Does Haste Get Rid of Summoning Sickness?
Summoning sickness is a common phenomenon in Magic: The Gathering where creatures entering the battlefield unable to attack or activate their abilities for a turn, unless they have a particular ability or effect that grants them an exception. One of the most popular and interesting exceptions to this rule is the Haste ability, which allows creatures to attack or activate their abilities immediately without waiting for their controller’s next turn. But, does Haste get rid of summoning sickness, or does it simply override it? Let’s delve into the details.
What is Summoning Sickness?
Before we dive into the specifics of Haste, it’s essential to understand what summoning sickness is. Simply put, summoning sickness is a rule in Magic: The Gathering that restricts the actions of a creature when it enters the battlefield. According to this rule, a creature with summoning sickness cannot:
- Attack
- Activated abilities
- Have its triggered abilities trigger (unless the ability specifically grants an exception)
This limitation is in place to simulate the concept of a "freshly summoned" monster, which is unable to attack or perform any complex actions immediately after being brought into play.
How Does Haste Work?
Haste is a keyword ability that allows creatures to bypass summoning sickness. When a creature has Haste, it’s considered to be "abnormally aggressive" and able to attack or activate its abilities immediately, without adhering to the usual limitations imposed by summoning sickness. However, Haste doesn’t eliminate summoning sickness entirely; it just grants the creature an exemption from the rule.
To illustrate this, let’s consider the following scenario: a creature with Haste enters the battlefield and tries to attack. In a normal situation, the creature would be unable to attack due to summoning sickness. However, because of its Haste ability, the creature can attack despite being under the effects of summoning sickness.
Key Takeaways
So, what does this mean for our understanding of summoning sickness and Haste? Here are some essential points to keep in mind:
- Haste grants an exemption from summoning sickness, allowing creatures to attack or activate their abilities immediately.
- Haste does not eliminate summoning sickness entirely, and creatures without Haste still follow the usual limitations.
- Creatures can still have summoning sickness even with Haste if they enter the battlefield and haven’t been under the control of their respective player for at least a turn.
Examples of Haste in Action
To further illustrate the role of Haste in resolving summoning sickness, consider the following examples:
- A creature with Haste (e.g., Snapcaster Mage) enters the battlefield and immediately attacks on the same turn.
- Another creature without Haste enters the battlefield and is initially unable to attack due to summoning sickness. As the turn progresses, however, the creature becomes usable and can attack on subsequent turns.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Haste doesn’t eliminate summoning sickness entirely but rather grants a specific exemption from the rule. This allows creatures to attack or activate their abilities immediately, bypassing the usual limitations imposed by summoning sickness. Understanding Haste’s relationship with summoning sickness is crucial for building effective decks and utilizing creatures to their full potential in Magic: The Gathering.