Introduction
Magic: The Gathering (MTG) stands as a titan in the trading card game landscape. Its depth, intricate gameplay, and vast card pool provide a continually evolving strategic experience. The game demands understanding of a complex set of rules, interactions, and mechanics. Among these foundational elements, “Summoning Sickness” is a term that every aspiring and veteran MTG player needs to understand. It’s a crucial concept that directly impacts creature play, combat, and overall strategy.
This article aims to be a comprehensive guide to understanding *summoning sickness MTG*. We’ll delve deep into its rules, mechanics, exceptions, strategic implications, and answer common questions. By the end, you’ll possess a solid understanding of how this fundamental rule shapes the game. Understanding this element will significantly improve your gameplay. Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of spells and creatures or a seasoned planeswalker, this guide aims to elevate your understanding of this core mechanic.
Overview of Summoning Sickness
So, what exactly is this “Summoning Sickness” that all the MTG players talk about? In essence, it’s a temporary state that affects creatures as soon as they enter the battlefield. The name is quite apt, as it reflects the feeling that a newly summoned creature may be somewhat disoriented, needing a moment to acclimate to the battlefield.
At its most basic, *summoning sickness MTG* prevents a creature from immediately tapping to activate an ability, or from attacking during the turn it entered the battlefield. Think of it as the creature needing a “turn to get its bearings.” This restriction adds a layer of strategic depth to the game, forcing players to consider timing, mana costs, and board presence when summoning their creatures.
But why does this mechanic even exist? It serves a vital role in game balance. Without it, MTG would quickly devolve into a game of immediate creature dominance. Imagine being able to cast multiple creatures and attack with them all in the same turn. This mechanic slows down the game, allowing for more diverse strategies and the opportunity for opponents to respond to threats. It fosters a more strategic environment and provides counterplay opportunities for each player. *Summoning sickness MTG* gives players the chance to build their board presence effectively, which ultimately leads to strategic options.
Rules and Mechanics in Detail
Let’s break down the core rules of *summoning sickness MTG* to ensure a clear understanding. The key is when a creature *enters the battlefield*.
The primary determinant for whether a creature has summoning sickness is when it’s entered the battlefield under your control. The second critical component is whether the creature has been under your control since the beginning of your turn. If a creature enters the battlefield during your turn and has not been under your control since the beginning of that turn, it has summoning sickness.
Now, let’s look at the specific actions affected by *summoning sickness MTG*:
Firstly, creatures with summoning sickness cannot tap to activate abilities that require tapping as part of their cost. This can include abilities that cost mana, life, or other resources.
Secondly, creatures with summoning sickness cannot attack during the combat phase of the turn in which they entered the battlefield. This prevents players from immediately overwhelming their opponents with a barrage of attacks.
However, it’s important to understand what *summoning sickness MTG* *doesn’t* affect. Creatures with summoning sickness are *not* prohibited from blocking during combat. They can still be targeted by spells and abilities. They are still eligible to be the targets of removal spells or targeted effects that don’t require tapping or attacking. This creates an element of tactical flexibility. A creature with summoning sickness can still offer protection. It is important to think about the strategic impact of each play you make within each game.
Exceptions and Circumventing Summoning Sickness
While *summoning sickness MTG* is a fundamental rule, several abilities and effects can bypass or mitigate its impact. The most common and significant of these is the ability “Haste.”
Haste, in its essence, allows a creature to ignore the effects of summoning sickness. A creature with Haste can attack and tap to activate its abilities *the very turn it enters the battlefield*. This is a crucial advantage, allowing for aggressive strategies and immediate impact on the board. Think of it like a creature being exceptionally quick and agile, ready to spring into action immediately.
There are many ways to obtain the *Haste* ability. The most common is the ability itself being printed on the creature card. There are plenty of creatures in MTG that have this ability. Examples include cards like “Goblin Guide” (which is very aggressive), or “Experiment One” (which becomes a powerful threat over the course of a game).
