Scarlet Witch, Wanda MaximoffHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff possesses Menace, a keyword ability that creates a restriction on how your opponents can declare blockers. Specifically, it means she cannot be legally blocked by a single creature; your opponent must commit at least two creatures to block her, or she will remain unblocked and deal damage directly to the player or planeswalker she is attacking.

How Menace Resolves Step by Step

When you move to the declare attackers step, you choose to attack with Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff. During the declare blockers step, the defending player checks the legality of their blocks. If they only have one creature available to block, they cannot choose Wanda as a target for that block. If they have two or more creatures, they can choose to assign them all to her. If one of those blockers is removed from combat after the block is legally declared, the block remains valid even if only one creature is left standing.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that Menace requires the opponent to always have two creatures. If the opponent has no creatures, Wanda simply goes unblocked. Another mistake involves thinking that Menace stacks or increases the requirement if you give her the ability twice; having multiple instances of Menace does not require three or more blockers, only at least two.

When to Play It

Wanda is most effective when your opponent is low on resources or relies on a single powerful blocker. By forcing a 'two-for-one' blocking scenario, you can often push through damage or force your opponent into unfavorable trades where they lose two creatures just to stop your one Hero.

Interaction examples

Forcing the Trade

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff. Your opponent controls Solemn Simulacrum. Because Wanda has Menace, the opponent cannot block her with just Solemn Simulacrum. They must either let the damage through or have a second creature available to join the block. If they choose not to block, Wanda deals her damage, and the opponent keeps their Golem.

Doubling Type Synergies

Roaming Throne

If you have Roaming Throne on the battlefield and chose 'Mutant' or 'Warlock' as it entered, it will become that type. While Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff does not have a triggered ability for Roaming Throne to double, the Throne itself provides a secondary body. If your opponent attacks you, you can use both to block, but if you attack with Wanda, the Throne cannot help her satisfy the Menace requirement unless the Throne itself is also attacking; Menace only cares about the defending player's creatures.