Are Creatures in Magic Considered Spells?
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, creatures are a popular and integral part of every player’s deck. Yes, creatures are, in fact, considered as spells. This straightforward answer might raise some curious minds, as it directly contradicts the conventional thought process. In this article, we will delve deeper into the world of magic, exploring the concept of creatures as spells, covering the different types of magical entities, and providing insights on the importance of understanding creature spells.
What exactly is a spell in MTG?
A spell is defined in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) as either a card that has been cast and thus placed on the stack, or a copy of another spell. This broad description encompasses a wide range of magical entities, including the creatures we’re discussing here. When a player cast a creature card, that creature becomes a spell during the time it’s placed on the stack. Until it resolves and enters the battlefield, the creature operates as a spell.
Creature Types in MTG
In MTG, creatures are categorized into multiple types, including:
- Beasts: Big, powerful creatures with enormous strength.
- Guards: Creatures with extraordinary defensive capabilities.
- Minions: Creatures focused on supporting their controllers directly.
- Warriors: Creatures with a strength-based combat approach.
For the purpose of this topic, we’ll focus specifically on the Creature Card Type.
Are Cast Creatures Spells?
Since a creature card is categorized as a spell when cast and placed on the stack, it is inarguably a spell from that moment until it’s resolved and enters the battlefield. This concept can often lead to confusion, primarily because players tend to forget that creatures are spells upon casting.
Dealtouch and Creature Spells: A Complex Relationship
Certain abilities, such as Deathtouch (DT), have introduced a new layer of complexities in the world of spells. Deathtouch is an interesting ability that allows creatures, when attacking, to essentially "kill" the touched creature. However, having multiple instances of DT against each other on the battlefield can create ambiguity. In such situations:
- Two or more instances of Deathtouch against each other resolve as if they had simply cancelled each other out
This means that if player A has a creature with DT and simultaneously, player B has a creature with DT as well, both creatures would survive the encounter, with none being killed.
Non-Creature Spells vs Creature Spells
To better understanding the concept of creatures-as-spells, let us compare them to non-creature spells:
- Non-Creature Spells: These are spells that take effect without creating a life-sized creature on the board. Examples include Fly, Haste or Fear; these spells modify the spell’s controller or another element without creating a new spell.
- Creature Spells: These are spells created by casting a creature, which becomes a life-sized creature on the battlefield that can attack, defend or perform other actions.
Now, let’s discuss scenarios where creature spells meet non-creature spells: