Gorgon Flail is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has deathtouch. (Any amount of damage it deals to a creature is enough to destroy that creature.) Equip (: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)

Complete guide

Gorgon Flail is a classic equipment that turns even the smallest creature into a lethal threat on the battlefield. By granting a power boost and the deadly deathtouch keyword, it forces your opponents to think twice before blocking or attacking.

What It Does

Gorgon Flail provides two distinct benefits to the creature it is attached to: a +1/+1 stat increase and the deathtouch keyword. Deathtouch is a static ability that makes any amount of damage dealt by the creature—whether combat damage or non-combat damage—deadly enough to destroy a creature. The Flail remains on the battlefield even if the equipped creature leaves, ready to be picked up by another soldier.

How to Resolve Gorgon Flail

First, you cast Gorgon Flail by paying two generic mana. Once it is on the battlefield, you may activate its equip ability for another two generic mana during your main phase when the stack is empty. Upon resolution, the Flail attaches to the target creature. The creature immediately gains the +1/+1 bonus and deathtouch. If the creature deals even 1 damage to an opponent's creature, that creature is destroyed after state-based actions are checked.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that 'Equip' can only be activated as a sorcery. You cannot move the Flail to a creature to surprise a blocker during the combat phase or in response to a removal spell. Additionally, remember that deathtouch only applies to damage. If a creature's power is 0, it deals no damage, and therefore the deathtouch effect will not trigger to destroy a defender.

When to Play It

This equipment is best utilized in decks that feature creatures with 'ping' abilities (the ability to deal damage directly to other creatures) or creatures with first strike. By giving a pinger deathtouch, you can destroy any creature on the board by simply tapping your own. In aggressive decks, it makes your small tokens trade up for your opponent's largest monsters.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Flail

Sol Ring

On turn one, you play a land and cast Sol Ring. You can then immediately use the two colorless mana generated by Sol Ring to cast Gorgon Flail. This allows you to have the equipment ready to be attached to a creature as early as turn two.

Fixing Mana for Equipment Costs

Arcane Signet

If you are playing a multi-color deck, you can use Arcane Signet to produce the mana needed for the equip cost. Since Gorgon Flail requires two generic mana to equip, the mana from Arcane Signet provides half of the requirement, ensuring you can move the weapon between your creatures efficiently.

Deadly Combat

You equip a 1/1 Soldier token with Gorgon Flail. The token becomes a 2/2 with deathtouch. When your opponent blocks with a 10/10 creature, your 2/2 deals 2 damage to it. Because of deathtouch, that 2 damage is considered lethal, and the 10/10 is destroyed during the next state-based action check.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.