Maze of Ith 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
: Untap target attacking creature. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by that creature this turn.
Complete guide
Maze of Ith is a classic defensive tool that serves as a unique utility land in many Magic: The Gathering decks. Unlike most lands, it does not produce mana, but instead offers a powerful way to neutralize threats or protect your own creatures during the heat of battle.
What it does
Maze of Ith features a single activated ability that targets an attacking creature. When activated, it untaps that creature and creates a prevention effect that stops all combat damage the creature would deal or receive for the remainder of the turn. Crucially, it does not remove the creature from combat; the creature remains an 'attacking creature' until the combat phase ends.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you must wait until the Declare Attackers step has begun and a creature has been declared as an attacker. You activate the ability by tapping Maze of Ith and choosing an attacking creature as the target. Upon resolution, the creature untaps. For the rest of the turn, any combat damage that creature would deal to a player, planeswalker, or another creature is prevented, and any combat damage dealt to it is also reduced to zero.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is trying to tap Maze of Ith for mana. Because it lacks a mana ability, it cannot produce colorless or colored mana on its own. Another mistake is assuming the creature is removed from combat; because the creature stays in combat, other effects that care about attacking creatures still see it as one. Finally, players often forget that they can use this on their own creatures after damage has been dealt during the end of combat step to effectively give that creature 'vigilance'.
When to play it
Maze of Ith is best utilized as a repeatable defensive measure against an opponent's largest threat. It is also highly effective in decks that want to attack safely with a creature that has a powerful 'whenever this creature attacks' trigger without risking that creature dying in combat.
Interaction examples
Command TowerIf you have Maze of Ith and Command Tower on the battlefield, you cannot tap Maze of Ith for mana. Command Tower checks your commander's color identity, but Maze of Ith does not contribute any mana or colors to your pool. You must rely on other lands like Command Tower for your resource needs while keeping Maze of Ith ready for its utility ability.
Exotic OrchardIf your opponent controls an Exotic Orchard and you control a Maze of Ith, your opponent's Exotic Orchard cannot produce mana through your Maze of Ith. Since Maze of Ith has no mana abilities, it is not a land that 'could produce' any type of mana for the Exotic Orchard to copy.
You attack with a small creature that has a useful ability. Your opponent blocks with a large creature that would destroy yours. You tap Maze of Ith targeting your own creature. Your creature untaps and all combat damage between the two creatures is prevented, allowing your creature to survive the encounter.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Maze of Ith
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Maze of Ith doesn't have a mana ability. It doesn't tap for colorless mana.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Maze of Ith can target an untapped attacking creature. It will still prevent the combat damage it would deal and be dealt.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The creature isn't removed from combat; it just has its damage prevented. It's still an attacking creature until the combat phase is complete.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You can activate Maze of Ith's ability targeting an attacking creature you control during the combat damage step or the end of combat step, even though it will already have dealt combat damage. This will untap the creature. The damage it dealt will be unaffected.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Magus of the Candelabra + Maze of Ith + Urza's Tower + Urza's Power Plant
- 1Declare Magus of the Candelabra as an attacker.
- 2Activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra.
- 3Activate Urza's Tower by tapping it, adding
. - 4Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying
and tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and Urza's Tower. - 5Repeat from step 2.
Argothian Elder + Maze of Ith
- 1Attack with Argothian Elder.
- 2Activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Argothian Elder and preventing all combat damage that would be dealt to and by it this turn.
- 3Activate Argothian Elder by tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and any other land.
- 4Activate that land by tapping it to add mana.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Ley Weaver + Maze of Ith
- 1Declare Ley Weaver as an attacker.
- 2Holding priority, activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Ley Weaver.
- 3Activate Ley Weaver by tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and any land that can tap to produce at least
. - 4Activate the additional land by tapping it, adding at least .
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Maze of Ith + Krosan Restorer
- 1Declare Krosan Restorer as an attacker.
- 2Activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, targeting Krosan Restorer.
- 3Resolve the Maze of Ith ability, untapping Krosan Restorer and preventing all combat damage dealt to and by it this turn.
- 4Activate Krosan Restorer's second ability by tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and any other land you control.
- 5Activate a mana-producing land by tapping it, adding at least .
- 6Repeat.
Magus of the Candelabra + Maze of Ith + Gaea's Cradle
- 1Declare Magus of the Candelabra as an attacker.
- 2Holding priority, activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra and preventing all damage done to, and dealt by, it this turn.
- 3Activate Gaea's Cradle by tapping it, adding at least
. - 4Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and Gaea's Cradle.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Magus of the Candelabra + Maze of Ith + Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
- 1Declare Magus of the Candelabra as an attacker.
- 2Holding priority, activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra and preventing all damage done to, and dealt by, it this turn.
- 3Activate Nykthos' second ability by paying and tapping it, adding at least .
- 4Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and Nykthos.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Magus of the Candelabra + Maze of Ith + Lotus Field
- 1Declare Magus of the Candelabra as an attacker.
- 2Holding priority, activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra and preventing all damage done to, and dealt by, it this turn.
- 3Activate Lotus Field by tapping it, adding three mana of any color.
- 4Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and Lotus Field.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Magus of the Candelabra + Maze of Ith + Nyxbloom Ancient
- 1Declare Magus of the Candelabra as an attacker.
- 2Activate Maze of Ith by tapping it, untapping Magus of the Candelabra.
- 3Activate a mana-producing land by tapping it, adding at least
. - 4Activate Magus of the Candelabra by paying and tapping it, untapping Maze of Ith and the mana-producing land.
- 5Repeat from step 2.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Maze of Ith
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.