Can You Use Creature Abilities at Instant Speed?
Yes, you can generally use most activated abilities of creatures at instant speed, meaning any time you could cast an instant spell. This fundamental rule is crucial for strategic play in Magic: The Gathering. However, it’s important to understand the nuances and limitations. The core principle is that unless a card specifically states otherwise, such as “activate only as a sorcery,” or is limited by the rules regarding summoning sickness, you are free to activate a creature’s ability whenever you have priority, which is when you could play an instant spell. This opens up a huge variety of tactical options, allowing you to react to your opponents’ plays and create complex board states.
Understanding Activated Abilities
What are Activated Abilities?
An activated ability is a special type of ability on a card that has a cost followed by a colon, and then an effect. For example, “Tap: Draw a card” or “Pay 2 life: Regenerate target creature.” These abilities are distinct from triggered abilities (which start with words like “when” or “whenever”) and static abilities (which are always in effect). When you activate an ability, you’re essentially “using” that ability, and its effects then take place. This is an incredibly important element of the game to understand as it interacts with summoning sickness and timing restrictions in different ways.
The “Instant Speed” Principle
The key to activating creature abilities is understanding that the default is “instant speed.” This means you can use them during your turn, during an opponent’s turn, in response to other spells or abilities on the stack – basically, any time you have priority. This makes them incredibly flexible and allows for a dynamic game. However, the devil is always in the details, and this is when you have to start being careful.
Exceptions to the Rule
Not all activated abilities are usable at instant speed. There are two primary things to watch out for: explicit restrictions printed on the card and the restriction of summoning sickness.
Explicit Restrictions: Some cards have specific wording that limits when you can activate them. Phrases like “Activate only as a sorcery” or “Activate only during your turn” are clear signals that you can’t use those abilities at instant speed. Bloodtithe Harvester is a common example of a creature ability with sorcery-speed restriction. Always read the cards carefully to catch these kinds of restrictions.
Summoning Sickness: A newly summoned creature suffers from something called “summoning sickness”. If you haven’t controlled it since the start of your most recent turn, it can’t tap to attack, and it also cannot use any tap abilities indicated by the {T} symbol. Note that this only applies to the use of tap abilities; creatures with summoning sickness can still use any activated ability that doesn’t require tapping and also can block. Additionally, creatures with haste circumvent summoning sickness’ tap restrictions allowing them to attack and use tap abilities even when newly played.
15 Frequently Asked Questions about Creature Abilities
1. Can you tap a creature in response to an instant?
Yes, you can activate the ability of a creature, tapping it if that is part of the cost, in response to an instant spell or ability. The activated ability is placed on the stack and resolves before the instant, allowing you to, for example, use a defensive ability before the instant resolves.
2. Can you use artifact abilities at instant speed?
Yes, generally you can use artifact abilities at instant speed unless the card specifies otherwise. Artifacts, unlike creatures, are not affected by summoning sickness and can be tapped immediately after entering the battlefield.
3. Can you use land abilities at instant speed?
Activated abilities of lands that are not mana abilities can be used at instant speed. These are placed on the stack and can be responded to just like spells and creature activated abilities.
4. Can you use enchantment abilities at instant speed?
Yes, activated abilities of enchantments can be used at instant speed unless the card says otherwise. The same principle applies to enchantments as to artifacts and creatures.
5. Does attacking count as tapping a creature?
Yes, attacking causes the creature to become tapped. Tapping a creature when it’s declared as an attacker is not a cost; the act of attacking itself results in the tap.
6. Can you use a creature tap ability if it has summoning sickness?
No, a creature with summoning sickness cannot use any tap abilities and can’t be declared as an attacker. This is only if they do not have haste.
7. What are the rules for instants in Magic?
Instants can be played at any time a player has priority, including during other players’ turns and while another spell or ability is waiting to resolve. This is the key difference between instants and sorceries.
8. Can you cast an instant in response to an activated ability?
Yes, you can cast an instant in response to an activated ability and vice-versa. When any player activates an ability, priority is passed, giving other players a chance to respond. This is one of the core interactions in the game.
9. Can you use creature tap abilities during an opponent’s turn?
Yes, assuming the creature is not suffering from summoning sickness, you can use tap abilities at instant speed during an opponent’s turn, allowing you to react to their actions.
10. Can you equip at instant speed?
No, generally, the equip ability is done at sorcery speed. However, some equipment cards have alternative methods of attaching at instant speed. Always check the specific wording on each card.
11. Can you use a tap ability during your opponent’s combat?
Yes, you can absolutely use a tap ability during your opponent’s combat, so long as the tapped creature isn’t already attacking and does not have summoning sickness. For instance, if you have a creature with a tap ability that prevents other creatures from attacking, you could use it before your opponent declares attackers.
12. Can you tap a creature in response to a tap ability?
You cannot respond directly to the act of tapping a creature. Tapping a creature is part of the cost, and once you start paying a cost for an ability, that cost cannot be responded to. The ability can be responded to, but not the tap itself.
13. Can creatures with haste tap for abilities?
Yes, creatures with haste can use tap abilities even if they haven’t been under your control since the start of your most recent turn. They bypass the normal restriction of summoning sickness for tap abilities.
14. Can you tap a creature without haste?
You can only tap a creature without haste to use a tap ability if you have controlled that creature continuously since the start of your most recent turn.
15. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch?
No, there is no interaction where Deathtouch cancels Deathtouch. Two creatures with deathtouch will destroy each other in combat.
Conclusion
Understanding when and how you can activate creature abilities is essential to mastering Magic: The Gathering. The instant-speed nature of most activated abilities offers a level of tactical depth that makes the game engaging. However, be mindful of the restrictions listed on the cards and the rules regarding summoning sickness. By understanding the basic principles and these nuances, you’ll be well on your way to utilizing these abilities to their full potential and gaining a tactical edge. Always read cards carefully and remember that these are just general rules and specific cards can and will always overrule them. Good luck, and happy gaming!