Beyond inherent Haste, there are also ways to *grant* Haste to a creature. Spells can grant Haste. One of the most well-known is the Instant spell, “Mass Hysteria,” which gives all creatures Haste until end of turn. Enchantments called Auras can also bestow this ability. This includes cards like “Lightning Greaves,” which grants Haste to the equipped creature. This gives players a great way to utilize their other creatures on the battlefield. Creature abilities are sometimes the source of this ability, with cards like “Rhythm of the Wild” which gives the benefits to your creatures, which gives them a huge advantage.
Another important ability to consider is Vigilance. Vigilance allows a creature to attack without tapping. Although it doesn’t bypass *summoning sickness MTG* directly, it allows Vigilant creatures that entered the battlefield this turn to attack the next turn. It prevents a creature from needing to tap for attacks, allowing for defenses and threats. Vigilance provides an option for players to plan their turns around their opponents’ attacks.
Other effects can also influence *summoning sickness MTG*. Cards that untap creatures can effectively negate it, allowing a creature with summoning sickness to tap for an ability on the same turn it enters the battlefield. Although less common, there are also cards which directly impact summoning sickness, which gives advantages for each player.
Strategic Implications and Deckbuilding Considerations
Understanding the strategic implications of *summoning sickness MTG* is vital to building successful decks and making informed in-game decisions.
Certain deck archetypes rely heavily on bypassing or working around *summoning sickness MTG*. Aggro decks, focused on quickly overwhelming the opponent with aggressive creatures, thrive on Haste. Red Deck Wins, for example, aims to deploy fast, cheap creatures with Haste, hitting the opponent hard and fast. They want to deal as much damage as possible quickly, pressuring their opponents. Combo decks also benefit, as Haste allows creatures to activate abilities more efficiently, quickly setting up the conditions for a winning combination.
*Summoning sickness MTG* significantly affects the tempo of the game. A creature entering the battlefield with summoning sickness means it is delayed by a turn before it can attack or activate abilities. The other player gets to play first. This can provide opponents with a tactical window to develop their board or prepare a defense.
Card evaluation is another crucial element. When assessing creatures, consider how their abilities interact with *summoning sickness MTG*. Creatures with high power or important tap abilities become significantly more valuable when they have Haste. Creatures with Vigilance can be valuable.
Counterplay is key to any successful strategy in MTG. You want to counter your opponent to gain an advantage in the match. Understanding *summoning sickness MTG* allows you to develop effective counterplay strategies. Knowing that a creature with summoning sickness cannot attack or tap to activate an ability immediately, you can create opportunities. Consider attacking at an earlier time to disrupt your opponent’s play or eliminate creatures that will become aggressive. You can choose to play creatures that are unaffected by this.
Frequently Asked Questions
To provide further clarity, let’s address some common questions and misconceptions surrounding *summoning sickness MTG*:
Does a creature that changes controllers lose summoning sickness? The answer is yes. When control of a creature changes, the game treats it as a new instance of the creature. It then loses summoning sickness.
If a creature comes under your control mid-combat, can it block? No. A creature cannot block in combat on the same turn it comes under your control, even if it doesn’t have summoning sickness.
Does a creature get summoning sickness again if it leaves the battlefield and returns? Yes. Whenever a creature leaves the battlefield and then returns, the game resets its status. It will be considered to have summoning sickness on the turn it re-enters.
If a creature enters the battlefield, then immediately leaves and re-enters again in the same turn, is it still considered to have summoning sickness? Yes. It will have summoning sickness on the second instance. This is consistent with the general rule.
Explain the interaction of multiple instances of “Haste.” If a creature has Haste, multiple instances don’t make any difference; it *already* ignores summoning sickness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, *summoning sickness MTG* is a fundamental mechanic shaping the flow and strategy of the game. Understanding its rules, exceptions, and strategic implications is essential to playing MTG effectively. It governs creature play, influencing combat, ability activation, and deckbuilding.
Remember, Haste and Vigilance are key to circumventing *summoning sickness MTG*. Consider your opponent’s potential plays, their board, and their hand. Mastering *summoning sickness MTG* will allow you to make informed decisions, build effective strategies, and ultimately become a more successful planeswalker.
Continue to learn and explore the vast world of Magic: The Gathering. This is just one piece of a very complex game. There are always more strategies and game plans to improve. Good luck, and happy playing!
