Does Regenerating a Creature Tap It?
In Magic: The Gathering, creatures are a crucial part of a player’s strategy, and regenerating them can be a game-changer. But does regenerating a creature tap it? Let’s dive into the rules and find out.
Direct Answer
Regenerating a creature does, in fact, tap the creature. According to the Magic: The Gathering Official FAQ, "the next time this permanent would be destroyed this turn, it isn’t. Instead, tap it, remove all damage from it, and remove it from combat." (Source: Magic: The Gathering Official FAQ)
This means that when a creature is about to be destroyed, it can use a regeneration effect to save itself, but at a cost. The cost is that the creature gets tapped.
What is Regeneration?
Regeneration is a keyword ability in Magic: The Gathering that allows a permanent to regrow or reconstitute itself if it’s destroyed. It’s typically used on creatures, allowing them to recover from taking lethal damage. When a creature with regeneration is about to be destroyed, its regeneration ability kicks in, preventing its destruction and causing it to tap.
Tapping and Regeneration
When a creature taps due to regeneration, it means that it’s putting its mana production on hold until the next turn. Tapping a creature stops it from being able to attack or defend, as well as prevent it from using any abilities that rely on its untapped state. This can be important in certain situations, especially if the creature is supposed to be used as an attacker or blocker.
Benefits of Regeneration
While regenerating a creature does tap it, it’s still a powerful ability. Here are some benefits to consider:
- Increased survivability: Creatures with regeneration are more likely to survive against opponents, making them a valuable part of a deck.
- Flexibility: Tapping a creature doesn’t mean it can’t be used later in the game. It can still attack or defend on subsequent turns, giving players more opportunities to use their creatures strategically.
- Mana generation: Even when a creature is tapped, it’s still generating mana for its controller. This can be an advantage in longer games where players need to generate a large amount of mana.
Conclusion
In summary, regenerating a creature does tap it. This means that when a creature with regeneration is about to be destroyed, it saves itself by tapping, but also prevents it from using its abilities for the time being. While this can seem like a drawback, the benefits of regeneration can still make it a powerful and valuable ability in certain deck archetypes.
References
- Magic: The Gathering Official FAQ
- Infinite Tcg: "Does Regenerating a Creature Tap It?"
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