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Menace
Menace
Keyword Ability
Type Evasion
Introduced Fallen Empires (mechanic)
Magic Origins (keyword)
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Statistics
291 cards
{C} 0.7% {U} 0.3% {B} 40.5% {R} 30.9% {G} 1% {U/B} 1.7% {B/R} 5.8% {R/G} 2.1% {W/B} 1% {U/R} 0.7% {B/G} 5.2% {R/W} 1.7% {M} 4.1% {artifact symbol} 3.8% {land symbol} 0.3%
Other Symbols
Duels Menace
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Menace"

Menace is an evergreen keyword ability. Creatures with menace can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.[1]

History[ | ]

Menace was introduced in Magic Origins to replace Intimidate which had turned out to be too "swingy"—its strength varied too heavily based on the colors of the opponent's deck. The Menace mechanic had existed since Goblin War Drums from Fallen Empires and used to be primary in black and secondary in red.[2][3][4] Nowadays menace is primary in both black and red. There's been some talk that a third color should be secondary or tertiary.[5]

Some older cards with this ability received errata so they now have menace.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths introduced menace counters.

Rules[ | ]

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (March 8, 2024—Fallout)

Menace
An evasion ability that makes creatures unblockable by a single creature. See rule 702.111, “Menace.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (March 8, 2024—Fallout)

  • 702.111. Menace
    • 702.111a Menace is an evasion ability.
    • 702.111b A creature with menace can’t be blocked except by two or more creatures. (See rule 509, “Declare Blockers Step.”)
    • 702.111c Multiple instances of menace on the same creature are redundant.

Rulings[ | ]

  • Once a creature with menace is legally blocked by two or more creatures, removing those blockers from combat won't change or undo the block.

Example[ | ]

Example

Boggart Brute {2}{R}
Creature — Goblin Warrior
3/2
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)

Cards that grant menace[ | ]

Super menace[ | ]

Some creatures have an evasion ability that stops them from being blocked by less than three creatures (compared with two creatures in regular menace).[6] This ability could be called "super menace" as slang.

References[ | ]

  1. Mark Rosewater (December 09, 2018). "Are you happy with menace, as it exists today?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Mark Rosewater (June 8, 2015). "Evergreen Eggs & Ham". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Matt Tabak (June 22, 2015). "Magic Origins Mechanics Article". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Wizards of the Coast (July 8, 2015). "Magic Origins Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (October 29, 2023). "Have you guys thought about changing menace so something like menace X". Blogatog. Tumblr.
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