Can Non-Planeswalkers Activate Loyalty Abilities?
The short, direct answer is yes, non-planeswalkers can activate loyalty abilities. However, this capability doesn’t magically grant just any permanent the power to tap into planeswalker energies. The key lies in a card specifically granting a non-planeswalker permanent a loyalty ability. This is a crucial distinction, because it defies the common intuition that loyalty abilities are exclusive to planeswalkers. While uncommon, cards with this property introduce fascinating strategic wrinkles into the game. These are not simply planeswalker abilities being slapped on a non-planeswalker, they are loyalty abilities that are used according to the rules surrounding loyalty abilities. Let’s delve into the specifics.
The Core Concept: Not Just for Planeswalkers Anymore
The rules of Magic: The Gathering explicitly state that a loyalty ability of a permanent can be activated even if the permanent isn’t a planeswalker. This is rule 606.3 in the Comprehensive Rules. This single rule change is what makes this entire idea possible. This means that if a card (or an effect) grants a permanent that is not a planeswalker a loyalty ability (indicated by the [cost]: [effect] format where the cost is a + or – number) that permanent can use the ability just like any planeswalker would.
Understanding Loyalty Abilities
A loyalty ability is a specific type of activated ability recognized by its cost, a number inside a box, typically denoted as + or – number. Unlike normal activated abilities, loyalty abilities are subject to stricter timing restrictions. They can generally be activated only once per turn for each applicable permanent during your main phase, when the stack is empty and you have priority. It is these rules that determine how a loyalty ability is used, regardless of the permanent it is on. If you have two permanents with a loyalty ability, then you can use one ability on each per turn.
The Timing and Restrictions
Although non-planeswalkers can have loyalty abilities, the rules governing their activation remain consistent with planeswalkers.
Activation Timing
- You can activate a loyalty ability of a permanent you control only at the time you could cast a sorcery.
- You must have priority.
- The stack must be empty.
- It must be during your main phase.
- You have not activated a loyalty ability of that permanent yet this turn.
The One-Per-Turn Rule
- Regardless of whether the permanent is a planeswalker or not, only one loyalty ability of that permanent can be activated each turn.
This can be confusing, but it is important to emphasize that these restrictions apply to the ability type, not the permanent type. There are abilities that may only be used once per turn and this restriction is part of that particular ability. A loyalty ability has that limitation as part of what a loyalty ability is.
Breaking the Rules?
Certain cards can grant the ability to activate loyalty abilities on any player’s turn or more than once per turn, as an example of how these rules can be bent. This is an exception to the core rules and the effect is written on the card itself. These exceptions are specifically designed to interact with loyalty abilities on permanents (regardless of if they are a planeswalker).
Examples and Implications
Finding cards that grant loyalty abilities to non-planeswalkers is somewhat uncommon, making them highly sought after and powerful when they are played. These cards can include things such as enchantment or equipment cards. They could also be a creature with the ability.
- Strategic Depth: The fact that any permanent can have loyalty abilities changes how the game is played, leading to some very interesting scenarios.
- Card Interactions: These cards that give non-planeswalkers loyalty abilities open up new design space. It leads to new card combinations that would never have been possible without this small but very important rule.
15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the interaction of non-planeswalkers and loyalty abilities:
1. Can a creature with a loyalty ability attack and then use its loyalty ability?
Yes, a creature with a loyalty ability can attack and then use its loyalty ability in the same turn, as long as you have not already activated that creature’s loyalty ability in that turn. Just like a planeswalker can attack or be attacked and still use loyalty abilities.
2. Can I activate a loyalty ability on a non-planeswalker during my opponent’s turn?
Generally, no. You can only activate loyalty abilities on your turn during the main phase when the stack is empty, unless a card specifically allows you to do so.
3. If a non-planeswalker has multiple loyalty abilities, can I activate all of them in a single turn?
No, the one-per-turn rule still applies. You can only activate one loyalty ability per permanent per turn, regardless of how many different loyalty abilities it has.
4. Do loyalty abilities on non-planeswalkers use loyalty counters?
Yes, the loyalty costs of the ability on a non-planeswalker will use loyalty counters. It will use the normal rules that determine how a loyalty counter is used on a planeswalker.
5. Does “summoning sickness” affect using loyalty abilities on creatures?
No, “summoning sickness” only applies to attacking and tapping a creature. Loyalty abilities can be used the turn a permanent enters the battlefield, regardless of whether it’s a planeswalker or a creature.
6. Can I copy a loyalty ability of a non-planeswalker?
Yes. Loyalty abilities are activated abilities that are not mana abilities. This means that any card that can copy activated abilities can copy the loyalty ability of a non-planeswalker.
7. Can a non-planeswalker with a loyalty ability be targeted by spells that target planeswalkers?
No, unless the card specifically states it can target any permanent with loyalty abilities, it will not work. It would have to be a card that can target permanents, and not one that targets only planeswalkers.
8. Can I Proliferate loyalty counters on a non-planeswalker?
Yes. Just like any permanent that has loyalty counters on it, you can use proliferate to add counters to it.
9. What happens if a non-planeswalker with loyalty counters has 0 loyalty?
Unlike planeswalkers, non-planeswalkers with loyalty counters do not go to the graveyard when their loyalty reaches 0. They will stay on the battlefield. They will also still have access to the loyalty abilities that they have. This can be both good and bad depending on the situation.
10. Can a non-planeswalker use loyalty abilities if it’s tapped?
Yes, if the loyalty ability doesn’t require tapping as part of the cost, the tap status of the permanent has no effect. The ability will still function, and can be used.
11. Does deathtouch damage a non-planeswalker with loyalty counters?
Deathtouch only applies to creatures. Therefore, damage from a source with deathtouch will reduce the number of loyalty counters on a non-planeswalker, but will not have any additional effect.
12. Can I respond to an activated loyalty ability of a non-planeswalker?
Yes, loyalty abilities, even on non-planeswalkers, are like any activated ability on the stack. They can be responded to with instants or other activated abilities.
13. Can a non-planeswalker enter the battlefield with loyalty counters?
No. Planeswalkers enter with loyalty counters on them as a static ability as they enter the battlefield. For a non-planeswalker to have loyalty counters it would have to gain them after it enters the battlefield.
14. Does a loyalty ability on a non-planeswalker count as casting a spell?
No. Using a loyalty ability, whether on a planeswalker or a non-planeswalker, does not count as casting a spell.
15. Can a non-planeswalker have a -0 ability?
Yes. Any loyalty ability can have a cost of -0. The only restrictions placed on loyalty abilities is that you must be able to pay the cost, and it must be on your main phase when the stack is empty.
Conclusion
The ability for non-planeswalkers to activate loyalty abilities, although not extremely common, brings a layer of strategic depth and unexpected interactions to Magic: The Gathering. Understanding these rules can provide a significant advantage and lead to more diverse and exciting gameplay. It further demonstrates that the rules of the game are very specific, and should be reviewed in order to fully understand the cards and combinations available. With each new expansion this idea can be explored further and lead to more interesting card designs.