Can a creature still block with summoning sickness?

Can a Creature Still Block with Summoning Sickness?

Summoning sickness, a phenomenon that has confounded Magic: The Gathering players for years, still raises questions about the mechanics of blocking. In this article, we’ll explore the answer to the age-old question: Can a creature still block with summoning sickness?

Short Answer

The answer is a resounding yes. A creature with summoning sickness can still block, but there are specific conditions that must be met.

Long Answer

Summoning sickness is a state that occurs when a creature enters the battlefield untapped and has not been played this turn. This status prevents the creature from being used as a source for mana or attacking during its first turn. However, blocking is a separate issue, and a creature can still block even if it has summoning sickness.

Blocking and Summoning Sickness: A Study

To understand the rules surrounding blocking and summoning sickness, let’s analyze the relevant sections of the Magic: The Gathering rulebook:

• 903.3: "When a creature with summoning sickness would be declared as an attacker or blocker, its controller may choose not to declare it as that."
• 903.4: "If an effect would cause a creature with summoning sickness to be declared as an attacker or blocker, that creature doesn’t become untapped for the purposes of that action."

From these rules, we can infer that summoning sickness does not prohibit a creature from blocking, but rather affects its behavior when it would be declared as an attacker or blocker.

Key Points:

• A creature with summoning sickness can still block, but only if its controller chooses to declare it as a blocker.
• The creature’s summoning sickness has no effect on its blocking status. However, other effects may still prevent a creature with summoning sickness from blocking.
• The creature’s controller may choose not to declare it as a blocker, preventing it from blocking even though it has summoning sickness.

Examples and Interactions

To illustrate the rules in action, consider the following scenarios:

1. Creature with Summoning Sickness Blocks

You play a creature with summoning sickness, then declare it as a blocker to block an opponent’s attack. Your creature would still block, even though it has summoning sickness.

1. Opponent’s Effect Prevents Blocking

Your opponent’s effect, such as Counterspell, cancels your creature’s block. In this case, your creature’s summoning sickness has no effect, and it would still not block.

1. Creature’s Controller Chooses Not to Block

Your creature with summoning sickness would be declared as an attacker or blocker, but you choose not to declare it as a blocker. In this case, the creature’s summoning sickness has no effect, and it would not block.

Conclusion

In summary, a creature with summoning sickness can still block, but only if its controller chooses to declare it as a blocker. While summoning sickness affects the creature’s behavior when attacking, it does not affect its blocking status. We hope this article has helped clarify the rules surrounding summoning sickness and blocking.

Additional Resources

• Magic: The Gathering Rulebook: For the official rules and definitions governing Magic: The Gathering gameplay.
• MTG Salvation: A comprehensive database of Magic: The Gathering cards, rules, and strategies.
• Twitch Streamers: Watching experienced players and streamers can help you better understand the game and its complexities.

Table: Can a Creature Still Block with Summoning Sickness?

Bullets

• A creature with summoning sickness can still block if its controller chooses to declare it as a blocker.
• The creature’s summoning sickness has no effect on its blocking status.
• Other effects may still prevent a creature with summoning sickness from blocking.
• The creature’s controller may choose not to declare it as a blocker, even if it has summoning sickness.