Can't attack

"Can't attack" can refer to two different abilities that restrict the combat options for a character but are not denoted by keywords like Freeze or Taunt:

• Can't attack is an ability that prevents a minion to be chosen as the attacker during an Attack action. However, some of these minions (Silithid Swarmer, Argent Watchman, Eerie Statue) can suppress the inability to attack under specific circumstances, allowing them to attack.
• Can't attack heroes is an ability that prevents a character to have a hero chosen as the defender during an Attack action. If it has a combination with Charge, that card will act as Rush. This inability can be temporary (lasting for a turn only) or permanent.

Notes

• Most cards that force minions to attack (Ex. Flark's Boom-Zooka, Mass Hysteria) can cause "Can't Attack" minions to attack, despite being unable to otherwise.
  • Notably, Duel! is the only card with this effect that cannot force minions with "Can't Attack" to attack.

Strategy

While "Can't Attack" minions are functionally useless, they are extremely mana efficient. Putting out a 2 mana 4/5 on the board on round two can be potentially be threatening and gives you good board presence.

There are many decks that revolve around the use of "Can't Attack" minions, the main one being Silence Priest. Playing minions such as Ironbeak Owl, or Spellbreaker and silencing the "Can't Attack" minion allows the "Can't Attack" minion to attack (provided you gave the minion a turn to get ready). To less experienced players these cards are also seen as low priority for removal, giving you a chance to silence the minion and attack with it.

Cards with "Can't attack"

This section lists minions which can't attack permanently or based on a fact.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Quartz Elemental	Common	Minion	Elemental	Priest	5	5	8	Can't attack while damaged. These elementals, along with feldspar and mica, are often taken for granite.
Ancient Watcher	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	4	5	Can't attack. Why do its eyes seem to follow you as you walk by?
Unpowered Mauler	Rare	Minion	Mech	Any	2	2	4	Can only attack if you cast a spell this turn. After a stressful work day it really needs an outlet.
Arcane Watcher	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	5	6	Can't attack unless you have Spell Damage. Now his watch has ended... until you have Spell Damage.
Blackhowl Gunspire	Legendary	Minion	General	Warrior	7	3	8	Can't Attack. Whenever this minion takes damage, deal 3 damage to a random enemy. The upper windows used to be for aiming. Then we thought: "Hey! MORE cannons!"
Ragnaros the Firelord	Legendary	Minion	Elemental	Any	8	8	8	Can't attack. At the end of your turn, deal 8 damage to a random enemy.
Showing all 6 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ironwood Golem	Common	Minion	General	Druid	4	3	6	Taunt Can only attack if you have 3 or more Armor. Marketed as a "rust-proof iron golem."
Gemstudded Golem	Common	Minion	General	Warrior	6	5	9	Taunt. Can only attack if you have 5 or more Armor. Perfectly accessorized to attract adventurers.
Argent Watchman	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	2	4	Can't attack. Inspire: Can attack as normal this turn. Who argent watches the Argent Watchman?
Humongous Razorleaf	Rare	Minion	General	Any	3	4	8	Can't attack. Loves goblins. In a light cream sauce.
Silithid Swarmer	Rare	Minion	Beast	Any	3	3	5	Can only attack if your hero attacked this turn. If your hero doesn't attack, it's just "Silithid Loner".
Eerie Statue	Rare	Minion	General	Any	4	7	7	Can’t attack unless it’s the only minion in the battlefield. Don't blink! Don't turn your back, don't look away, and DON'T BLINK.
Ragnaros the Firelord	Legendary	Minion	Elemental	Any	8	8	8	Can't attack. At the end of your turn, deal 8 damage to a random enemy. Ragnaros was summoned by the Dark Iron dwarves, who were eventually enslaved by the Firelord. Summoning Ragnaros often doesn’t work out the way you want it to.
Showing all 7 cards

Cards with "Can't attack heroes"

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Charge	Free	Spell		Warrior	1			Give a friendly minion Charge. It can't attack heroes this turn. "Guys! Guys! Slow down!" - some kind of non-warrior minion
Showing the only card

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Fool's Bane	Common	Weapon		Warrior	5	3	4	Unlimited attacks each turn. Can't attack heroes. A fool and his bane are soon parted.
Bladed Gauntlet	Epic	Weapon		Warrior	2	0	2	Has Attack equal to your Armor. Can't attack heroes. CAUTION: DO NOT SCRATCH NOSE.
Charged Devilsaur	Epic	Minion	Beast	Any	8	7	7	Charge Battlecry: Can't attack heroes this turn. What happens when a dinosaur mixes soda and pop rocks.
Icehowl	Legendary	Minion	General	Any	9	10	10	Charge Can't attack heroes. This massive yeti just closes his eyes and charges at the nearest target. The nearest Target is a couple blocks away and has sick deals on skateboards.
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References

	Cards
By type	Hero card Minion Spell Weapon
By class	Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior
By minion type	All Beast Demon Dragon Elemental Mech Murloc Pirate Totem General
By ability	Adapt Auto-Attack Auto-cast Battlecry Can't attack Cast spell Casts When Drawn Charge Choose One Choose Twice Combo Copy Deal damage Deathrattle Destroy Discard Discover Divine Shield Draw cards Echo Elusive Enrage Equip Forgetful Freeze Gain Armor Generate Immune Inspire Joust Lifesteal Magnetic Mega-Windfury Modify cost Overkill Overload Permanent Poisonous Put into battlefield Put into hand Quest Reborn Recruit Refresh Mana Remove from deck Replace Rush Restore Health Return to hand Secret Shrine Shuffle into deck Silence Spell Damage Spend mana Start of Game Stealth Summon Taunt Take control Transform Twinspell Unlimited attacks Upgradable Windfury
By effect type	Area of effect In-deck effect In-hand effect On-discard effect On-draw effect Ongoing effect Positional effect Random effect Resurrection effect Triggered effect
By card set	Standard	Basic Classic The Witchwood The Boomsday Project Rastakhan's Rumble Rise of Shadows Saviors of Uldum
	Wild	Hall of Fame Naxxramas Goblins vs Gnomes Blackrock Mountain Grand Tournament The League of Explorers Whispers of the Old Gods One Night in Karazhan Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Journey to Un'Goro Knights of the Frozen Throne Kobolds & Catacombs
By rarity	Free Common Rare Epic Legendary