What are the best defensive creature cards in EDH that don't have the defender keyword?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on July 24, 2021, 6:05 p.m. by StopShot
Recently I've been interested in putting creatures in my EDH decks that are solely dedicated to playing defense, blocking big creatures in combat. On gatherer its easy to type up "Defender" to find a large selection of creatures that do just that, but not every highly defensive creature has that keyword and I wanted to make a post sharing creature cards with great defensive capabilities in any color. (Preferably with cheap CMC's.)
Some great defensive creatures I've found are:
Beloved Chaplain , Commander Eesha , Crypt Sliver , Darksteel Myr , Dawn Elemental , Deepwood Ghoul , Degavolver , Dragon's Eye Savants , Dream Fighter , Everdawn Champion , Giant Ox , Mischievous Poltergeist , Mistmeadow Skulk , Mother of Runes , Phantom Nantuko , Predator Ooze , Seraph of the Sword , Serendib Sorcerer , Serene Master , Sorceress Queen .
Does anyone know some others I could add to this list?
Samothrace says... #3
Omg forgive me those both have defender. Regardless, the yojimbo is cool for how he can “take a bullet” so to speak
July 24, 2021 6:15 p.m.
There are lots and lots, but a few I like are Ophiomancer , Spellskite , Selfless Spirit , and Permeating Mass . Higher cost cards like Palisade Giant and Guardian of the Gateless are fine, too.
July 24, 2021 6:48 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #6
Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker dissuades people from attacking you very well, usually. Also, Baird, Steward of Argive , Archangel of Tithes and Archon of Absolution work like Ghostly Prison , and Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist does her thing.
July 24, 2021 7:45 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #7
Archetype of Courage , Archetype of Finality , and the others but those 2 in particular. Gisela, Blade of Goldnight , Grand Abolisher , Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs , and Palisade Giant . Anything that goads or has indestructible is worth a look too.
July 24, 2021 8:15 p.m.
gavriel1136 says... #8
For your daily dose of incredibly obscure and niche cards, I present Defensive Formation .
What does it do? It is one of, if not the only card in the game that stops your opponents creatures from trampling over your smaller creatures. Take THAT, Ghalta!
July 24, 2021 9:27 p.m.
If you're just trying to play defensively I think the upside of Silent Arbiter stopping wide swings will come up more often than it does nothing against voltron decks. Especially if you have something indestructible or pro-creatures to block with.
Just don't cast it if your opponent's on a voltron deck.
July 24, 2021 9:33 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #10
Fatespinner is a double-edged sword. The combat step is usually the easiest to skip, but I've been attacked out of the game, everyone skipping their main phase just to smack me, just to end its effect. Use wisely.
July 24, 2021 9:38 p.m.
Sigarda, Host of Herons , Oversoul of Dusk , and Fleecemane Lion all have different styles of unkillableness in , but the Lion has a hoop to jump through.
July 24, 2021 10:18 p.m.
griffstick says... #13
Everdawn Champion and Seraph of the Sword seem like perfect blockers. Other cards like Hundred-Handed One and Watcher in the Web . Also theres cards like High Ground and Brave the Sands help out big time as well. Someone mentioned Stuffy Doll I think that's a great one. Someone mentioned Guardian of the Gateless that card and all the cards that allow you to block multiple creatures go great with Godsend . Theres so many great blockers. Someone mentioned Ophiomancer , that's a fantastic suggestion.
July 24, 2021 11:54 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #14
Gomazoa is pretty cool. Also Watcher in the Web . And then, there is Ambush Viper .
July 25, 2021 1:04 a.m.
Steelspike says... #15
I present to you Serene Master.
If you want better a defensive card, I don't know what to tell you...
July 25, 2021 1:57 a.m.
griffstick says... #17
Honorable mention to the OG best blocker Will-o'-the-Wisp
July 25, 2021 8:09 a.m.
July 25, 2021 1:55 p.m.
I'll throw Creepy Doll , Darksteel Sentinel , Engulfing Slagwurm , and Spiny Starfish in the ring :)
July 25, 2021 4:06 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #21
Similar to your chaplain, you’ve got Uncle Istvan as well....
July 25, 2021 8:36 p.m.
Last_Laugh says... #24
Boros Reckoner and High Priest of Penance are both great defenders.
July 25, 2021 10:15 p.m.
Surprised nobody mentioned Phyrexian Obliterator . While it’s not the strongest Blocker it really makes opponents think about atacking you
July 26, 2021 1:20 a.m.
Royal Assassin
not a blocker but stops fatty from swinging
Every creature is an amazing blocker when you have
Vigor
on the battle field
Also
Tuktuk the Explorer
, and
Reef Worm
makes them think twice
my favorite is
AEther Membrane
I know you said no defender but it's still worth mentioning
July 28, 2021 3:44 p.m.
Steelspike says... #29
Ramble I prefer Bottled Cloister with Ensnaring Bridge
July 30, 2021 2:25 a.m.
Stormtide Leviathan and Blazing Archon simply say "you may not"
Archangel of Tithes and Windborn Muse both have similar effects that make easier to attack someone else, while Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker and Phyrexian Obliterator drive that point home even further.
But if you want the carrot rather than the stick, there's Edric, Spymaster of Trest and Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant to offer up cards for attacking your opponents instead. And related to Karazikar's goading ability Grenzo, Havoc Raiser can help you keep your opponent open if you're going wide, and Marisi, Breaker of the Coil is that same ability but even stronger as you only need to connect with one creatre.
Platinum Angel and Platinum Emperion make attacking you pointless unless you can also deal with them.
Sevinne, the Chronoclasm make an excellent blocker, and both Angus Mackenzie and Lady Evangela offer fog and fog-light effects on your commmander.
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails works similarly to Mother of Runes if you have the mana to pour into it, and Giver of Runes will protect something else in a way similar to mom.
Pairing together first strike with deathtouch is always a good method too, Glissa, the Traitor has this on her own, but it doesn't take much work for Kathril, Aspect Warper to do the same.
July 30, 2021 11:37 a.m.
libraryjoy says... #32
I like Thornweald Archer on defense. I also like Inviolability (an aura, I know, but hear me out). I love putting it on creatures like Wall of Glare , Palace Guard , Guardian of the Gateless , Hundred-Handed One etc. Or putting it on Palisade Giant .
July 30, 2021 1:56 p.m.
If you are specifically trying to stop large creatures with trample, there's always Banding! A 1/1 with Banding completely stops a 1,000,000/1,000,000 with trample.
Samothrace says... #2
Anything with indestructible like Stuffy Doll . Then there are cool ones like Traproot Kami and Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo
July 24, 2021 6:13 p.m.