Can You Partially Crew in Magic: The Gathering? A Comprehensive Guide

No, you cannot partially crew a Vehicle in Magic: The Gathering. The crew ability requires you to tap creatures with a combined power equal to or greater than the Vehicle’s crew cost. You must pay the full cost of the ability to activate it; partial payments are not allowed. Think of it like buying a snack – you can’t hand over half the money and expect to get the treat!

Understanding the Crew Mechanic

The crew ability is an activated ability that turns a Vehicle artifact into an artifact creature until the end of the turn. This allows the Vehicle to attack and block like any other creature. To activate the ability, you must tap a specific number of creatures you control whose combined power is equal to or greater than the crew cost.

The key here is “equal to or greater than.” You can overpay the crew cost by tapping creatures with more total power than required, but you cannot underpay it.

Why Can’t You Partially Crew?

Magic: The Gathering is built on a system of clearly defined costs and effects. Activated abilities like crew require you to pay the full cost to receive the full effect. Just like you need to pay the full mana cost to cast a spell, you need to meet the full power requirement to crew a Vehicle.

Example Scenarios

• Let’s say you control a Vehicle with a crew cost of 3. You control two creatures: one with power 1 and one with power 1. You cannot crew the Vehicle, as their combined power (2) is less than the crew cost (3).

• You control a Vehicle with a crew cost of 3. You control two creatures: one with power 2 and one with power 1. You cannot crew the Vehicle, as their combined power (3) is equal to the crew cost (3) but both are tapped, preventing them from paying the crew cost.

• You control a Vehicle with a crew cost of 3. You control two creatures: one with power 2 and one with power 1. You cannot crew the Vehicle, as their combined power (3) is equal to the crew cost (3). To crew it you must tap both creatures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Crewing

1. Can you crew with less than the crew cost?

No, you cannot crew a Vehicle if you don’t tap creatures with a combined power equal to or greater than the crew cost.

2. Can you crew with a creature that just entered the battlefield?

Yes, you can crew with a creature that just entered the battlefield, unless that creature has summoning sickness and the ability you are trying to use has the tap symbol. The crew ability doesn’t require the tap symbol, so creatures with summoning sickness and summoning sickness that are already on the battlefield are fine.

3. Can you crew an already crewed vehicle?

Yes, you can crew a Vehicle that is already a creature. This can be useful if you need to refresh the creature status or if the Vehicle’s power or toughness has been modified.

4. How many times can you crew a vehicle?

You can activate a Vehicle’s crew ability as many times as you can pay the cost. However, repeatedly crewing a Vehicle usually has no additional effect unless its creature status has been altered, or you need to crew with different creatures for a specific strategy.

5. Can I crew with summoning sickness?

Yes, you can tap a creature with summoning sickness to crew a Vehicle as long as that ability does not have the tap symbol. Summoning sickness only prevents attacking and using abilities with the tap symbol.

6. Can you crew a vehicle anytime?

You can crew a Vehicle any time you have priority, which is generally during your main phases. You can even crew a Vehicle in response to a spell or ability your opponent controls, as long as you can pay the cost.

7. Does Deathtouch work on vehicles?

Yes, Deathtouch works on Vehicles if the Vehicle is a creature. If a Vehicle creature is dealt damage by a source with Deathtouch, it will be destroyed.

8. Can I crew a tapped vehicle?

Yes, you can crew a Vehicle whether it is tapped or untapped. Crewing a Vehicle does not untap it.

9. Can you crew the same vehicle twice?

Yes, as long as you have the creatures available to tap, you can crew a Vehicle multiple times.

10. Do Planeswalkers have summoning sickness?

No, only creatures have summoning sickness. Planeswalkers can use their abilities the turn they enter the battlefield (assuming they have sufficient loyalty).

11. Can you crew a vehicle with a vehicle?

Yes, you can use an already crewed Vehicle to crew another Vehicle. This is sometimes necessary when crewing Vehicles with high crew costs.

12. Is crewing instant speed?

Crewing a Vehicle can be done at instant speed, as long as you have priority and can pay the cost.

13. Does Deathtouch destroy indestructible?

No, Indestructible creatures are not destroyed by Deathtouch. Indestructible prevents destruction, regardless of the source.

14. Does Hexproof block Deathtouch?

No, Hexproof prevents a creature from being targeted by spells or abilities your opponents control. Deathtouch is a characteristic of a creature, not a targeting ability, so Hexproof doesn’t prevent it.

15. Can you Crew with a blocking creature?

No, you cannot crew with a creature that is already blocking. Once a creature is declared as a blocker, it’s considered tapped and cannot be used to pay costs like the crew ability.

Strategy and Considerations

Understanding the crew mechanic is essential for effectively using Vehicles in your Magic: The Gathering decks. Here are a few strategic considerations:

• Mana Efficiency: Consider the mana cost of your Vehicles and the creatures you’ll need to crew them. Make sure you can reliably pay the crew cost without overextending your resources.

• Creature Power: Prioritize creatures with high power to make crewing easier and more efficient.

• Board State: Be aware of your board state and the potential impact of tapping your creatures. Crewing a Vehicle might leave you vulnerable to attacks if you don’t have other blockers available.

• Synergies: Look for cards that synergize with Vehicles, such as those that provide additional power or toughness to your creatures, or those that trigger when a Vehicle becomes a creature.

• Timing: Correctly timing when you crew a Vehicle is essential for maximizing its effectiveness. Consider crewing at the end of your opponent’s turn to surprise them on your turn.

Final Thoughts

The crew ability is a unique and flavorful mechanic that adds a new dimension to Magic: The Gathering gameplay. While you can’t partially crew, understanding the nuances of the ability and strategic considerations can give you a significant edge in your games. So, gather your crew, power up those Vehicles, and dominate the battlefield!

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