CrosswindsHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Crosswinds applies a continuous static effect that gives all creatures with flying -2/-0. This affects both your creatures and your opponents' creatures. Because it is a static ability, it does not use the stack and applies the moment a creature has the flying keyword.

How it Resolves Step by Step

First, the enchantment enters the battlefield and its effect immediately applies to all eligible creatures. If a creature later gains flying through a spell or ability, the -2/-0 penalty is applied instantly. If a creature loses flying, the penalty is removed immediately. This effect checks the creature's status constantly as part of the layer system.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is thinking this card removes flying; it only reduces the power of creatures that have it. Players also often forget that this affects their own creatures. Additionally, if a creature's power is reduced to 0 or less, it remains on the battlefield but will deal no combat damage.

When to Play It

This card is most effective in decks that rely on ground-based combat and want to mitigate the damage from an opponent's 'Flyers' or 'Spirit' deck. It is a niche sideboard choice that can completely shut down low-power evasive tokens.

Interaction examples

Interaction with Garruk's Uprising

Garruk's Uprising

If you have Crosswinds on the field and play a 5/5 creature with flying, the creature's power becomes 3 as it enters. Consequently, Garruk's Uprising will not trigger its 'draw a card' ability because the creature's power is not 4 or greater at the time of entry.

Counteracting Hardened Scales

Hardened Scales

If you control Hardened Scales and a creature with flying enters with two +1/+1 counters, it will receive three counters instead. However, Crosswinds still applies its -2/-0 penalty to the final total. If the creature was a 0/0 base, it would end up as a 1/3 flyer.

Solo Utility

Against a 1/1 bird token, Crosswinds reduces its power to -1. The bird can still attack and block, but it will deal 0 damage during the combat damage step.