Reach

Reach is an evergreen keyword ability that replaces the "[This creature] can block as though it had flying" ability seen on creatures such as Giant Spider.

History
The mechanic used to be known as the "Spider ability". For design reasons, Mark Rosewater convinced R&D that they needed to keyword more abilities and then put them in a secondary color. The Rules Manager suggested adding Reach because it would greatly shrink the reminder text for flying.

Reach was first keyworded in Future Sight and was introduced into core sets with Tenth Edition. Reach is primary in green. Lately, it also is appearing in red. Reach is tertiary in white, mostly on archers.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced reach counters.

Rulings

 * All cards that have or grant the Giant Spider ability will be receiving errata to change that ability to reach.
 * The interaction between creatures with flying and creatures such as Giant Spider will not change.
 * Some card interactions are changing:
 * Creatures with reach (and without flying) won't be able to block creatures that say they "can't be blocked except by creatures with flying," simply because those creatures don't actually have flying (and will no longer act as though they do). Cards affected by this change are Elven Riders, Silhana Ledgewalker, Treetop Bracers, Treetop Rangers, and Treetop Scout.
 * Creatures with reach (and without flying) will be able to block creatures that say they "can't be blocked by creatures with flying," for the same reason. Cards affected by this change are Dust Corona, Gnat Alley Creeper, Greater Stone Spirit</c>, and Stone Spirit</c>.
 * Talruum Piper</c>, which says "All creatures with flying able to block Talruum Piper do so," will not force creatures with reach to block it.

Enchantments that grant just Reach
One creature
 * Frog Tongue</c>
 * Whip Silk</c>

Trivia

 * The only colorless identity creatures printed with Reach are Consulate Skygate</c> and Stonecoil Serpent</c>.
 * Arachnoid</c> has the ability with errata, but not printed on a card.