Do creatures have summoning sickness when they phase in?

Do Creatures Have Summoning Sickness When They Phase In?

Summoning sickness is a fundamental concept in Magic: The Gathering that affects creatures as they enter the battlefield. However, phasing is another mechanic that can impact how creatures interact with the game. In this article, we’ll delve into the relationship between summoning sickness and phasing, answering the question: Do creatures have summoning sickness when they phase in?

Understanding Summoning Sickness

Before we dive into the specifics of phasing, let’s quickly review summoning sickness. Summoning sickness is a temporary restriction that prevents creatures from attacking or using activated abilities that require them to tap during their first turn on the battlefield. This restriction is lifted at the beginning of the creature’s controller’s next turn.

Phasing: A Mechanic That Can Affect Creatures

Phasing is a mechanic that allows permanents to phase out of existence, temporarily removing them from the game. When a permanent phases out, it’s treated as if it never existed, and any effects that trigger when a permanent is destroyed or leaves the battlefield won’t trigger. Phasing out doesn’t count as leaving the battlefield, which is an important distinction.

Do Creatures Have Summoning Sickness When They Phase In?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of summoning sickness and phasing, let’s get to the main question: Do creatures have summoning sickness when they phase in? The answer is no. When a creature phases out, it’s treated as if it never existed, and any summoning sickness it may have had is effectively "reset." This means that when the creature phases back in, it will not have summoning sickness.

Key Takeaways

Here are the key points to remember:

• Summoning sickness is a temporary restriction that prevents creatures from attacking or using activated abilities that require them to tap during their first turn on the battlefield.
• Phasing out doesn’t count as leaving the battlefield, which means any summoning sickness a creature may have had is effectively "reset."
• When a creature phases back in, it will not have summoning sickness.

Implications for Gameplay

Understanding how summoning sickness interacts with phasing can have significant implications for gameplay. For example:

• Creatures with phasing abilities: Creatures with phasing abilities can use these abilities to temporarily remove themselves from the game, avoiding summoning sickness and any potential drawbacks.
• Combining phasing with other effects: Phasing can be combined with other effects, such as regeneration or indestructible, to create powerful synergies and strategies.
• Countering phasing: Opponents can use countering effects to disrupt a creature’s phasing ability, potentially leaving it vulnerable to attack or removal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creatures do not have summoning sickness when they phase in. Phasing out doesn’t count as leaving the battlefield, which means any summoning sickness a creature may have had is effectively "reset." Understanding this interaction can help players make more informed decisions about when to use phasing abilities and how to counter them.