Does Summoning Sickness Prevent Tapping?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, summoning sickness is a well-known phenomenon that affects creatures when they are summoned onto the battlefield. But does this sickness also prevent creatures from tapping? In this article, we will explore the answer to this question and delve deeper into the intricacies of summoning sickness.
Direct Answer: Yes, Summoning Sickness Prevents Tapping
Why?
Summoning sickness is a condition that prevents creatures from attacking or using activated abilities that require them to tap during their first turn after being summoned. This means that any ability that requires tapping, including tapping for mana, is not allowed during the creature’s first turn. This is because the creature is considered to be "sick" and unable to perform any actions that require tapping.
What Happens if You Tap a Tapped Creature?
As we mentioned earlier, summoning sickness prevents creatures from tapping. But what happens if you try to tap a creature that is already tapped? The answer is simple: you can never tap a tapped creature. Tapping a tapped creature is an impossible action, and attempting to do so will have no effect.
Tapping a Creature with Summoning Sickness
When a creature is summoned, it is considered to be under its controller’s control continuously since their most recent turn began. This means that the creature is not allowed to attack or use activated abilities that require tapping until its next turn. If you try to tap a creature with summoning sickness, it will not be possible to do so.
When Can a Creature with Summoning Sickness Tap?
A creature with summoning sickness can tap during its second turn after being summoned, provided it has not been tapped previously. For example, if a creature is summoned on the first turn, it will not be able to tap during that turn. However, it will be able to tap during its second turn.
Tapping Artifacts
Artifacts are a special case when it comes to tapping. Unless specified, artifacts can activate at instant speed. This means that you can tap an artifact to activate its ability, even if it has summoning sickness. However, be aware that the artifact’s ability may have other requirements that need to be met before it can be activated.
Can a Creature with Summoning Sickness Block?
One common question is whether a creature with summoning sickness can block. The answer is yes. A creature with summoning sickness can still block, as blocking does not require the creature to attack or use an activated ability.
Table: Tapping a Creature with Summoning Sickness
| First Turn | Second Turn | Third Turn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tapping | Not possible | Not possible | Possible |
Conclusion
In conclusion, summoning sickness does prevent creatures from tapping. This is because the creature is considered to be "sick" and unable to perform any actions that require tapping during its first turn after being summoned. However, the creature can tap during its second turn after being summoned, provided it has not been tapped previously. Additionally, artifacts can activate at instant speed, even if they have summoning sickness.