Vow of FlightHow it works & interactions with other cards

What It Does

Vow of Flight is an Aura with the 'Enchant creature' keyword, meaning it can target any creature on the battlefield regardless of who controls it. Once attached, it provides a static +2/+2 bonus and the flying keyword to the enchanted creature. Crucially, it adds a restriction: the enchanted creature cannot attack you or any planeswalkers you control, though it remains free to attack your opponents or their planeswalkers.

How It Resolves Step by Step

First, you cast Vow of Flight by paying its mana cost and choosing a legal creature as a target. If the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield attached to that creature. From that moment on, the +2/+2 and flying are applied continuously. During the enchanted creature's controller's declare attackers step, the game checks for restrictions; the creature is simply unable to be declared as an attacker against you or your planeswalkers.

Common Mistakes

A common misconception is that Vow of Flight prevents a creature from attacking entirely. It only prevents the creature from attacking you or your planeswalkers; it can still attack other players or their planeswalkers in a multiplayer game. Additionally, if the creature already had flying, the keyword is redundant, but the +2/+2 bonus and the attack restriction still apply. Note that if you enchant your own creature, the 'can't attack you' clause has no practical effect since you cannot attack yourself.

When to Play It

This card shines in political environments. If an opponent has a large creature that is threatening your life total, you can use Vow of Flight to turn it into a threat against your other rivals. It is also an excellent way to 'gift' evasion to an opponent's creature to ensure they can successfully attack someone else, all while ensuring that the buffed-up creature can never come back to bite you.

Interaction examples

Aerial Defense

You cast Vow of Flight on an opponent's 3/3 Groundbreaker. The creature becomes a 5/5 with flying. When that opponent moves to their combat phase, they see that they cannot choose you or your planeswalkers as targets for that 5/5, forcing them to either stay back on defense or attack a different player.

Taxing the Opposition

Propaganda

You have Propaganda on the battlefield and attach Vow of Flight to an opponent's creature. Even if that opponent wanted to pay the {2} tax from Propaganda to attack you, the Vow of Flight creates an absolute restriction. The creature cannot attack you at all, regardless of mana payments, effectively bypassing the choice offered by Propaganda.

Protecting Your Card Draw

Rhystic Study

While Rhystic Study draws you cards when opponents cast spells, it often makes you a target for retaliation. By placing Vow of Flight on your opponent's strongest threat, you protect your life total and your Rhystic Study setup, ensuring that the opponent must find another way to stop your card advantage besides basic combat damage.