Krenko's EnforcerHow it works & interactions with other cards

Understanding Intimidate

Krenko's Enforcer features the keyword Intimidate, an evasion ability that restricts which creatures can legally be declared as blockers. According to the Comprehensive Rules, a creature with Intimidate cannot be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share at least one color with it. Since Krenko's Enforcer is red, only red creatures or colorless artifact creatures can stand in its way.

Combat Resolution Step by Step

When you move to the declare blockers step, your opponent must check the legality of their potential blockers against Krenko's Enforcer. First, the opponent identifies all creatures they control. Second, they filter those creatures to see if any are red or possess the artifact card type. Only those that meet at least one of these criteria can be assigned to block the Enforcer. If no such creatures are available, the Enforcer remains unblocked and deals damage directly to the player or planeswalker it is attacking.

Common Mistakes

A frequent point of confusion involves multicolored creatures. A creature that is both red and green can block Krenko's Enforcer because it shares the color red; the presence of an additional color does not negate the shared color. Conversely, a creature that is purely green, blue, white, or black—and is not an artifact—cannot block it, even if that creature has high power or toughness.

When to Play It

Krenko's Enforcer is most effective in aggressive red decks where you want to apply constant pressure. It is particularly strong against decks that rely on non-red, non-artifact creatures for defense, such as Mono-Green or Mono-White strategies. Because it is a Goblin, it also benefits from various tribal synergies common in red archetypes.

Interaction examples

Facing an Artifact Golem

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Krenko's Enforcer. Your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum. Even though Solemn Simulacrum is colorless and does not share a color with the red Enforcer, it is an artifact creature. Therefore, the opponent can legally declare Solemn Simulacrum as a blocker.

The Type Advantage

Roaming Throne

If you attack with Krenko's Enforcer and your opponent controls Roaming Throne, the Throne can block. This is because Roaming Throne is an artifact creature. Even if the opponent chose 'Goblin' as the creature type for Roaming Throne, the Intimidate check only cares that the Throne is an artifact.

Unblocked Aggression

In a scenario where you attack an opponent who only controls a green Llanowar Elf, the Enforcer cannot be blocked. The Elf is not red and is not an artifact, meaning the Intimidate requirement is not met, allowing the Enforcer to deal 2 damage directly to the opponent.