Do Creatures Have Summoning Sickness If They Are Exiled and Come Back?
Summoning sickness, also known as "summoning cost," is a mechanic in Magic: The Gathering that prevents creatures from attacking the same turn they are played. This can be beneficial in certain situations, but it can also pose problems when dealing with creatures that are exiled and then return to the game.
In this article, we will explore whether or not creatures have summoning sickness when they are exiled and then come back to the game.
What is Summoning Sickness?
Before we dive into the answer, it’s essential to understand what summoning sickness is. Summoning sickness is a limitation that affects creatures when they first enter the battlefield. It prevents them from attacking that turn, and they can also be prevented from using any abilities that cost mana.
Do Creatures Have Summoning Sickness When Exiled?
Now, let’s get back to the main question. Do creatures have summoning sickness when they are exiled and come back? The answer is no. When a creature is exiled, it is removed from the game, and its summoning sickness (if it had any) is canceled.
When the creature returns to the game (for example, through a card’s ability), it is treated as a brand new object. It does not retain its summoning sickness from before it was exiled. This means that the creature can enter the battlefield normally and can attack the same turn.
Example:
Let’s look at an example to illustrate this. We have a creature, "Insect", with mana cost of "2G", which means it has summoning sickness.
- Insect is played and enters the battlefield with summoning sickness.
- Next turn, Insect dies and is exiled.
- In a later turn, another card ability brings Insect back to the game.
- After returning to the game, Insect is treated as a new creature, without summoning sickness.
Exception:
There is an exception to this rule. If a creature is "Indestructible" and then is exiled, it does still have summoning sickness when it comes back to the game. This is because the original creature is still considered to have summoning sickness, even when it returns to the game.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Are counters affected when a creature comes back to the game after being exiled? -> No, counters are detached.
- Do abilities that trigger upon exile trigger again when the creature is exiled and then returns to the game? -> No, they do not.
- Can a creature be re-exiled after being removed from the game and then returning through another card’s ability? -> Yes.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, when creatures are exiled and then come back to the game, they do not retain their original summoning sickness. They are treated as a new creature and can enter the battlefield normally.
Understanding summoning sickness and its relation to exile can be complex and confusing, but by breaking down the rules and exceptions, we can better appreciate the nuances of Magic: The Gathering gameplay.