What is phased out summoning sickness?

What is Phased Out Summoning Sickness?

Summoning sickness is a common phenomenon in the world of Magic: The Gathering, where creatures are unable to attack or use abilities until their next untap step. But what happens when a creature phases out? Does it still experience summoning sickness? In this article, we’ll explore the concept of phased out summoning sickness and what it means for your Magic games.

Direct Answer: What is Phased Out Summoning Sickness?

When a creature phases out, it is still considered to be on the battlefield, but it is treated as if it doesn’t exist. This means that it won’t be able to attack or use abilities until it phases back in on its next untap step. However, the creature will not experience summoning sickness in the classical sense. Instead, it will be treated as if it was never summoned in the first place.

How Phasing Affects Summoning Sickness

Phasing out a creature does not reset its summoning sickness counter. This means that if a creature was able to attack or use abilities before phasing out, it will still be able to do so when it phases back in. However, if a creature was unable to attack or use abilities before phasing out, it will still be unable to do so when it phases back in.

Effects on Abilities and Counters

When a creature phases out, any abilities or counters that were placed on it will remain. This means that if a creature was affected by a spell or ability that said " creatures can’t attack" before phasing out, it will still be affected by that spell or ability when it phases back in.

Zone-Change Triggers

Zone-change triggers, such as those that trigger when a creature phases in or out, do not trigger when a creature phases out. This means that any effects that rely on zone-change triggers will not be triggered when a creature phases out.

Counters Remain

Counters that were placed on a creature before it phased out will remain on it when it phases back in. This means that if a creature was counterred with a spell or ability before phasing out, it will still be counterred when it phases back in.

Effects that Check History

Effects that check a creature’s history, such as those that check whether a creature was ever in a certain zone, will treat a phased-out creature as if it was never in that zone. This means that if a creature phased out and then phased back in, it will not be able to use an ability that requires it to have been in a certain zone before.

Phasing and First Strike/Double Strike

When a creature phases out, its first strike or double strike ability will not trigger until it phases back in. This means that if a creature had first strike or double strike before phasing out, it will not be able to deal combat damage until it phases back in.

Phasing and ETB Effects

Zone-change triggers do not trigger when a creature phases in or out. This means that any effects that trigger when a creature enters the battlefield (ETB) will not trigger when a creature phases back in.

Conclusion

Phased out summoning sickness is a unique phenomenon that arises when a creature phases out and then phases back in. While the creature is still treated as if it was never summoned in the first place, its abilities and counters will remain, and it will still be subject to the same rules as if it was never phased out. By understanding how phasing affects summoning sickness, you can better navigate the complexities of Magic: The Gathering and make more informed decisions in your games.