Wakestone Gargoyle 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
Defender, flying: Creatures you control with defender can attack this turn as though they didn't have defender.
Complete guide
Wakestone Gargoyle is a versatile defensive tool that can suddenly turn your fortress into a mobile army. As a flying defender itself, it provides reliable protection while holding the secret to unlocking your other stationary creatures for a surprise offensive.
Unlocking the Gates
The primary function of Wakestone Gargoyle is its activated ability. By paying one generic and one white mana, you create a continuous effect for the remainder of the turn that allows your creatures with defender to ignore that keyword when declaring attackers. Note that this does not remove the defender keyword; it simply changes the rules of engagement so they can be assigned as attackers.
Timing and Resolution
When you activate the ability, it goes on the stack and resolves like any other activated ability. Once it resolves, the effect applies to all creatures you control with defender for the rest of the turn. This includes Wakestone Gargoyle itself and even creatures that enter the battlefield after the ability has resolved but before the declare attackers step, provided they have haste or have been under your control since the start of your turn.
Common Misconceptions
A common mistake is thinking this ability grants haste. It does not. Even if a creature is allowed to attack as though it didn't have defender, it still follows the standard rules for 'summoning sickness.' Additionally, if Wakestone Gargoyle leaves the battlefield after the ability has resolved, the effect persists until the end of the turn because the ability has already changed the rules for that specific turn.
Strategic Deployment
Use this card to bait your opponent into thinking you are playing a purely defensive game. Because the ability is relatively cheap to activate, you can leave mana open to threaten a block, then use the end of your opponent's turn or your own pre-combat main phase to activate the gargoyle and swing for lethal damage with high-toughness defenders.
Interaction examples
If you control Wakestone Gargoyle and no other creatures, you can spend two mana to activate its ability. During your declare attackers step, Wakestone Gargoyle can now be declared as an attacker, using its flying keyword to soar over your opponent's ground blockers.
Solemn SimulacrumIn this scenario, Solemn Simulacrum does not have defender, so it can attack normally. However, Wakestone Gargoyle can activate its ability to join the Simulacrum in the red zone. This allows you to apply pressure with both creatures simultaneously.
Roaming ThroneIf you play Roaming Throne and choose 'Gargoyle', it becomes a Gargoyle in addition to a Golem. While Roaming Throne's triggered ability doubling won't affect Wakestone Gargoyle's activated ability, the Throne itself can benefit from the Gargoyle's protection. If the Throne somehow gained defender, the Gargoyle's ability would allow it to attack as well.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Wakestone Gargoyle
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Wakestone Gargoyle’s ability allows itself to attack.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Wakestone Gargoyle’s ability will affect creatures with defender that come under your control after the ability resolves but before you declare attackers (though those creatures still can’t attack unless they have haste).
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Wakestone Gargoyle
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.