The contributions that dipolar, single-ion and exchange anisotropy make to the perpendicular susceptibility χ⊊, the field H′ c for which ω↓ ( k = 0) vanishes, and other properties of antiferromagnetic MnF 2 at T = 0 K are considered, first, i n the ionic approximation. A comparison of the calculated dipolar and single-ion anisotropy with the measured χ⊊, H′ c and magnon dispersion would seemingly require then the inclusion of an unreasonably large anisotropic exchange field H AE = -0.9 kOe. However, an estimate of the effects that overlap and covalency have on the anisotropy reveals that much of the discrepancy between the results obtained from the point-dipolar, ionic approximation and the measured quantities is a consequence of the spatial redictribution of the cation magnetization onto the ligands.