Canopy CoverHow it works & interactions with other cards

What Canopy Cover Does

Canopy Cover grants two distinct benefits to the enchanted creature. First, it provides a form of evasion: the creature can only be blocked by creatures that have flying or reach. Second, it grants a protection ability similar to hexproof, stating that the enchanted creature can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.

Step-by-Step Resolution

When you cast Canopy Cover, you must choose a legal target creature for it to enchant. Once the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield attached to that creature. From that moment, the evasion and protection effects are active. If an opponent attempts to cast a spell like Murder targeting the creature, the spell will be illegal and they will not be able to cast it. During the declare blockers step, your opponent can only assign creatures to block if they have flying or reach.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A common misconception is that this is identical to hexproof. Because the text explicitly states 'your opponents control,' the source of the protection is the Aura itself. If you enchant an opponent's creature, your opponent (who is the creature's controller) cannot target their own creature because you, as the controller of Canopy Cover, are their opponent. Additionally, this does not protect against board wipes like Wrath of God, which do not target.

When to Play It

Canopy Cover is most effective when placed on a high-power creature that lacks evasion. It forces your opponent to have specific answers, such as flying blockers or non-targeting removal spells. It is also an excellent tool for protecting 'engine' creatures that provide value over time but are vulnerable to being picked off by enemy spells.

Interaction examples

Boosting Draw Power

Garruk's Uprising

If you have Garruk's Uprising on the battlefield and cast Canopy Cover on a 4/4 creature, the creature gains trample and the 'pseudo-hexproof' protection. This makes your large threat significantly harder to deal with, as it can now trample over any flying blockers that are small enough to be assigned.

Protecting Counter Synergies

Hardened Scales

While Hardened Scales is on the battlefield, you may be placing many +1/+1 counters on a specific creature. By enchanting that creature with Canopy Cover, you protect your investment of counters from being lost to a single targeted removal spell, while ensuring the creature can consistently deal damage by bypassing ground defenders.