have been changed.

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: ": 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 clearly 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.

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

Rulings

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
Creature — Wall
0/8
Defender (This creature can't attack.)

Cards that grant defender

Enchantments

Gelid Shackles ( to grant defender until end of turn)
Guard Duty (Aura)
Guardian Zendikon (Land becomes a 2/6 wall with defender)

Creatures

Dormant Sliver (all Sliver creatures)

Equipment

Dragon Throne of Tarkir (equip , also gains ability to pump your creatures)
Peregrine Mask (equip , also grants flying and first strike)

Cards that circumvent defender

Animate Wall (Aura)
Arcades, the Strategist (Creature)
Assault Formation (Enchantment)
Rolling Stones (Enchantment)
Wakestone Gargoyle (Creature)
Warmonger's Chariot (Equip , also gets +2/+2)

Creatures with defender that may be able to attack

Ageless Sentinels (after it blocks)
Colossus of Akros (if it's monstrous)
Dark Maze (exiled afterwards)
Elder Land Wurm (after it blocks)
Gargoyle Sentinel (: until end of turn, also gains flying)
Grozoth (: until end of turn)
Guardian of the Ages (after you're attacked, also gains trample)
Loyal Gyrfalcon (until end of turn, when you cast a white spell)
Manor Gargoyle (: until end of turn, also gains flying)
Mirror Wall (: this turn)
Mistform Wall (: until end of turn, also becomes some non-Wall creature type)
Mobile Fort (: until end of turn, also gets +3/-1)
Nivix Cyclops (until end of turn when you cast an instant or sorcery, also gets +3/+0)
Ogre Jailbreaker (if you control a Gate)
Pillar of War (if it's enchanted)
Prison Barricade (if it was kicked for , also gets a +1/+1 counter)
Returned Phalanx (: until end of turn)
Sentry Oak (until end of turn if you win a clash with an opponent, also gets +2/+0)
Shoal Serpent (until end of turn when a land enters the battlefield under your control)
Slithering Shade (if your hand is empty)
Spire Serpent (if you control 3 or more artifacts, also gets +2/+2)
Tidewater Minion (: until end of turn)
Torpid Moloch (sacrifice 3 lands: until end of turn)
Vodalian War Machine (tap a Merfolk creature you control: until end of turn)
Wakestone Gargoyle (: all your defenders until end of turn)
Walking Wall (: until end of turn, also gets +3/-1)
Wall of Wonder (: until end of turn, also gets +4/-4)
Woolly Razorback (if it blocks enough to remove its counters)