Flanking

Keywords · intermediate

Flanking punishes creatures that block. Whenever a creature without flanking blocks a creature with flanking, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.

How it works

• Flanking triggers when blockers are declared, before combat damage.
• The -1/-1 can shrink a small blocker enough to kill it outright, or weaken a larger one so the flanking creature survives.
• If a creature has flanking multiple times, each instance triggers, stacking multiple -1/-1 effects.

Rules notes

• A blocker that also has flanking is immune: flanking only triggers against blockers without flanking.
• The -1/-1 is not a counter; it is a temporary effect that wears off at end of turn.

Rule reference

[702.25]