Does return to battlefield cause summoning sickness?

Does Return to Battlefield Cause Summoning Sickness?

Summoning Sickness is a fundamental concept in Magic: The Gathering, and understanding it is crucial for building and playing cards effectively. In this article, we’ll dive into the question: Does return to battlefield cause summoning sickness?.

Direct Answer:
Yes, returning a card to the battlefield does trigger summoning sickness.

What is Summoning Sickness?
Summoning Sickness is a mechanism that prevents certain creatures, artifact creatures, and enchanted creatures from attacking or being blocked the turn they’re played. This applies to creatures that enter the battlefield from any zone, including the hand, deck, or graveyard.

The Rule:
The basic rule is that creatures enter the battlefield with summoning sickness unless they were previously under their controller’s control. This means that a creature that returns to the battlefield from a different zone will still have summoning sickness.

Zone Specifics:

• Creatures that enter the battlefield from the hand are summoned sickness-free.
• Creatures that enter the battlefield from the deck are summoned sickness-free, but only if they’re played from the command zone.
• Creatures that enter the battlefield from the graveyard are summoned sickness-free.

Return to Battlefield Examples:
Let’s take a look at some scenarios where a creature returns to the battlefield:

1. Exile: Creatures that are exiled with a spell or ability can return to the battlefield at a later time. If they do, they will still have summoning sickness.
2. Life from the Loam: This card allows you to return a creature from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature will still have summoning sickness.
3. Rites of Flight: This card returns a creature from the battlefield to the top of your library. If that creature then enters the battlefield again, it will still have summoning sickness.

Key Takeaways:

• Creatures return to the battlefield with summoning sickness unless they were previously under their controller’s control.
• Exiled creatures will have summoning sickness if they’re returned to the battlefield.
• Creatures that are played from the command zone will not have summoning sickness.

Strategic Considerations:
Understanding the implications of summoning sickness can help you build better decks and make informed decisions during gameplay. Consider the following:

• Plan accordingly: If you know your opponent has a creature in exile, plan to bring it back to the battlefield at a time that takes advantage of its summoned sickness.
• Use life-gain effects: If a creature is about to come back to the battlefield, consider using a life-gain effect to counteract its summoned sickness.
• Build around the card’s abilities: When designing your deck, focus on a creature’s abilities rather than its summoned sickness status.

Conclusion:
Return to battlefield does trigger summoning sickness, which means that creatures that re-enter the battlefield from other zones will still have the effect. Understanding this fundamental aspect of Magic: The Gathering can help you make strategic decisions and build a better deck.