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Unblockable
MTGA Unblockable
Mechanic
Introduced Alpha
Last used Evergreen
Reminder Text ... can't be blocked ...
Other Symbols
Duels Unblockable symbol
Scryfall Search
fulloracle:"can't be blocked"

Unblockable is a slang term used to describe the mechanic that prevents creatures from being blocked.

On cards, it appears as can't be blocked.

Activation[ | ]

This ability must be present prior to the blocking phase for it to work.

For cards like Frilled Sea Serpent which need to spend mana to activate this ability temporarily, it needs to be activated prior to the actual blocking phase, during the attacking phase.

Activating it after a blocker has already been assigned does not negate that block: the card must be enhanced prior to the blocking declaration.

Examples[ | ]

Example

Phantom Warrior {1}{U}{U}
Creature — Illusion Warrior
2/2
Phantom Warrior can't be blocked.

History[ | ]

R&D tried to keyword this evasion ability only to discover that there are so many variations on it that they couldn't.[1] Officially, it used to be an attribute of a creature, until it was made obsolete in Magic 2014 when the text Is unblockable was changed to Can't be blocked to make it very clear that "unblockable" is not an ability.[2][3][4] Cards that used the term have received errata in the Oracle card reference. Can't be blocked is primary in blue, which has both creatures with this ability and grants it through spells and Auras.[4]

Granting unblockability[ | ]

A creature's ability that grants unblockability can be static (Covert Operative), triggered (Cunning Survivor) or activated (Blockade Runner). Some spells also grant a creature unblockability, often along with shroud. Additionally, some effects that grant unblockability may only target creatures with power 2 or less (Dwarven Warriors). The latter version is nicknamed tunneling.[5]

Spells and Artifacts that grant Unblockable[ | ]

Enchantments target creature

Instants

Sorceries

Artifacts

Equipment

Land

Cards that allow a player to block an unblockable attacking creature[ | ]

Instants

Creature


"Cannot be blocked (except) by"[ | ]

A variant of 'unblockable' restricts unblockability to a certain subset of creatures, often naming a color, creature type, number of power or greater, number of blocking creatures or creatures with a certain keyword ability.

Example of "Cannot be blocked (except) by"[ | ]

Example 1

Wanderbrine Rootcutters {2}{U/B}{U/B}
Creature — Merfolk Rogue
3/3
Wanderbrine Rootcutters can't be blocked by green creatures.

Example 2

Treetop Rangers {2}{G}
Creature — Elf
2/2
Treetop Rangers can't be blocked except by creatures with flying.

Creatures that are "Cannot be blocked (except) by"[ | ]

Cannot be blocked by [color]

Cannot be blocked by artifact creatures

Cannot be blocked by creature tokens

Cannot be blocked except by [color or artifact creatures]

Cannot be blocked by [creature type]

Cannot be blocked except by [creature type]

Cannot be blocked by creatures with [keyword ability]

Cannot be blocked except by creatures with [keyword ability]

Cannot be blocked by more than [number of blocking creatures]

Cannot be blocked except by [number of blocking creatures] two or more creatures (Menace)

three or more creatures

Cannot be blocked by creatures with [number of power] or greater

Cannot be blocked by creatures with greater power (Skulk)

Cannot be blocked by creatures power [number of power] or less

Spells and Artifacts that grant "Cannot be blocked (except) by"[ | ]

Cannot be blocked by [color]

Cannot be blocked by artifact creatures

Cannot be blocked except by [color or artifact creatures]

  • Seeker{2}{W}{W} (artifact and/or white)

Cannot be blocked by [creature type]

Cannot be blocked except by [creature type]

Cannot be blocked by creatures with [keyword ability]

Cannot be blocked except by creatures with [keyword ability]

Cannot be blocked by more than [number of blocking creatures]

Cannot be blocked except by [number of blocking creatures]

Cannot be blocked by creatures with [number of power] or greater

Cannot be blocked by creatures with greater power (Skulk)

Rules[ | ]

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

Unblockable (Obsolete)
A term that meant “can’t be blocked.” Cards that used this term have received errata in the Oracle card reference.

References[ | ]

  1. Mark Rosewater (December 12, 2020). "Is there a chance “can't be blocked” gets keyworded to “unblockable”?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Matt Tabak (May 23, 2013). "Magic 2014 Core Set Rules Preview". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (August 13, 2014). "What is the reason for "unblockable" not being a keyword?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. a b Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Mark Rosewater (September 21, 2019). "Whatever happened to tunneling?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
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