Do Adventure Spells Count as Creatures? A Comprehensive MTG Guide
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The world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is filled with intricate rules and nuanced card interactions. One such complexity arises with Adventure cards, introduced in the Throne of Eldraine set. These cards offer a unique twist, featuring two distinct parts: an Adventure spell (typically an instant or sorcery) and a creature. So, do Adventure spells count as creatures?
The short answer is no. The Adventure spell, while on the stack, is considered an instant or sorcery spell, not a creature. It only becomes a creature when the card is not cast as an Adventure, or when the card is in any zone other than the stack. Think of it as the creature briefly stepping out of the picture to embark on a quest, returning later as their creature self. The adventure is a part of the card and a spell subtype seen on instants and sorceries attached to permanent cards.
This distinction is crucial for understanding how Adventure cards interact with other cards and abilities in the game. Let’s delve deeper and address some frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Adventure Cards
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Adventure cards, designed to clarify their mechanics and interactions:
1. What exactly *is* an Adventure card?
An Adventure card is a double-sided card featuring two distinct parts:
- The Adventure: This is usually an instant or sorcery spell located on the top half of the card (shown on the left side).
- The Creature: This is the creature card located on the bottom half of the card (shown on the right side).
2. When is an Adventure card considered a creature?
An Adventure card is considered a creature card in every zone except the stack, and while on the stack if it’s not cast as an Adventure. This includes your hand, library, graveyard, and exile zone. In these zones, you ignore the Adventure portion of the card and treat it solely as a creature with its associated characteristics (power, toughness, mana cost, etc.).
3. When is an Adventure card considered an instant or sorcery?
The only time an Adventure card is considered an instant or sorcery is when the Adventure portion of the card has been cast and is on the stack. Once the Adventure spell resolves and is put into the graveyard or exiled, the card reverts to being treated as a creature in those zones.
4. How do I cast the Adventure spell?
To cast the Adventure spell, you must announce that you are casting the card as its Adventure. You pay the Adventure’s mana cost and put it on the stack like any other instant or sorcery spell. Once it resolves, instead of going to the graveyard, it’s exiled.
5. What happens after the Adventure spell resolves?
After the Adventure spell resolves, the card is exiled. You can then cast the creature side of the card from exile, paying its mana cost.
6. Can I cast the creature side *without* casting the Adventure first?
Yes! You can cast the creature side of the Adventure card directly from your hand without casting the Adventure. You simply pay the creature’s mana cost and put it on the stack as a creature spell.
7. If I copy an Adventure spell on the stack, does it get exiled after resolving?
If you copy an Adventure spell, the copy behaves like any other instant or sorcery spell. After it resolves, it goes to the graveyard (not exile), and the original Adventure card is still exiled.
8. Can I use effects that allow me to cast spells “without paying their mana cost” on Adventure spells?
Yes, effects that allow you to cast spells without paying their mana cost can be applied to either the Adventure or the creature side of the Adventure card. This includes effects that use alternative casting costs.
9. Does countering an Adventure spell prevent me from casting the creature later?
Yes, if an Adventure spell is countered, the entire card goes to the graveyard. The creature is no longer exiled and available to be cast.
10. How do Adventure cards interact with effects that care about instants or sorceries?
When you cast an Adventure, it counts as an instant or sorcery spell for effects that trigger or care about those spell types. After the Adventure spell is cast and resolves and enters the exile zone, then the card is treated as a creature card.
11. Are Adventure spells considered to be an alternative cost spell?
Casting a card as an Adventure isn’t considered casting it for an alternative cost. However, effects that enable you to cast a spell for an alternative cost without paying its mana cost may allow you to apply those to an adventure.
12. Do Adventure cards trigger effects that care about creatures entering the battlefield?
Yes, when you cast the creature side of an Adventure card from exile (or from your hand), it triggers effects that trigger from creatures entering the battlefield.
13. Can I return an Adventure card from my graveyard to my hand?
Yes, if the Adventure card is in your graveyard (perhaps because the adventure spell was countered), you can return it to your hand using cards that target creature cards in graveyards.
14. Does Deathtouch work on Planeswalkers?
Deathtouch deals with the death of creatures. You will need an additional ability to apply it to Planeswalkers, such as Vraska, Swarm’s Eminence.
15. Is a creature a permanent spell?
Creatures are spells when you cast them and while they remain on the stack. Once they resolve and enter the battlefield, they become permanents instead of spells. There are six permanent types: artifact, battle, creature, enchantment, land, and planeswalker.
Conclusion: Mastering the Adventure
Adventure cards add a dynamic layer to MTG gameplay, offering strategic choices and opening up new deck-building possibilities. Understanding that the Adventure spell is an instant/sorcery on the stack but a creature everywhere else is key to utilizing these cards effectively. By mastering these nuances, you can navigate the world of Eldraine and beyond with confidence. Further learning of the nuances of games can be obtained by studying at the Games Learning Society, online at GamesLearningSociety.org.