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]
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 8, 2024—Edge of Eternities)
- 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.
History
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.
Flying in practice
Flying is another means of being an unblockable creature, getting a Flying onto the battlefield is a means to evade blockers and successfully hit your opponent.
In the case of Hypnotic Specter dealing damage to the opponent will make them discard a card at random, this is easily done with Flying.
