<p>While murgatroid99 is correct that a creature with flying cannot choose to use its ability, there are ways to remove flying temporarily. These include (taking a few random cards for demonstration):</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=36410">Canopy Claws</a> is an instant that can remove flying until end of turn.</li>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4513">Downdraft</a> is an enchantment with a similar activated ability.</li>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=45126">Swooping Talon</a> lets you pay 1 mana to cause it to lose flying until the end of turn (which is designed to work with its Provoke ability).</li>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=24571">Ribbon Snake</a> lets <em>any</em> player pay 2 mana to cause it to lose flying until end of turn.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-25T18:32:15.813Z
There's also the opposite approach of giving opponent creatures flying or reach (useful for the context provided in the question of allowing legal blockers).
ryanyuyu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-28T23:50:19.530Z
True, true. And sometimes they're equivalent processes, but other times maybe you'd prefer one or the other - maybe you want to draw out multiple blockers, or maybe you want to remove flying to protect your creature from Hurricane. But definitely in the context of this question it's a worthwhile consideration.
ConMan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-25T03:19:12.893Z
2015-09-25T03:19:12.893Z
ConMan
<p>No, you cannot choose for a creature to behave as though it did not have Flying unless a card specifically says that you can.</p>

<p>While Flying is an ability, it is not one that you "use". It is just a fact about the creature, like the fact that it it is Blue or has 3 power (for example).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-25T02:33:25.190Z
2015-09-25T02:33:25.190Z
murgatroid99
<p>In Magic: The Gathering, can I choose not to use the "flying" ability of a creature when attacking (so that it can be blocked by non-flying creatures)?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can I choose not to fly?
Thilo
# Can I choose not to fly?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-25)

In Magic: The Gathering, can I choose not to use the "flying" ability of a creature when attacking (so that it can be blocked by non-flying creatures)?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-09-25. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

No, you cannot choose for a creature to behave as though it did not have Flying unless a card specifically says that you can.

While Flying is an ability, it is not one that you "use". It is just a fact about the creature, like the fact that it it is Blue or has 3 power (for example).


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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-25. Score: 6

While username_3 is correct that a creature with flying cannot choose to use its ability, there are ways to remove flying temporarily. These include (taking a few random cards for demonstration):

* [Canopy Claws](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=36410) is an instant that can remove flying until end of turn.
* [Downdraft](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4513) is an enchantment with a similar activated ability.
* [Swooping Talon](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=45126) lets you pay 1 mana to cause it to lose flying until the end of turn (which is designed to work with its Provoke ability).
* [Ribbon Snake](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=24571) lets *any* player pay 2 mana to cause it to lose flying until end of turn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: There's also the opposite approach of giving opponent creatures flying or reach (useful for the context provided in the question of allowing legal blockers).  
> **username_1**: True, true. And sometimes they're equivalent processes, but other times maybe you'd prefer one or the other - maybe you want to draw out multiple blockers, or maybe you want to remove flying to protect your creature from Hurricane. But definitely in the context of this question it's a worthwhile consideration.  

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