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Magic (The Gathering) => Rules => Topic started by: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 11:48:55 AM

Title: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 11:48:55 AM
Right, so I was playing mono green to see how it played, and I put four {Elvish Mystic}s in for their tap ability...

To what extent can you use a creatures ability? As far as I was aware, I could use a creatures ability just when I could use a sorcery.

My friend thinks he can use his creature abilities even in combat e.g pay 2 blue for +2/-1

Hope I'm making at least some sense here...

Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: fj76ts4 on February 02, 2014, 11:57:24 AM
Quote from: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 11:48:55 AM
Right, so I was playing mono green to see how it played, and I put four elvish mystics in for their tap ability...

To what extent can you use a creatures ability? As far as I was aware, I could use a creatures ability just when I could use a sorcery.

My friend thinks he can use his creature abilities even in combat e.g pay 2 blue for +2/-1

Hope I'm making at least some sense here...

Creature abilities (an activated ability, in this case) can be activated whenever you have priority (whenever you could cast an instant). Just remember if tapping is part of a cost, you can't tap until the creature has been under your control continuously since the turn began.

112.3b. Activated abilities have a cost and an effect. They are written as "[Cost]: [Effect.] [Activation instructions (if any).]" A player may activate such an ability whenever he or she has priority. Doing so puts it on the stack, where it remains until it's countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack.
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:01:08 PM
So even though a creature you just summoned has 'summoning sickness' the ability isn't considered the same way?

So I could pop a land turn one, drop my mystic then tap him for an additional land.. all on turn one?
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: abstractApathist on February 02, 2014, 12:06:41 PM
Quote from: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:01:08 PM
So even though a creature you just summoned has 'summoning sickness' the ability isn't considered the same way?

So I could pop a land turn one, drop my mystic then tap him for an additional land.. all on turn one?
No. Summoning sickness means you cannot attack with him nor tap him to activate one of his abilities, like making mana. Until your next turn, you cannot tap him for mana.
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: Ekann1 on February 02, 2014, 12:08:20 PM
Quote from: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:01:08 PM
So even though a creature you just summoned has 'summoning sickness' the ability isn't considered the same way?

So I could pop a land turn one, drop my mystic then tap him for an additional land.. all on turn one?

No. Unless a creature has haste, or you have something that lets you activate abilities like they had haste, tap abilities of creatures can't be activated the turn they enter the battlefield. Summoning sickness affects attacking AND tap abilities.
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: DylanW18 on February 02, 2014, 12:08:41 PM
Quote from: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:01:08 PM
So even though a creature you just summoned has 'summoning sickness' the ability isn't considered the same way?

So I could pop a land turn one, drop my mystic then tap him for an additional land.. all on turn one?

No, you can't. They cannot tap or attack while summoning sickness is induced. But you can tap the creature for mana at any time you could cast an instant if summoning sickness has passed
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:09:53 PM
Thank you very much!

What a helpful bunch you all are :)
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: Ekann1 on February 02, 2014, 12:12:15 PM
Usually one person answers a question at a time.... but now I guess you have 3 answers! :P
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: Presentjackson on February 03, 2014, 11:51:51 AM
Lol, dog pile. Your oppoent would be able to use his creatures abilities at instant speed as long as he can pay for it and doesnt require it to tap, you can repeat until you have no mana left
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: MementoMori on February 03, 2014, 02:54:54 PM
Quote from: RDJDenley on February 02, 2014, 12:01:08 PMtap him for an additional land.. all on turn one?
Creatures like {Elvish Mystic} and {Avacyn's Pilgrim} do not tap for land. They tap for mana.

When you tap your Mystic, you will have an extra {G} to spend on a spells and abilities. You will not get a Forest out of your deck.
Title: Re: Creature abilities (mana triggered) - how and when!
Post by: MuggyWuggy on February 03, 2014, 03:46:04 PM
Reading the instructions is better than asking google