Can a creature with summoning sickness be tapped by another card?

Can a creature with summoning sickness be tapped by another card?

Summoning sickness is a common phenomenon in the world of Magic: The Gathering, where creatures become unable to attack or use activated abilities that include tapping, until the end of the turn. This limitation can be frustrating, especially when you have a powerful creature that you can’t utilize due to its summoning sickness. However, can another card still tap this creature? The answer is yes, under certain circumstances.

Summoning Sickness: What’s the Deal?

Summoning sickness is a state that affects creatures when they enter the battlefield, not when they’re created through other means, such as recursion or reanimation. When a creature enters the battlefield, it’s considered "on the stack" and is subject to the rules of summoning sickness. The creature is unable to attack or use activated abilities that include tapping until the end of the turn.

Can Another Card Tap a Creature with Summoning Sickness?

Now, let’s answer the main question: Can a creature with summoning sickness be tapped by another card? The short answer is yes, but there are some caveats.

Tap Abilities Are Okay

If a creature has a tap ability that’s not part of an activated ability, it can be tapped by another card. For example, a creature with a tap ability like "T: Draw a card" can still be tapped, as it’s not part of an activated ability. However, if the ability is part of an activated ability, such as "2T: Creatures get +2/+2 until end of turn", it’s subject to summoning sickness and cannot be tapped.

Summoning Sickness Doesn’t Stop Tapping

Here’s an important point: Summoning sickness doesn’t stop a creature from being tapped by another card. However, the creature won’t be able to attack or use activated abilities that include tapping until the end of the turn.

Exception: Sacrifice Effects

Sacrifice effects can still affect a creature with summoning sickness. This means that a card can still sacrifice a creature, even if it has summoning sickness. The creature will be destroyed and will no longer be in the game.

Recursion and Reanimation

Recursion and reanimation are special cases where a creature can be brought back from the graveyard or be recreated. In these situations, the creature is no longer considered to have entered the battlefield, so summoning sickness doesn’t apply. The creature can still be tapped by another card, as it’s not in a state of summoning sickness.

In Conclusion

In summary, a creature with summoning sickness can still be tapped by another card, but there are some exceptions. Tap abilities that aren’t part of an activated ability can be used, and sacrifice effects can still affect the creature. However, activated abilities that include tapping will still be subject to summoning sickness. Remember to check the specific abilities of the creature and the cards in your deck to maximize its potential.

Common Examples

Here are some common examples of cards that can tap a creature with summoning sickness:

Remember to always check the specific abilities of your cards to ensure you’re playing optimally. Happy deck-building and gaming!

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