Animate WallHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Animate Wall is an Aura with the specific restriction 'Enchant Wall.' Its primary function is to grant the enchanted creature the ability to attack as though it did not have defender. Note that it does not change the creature's power or toughness, nor does it remove the 'Wall' creature type; it simply bypasses the rules restriction that normally prevents Walls from being declared as attackers.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Animate Wall by paying its white mana cost and choosing a legal target with the Wall subtype. Upon resolution, the Aura attaches to the Wall. From that moment on, as long as Animate Wall remains on the battlefield, the creature can be declared as an attacker during your combat phase. If the creature loses the 'Wall' subtype through another effect, Animate Wall will be put into its owner's graveyard as a state-based action because its 'Enchant Wall' requirement is no longer met.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is trying to enchant a creature that has defender but is not a Wall. According to the official rulings, Animate Wall can only enchant a creature with the Wall subtype. Another mistake is forgetting that the creature still needs to follow all other rules for attacking—it must have been under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn (unless it has haste) and it must be untapped.

When to Play It

Animate Wall is best utilized in decks featuring high-power Walls or those that benefit from high-toughness attackers. Since it only costs one mana, it is a very efficient way to pressure an opponent who is not expecting a high-toughness creature to suddenly start swinging for damage. It is particularly effective when you have multiple defensive creatures and need to transition into an aggressive strategy.

Interaction examples

Basic Attack Maneuver

You control a creature with the Wall subtype. During your main phase, you cast Animate Wall on it. Because the creature has been under your control since the turn began, you can move to combat and declare that Wall as an attacker. The defender keyword no longer prevents it from participating in the assault.

Tapped Entrance Interaction

Authority of the Consuls

If your opponent controls Authority of the Consuls, any Wall you play will enter the battlefield tapped. Even if you enchant it with Animate Wall, you will not be able to attack that turn because the creature is tapped. You must wait until your next turn to untap the Wall and declare it as an attacker.

Illegal Targets

Urza's Saga

If you use Urza's Saga to create a Construct artifact creature token, you cannot target that token with Animate Wall. Although the token might be large, it does not have the Wall creature type. Animate Wall requires the target to be a Wall, so the spell cannot even be cast targeting the Construct.