Do Suspend Cards Have Summoning Sickness?
Summoning sickness is a common issue that many Magic: The Gathering players face, particularly when it comes to newly minted cards. So, what exactly is summoning sickness, and more importantly, do suspend cards have it? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of suspend cards and explore the answer to this question.
What is Summoning Sickness?
Before we dive into the world of suspend cards, let’s start with the basics. Summoning sickness is a rule in Magic: The Gathering that states that a creature can’t attack unless it has been continuously under your control since it was played or since your last untap step. In other words, creatures with summoning sickness cannot attack on the turn they are played or on their second turn, unless that second turn is the player’s first untap step. This rule is intended to prevent players from just playing a bunch of 1/1 creatures to swing for 1/1 damage and then destroying them to replay them over and over again.
Do Suspend Cards Have Summoning Sickness?
Now that we know what summoning sickness is, let’s get back to the question at hand: do suspend cards have summoning sickness? According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, creatures with suspend abilities do enter the battlefield with summoning sickness. This means that a creature with a suspend ability will not be able to attack on the turn it is played or on its second turn, unless that second turn is the player’s first untap step.
But, What About Haste?
However, there’s an important exception to the rule. Haste is an ability that allows a creature to enter the battlefield without summoning sickness. When a suspend card is played, the player can choose to "pay" the suspend ability, which allows the creature to enter the battlefield and attack immediately. This ability can be paid by any available mana, and can even be paid multiple times. This means that if you pay the suspend ability for a creature, it will not have summoning sickness and can attack immediately.
Table: Suspend and Summoning Sickness
| Suspend Payment | Summoning Sickness |
|---|---|
| No | Yes, the creature enters the battlefield with summoning sickness. |
| Yes | No, the creature enters the battlefield without summoning sickness due to haste. |
What About Cards with Mana Costs?
Another question that often arises is what happens to cards with mana costs that are suspended. According to the official Magic: The Gathering rules, cards with mana costs that are suspended still have their mana cost and can be paid, even if they are exiled. This means that if a card with mana cost is suspended, you can still pay the mana cost to play it immediately, even if it is in exile.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, suspend cards do have summoning sickness, but only if they are not paid the suspend ability. By paying the suspend ability, a creature can enter the battlefield without summoning sickness and attack immediately. When deciding whether to pay a suspend ability, it’s important to consider the power and toughness of the creature, as well as the board state and any relevant threats. By understanding how summoning sickness works, you can make more informed decisions and improve your chances of winning in Magic: The Gathering.
What Do You Think?
Do you have any favorite suspend cards or strategies that take advantage of the power of suspend? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!