Do Artifact Creatures Have Summoning Sickness? The Definitive Guide
Yes, artifact creatures do have summoning sickness. Just like any other creature, an artifact creature can’t attack or use activated abilities with the tap or untap symbol the turn it comes under your control unless it has haste. It’s that simple, yet often misunderstood. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this rule, its exceptions, and everything else you need to know to master artifact creatures in Magic: The Gathering.
Unpacking Summoning Sickness
“Summoning Sickness” is an informal term for the rule that a creature can’t attack or use abilities with the tap (or untap) symbol on the turn it enters the battlefield under your control. This applies regardless of whether it’s a “natural” creature, an artifact creature, or a land that has temporarily become a creature. The important thing is that it’s a creature when you want to attack or use that tapped ability.
Why Does Summoning Sickness Exist?
Think of it as the creature needing time to “orient” itself, learn the battlefield, and get instructions. Gameplay-wise, summoning sickness prevents players from immediately dominating the game with newly played creatures, giving opponents a chance to respond and balance the playing field.
The Exception: Haste
The haste ability bypasses summoning sickness. A creature with haste can attack and use tap/untap abilities the turn it enters the battlefield. There are various ways to grant haste to your creatures, either through static abilities on other cards or temporary buffs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Artifact Creatures and Summoning Sickness
Here are some common questions and answers surrounding artifact creatures and the infamous summoning sickness.
1. What Exactly Qualifies as “Coming Under My Control”?
It refers to when a permanent first enters the battlefield under your control or when control of an existing permanent changes from another player to you. If you’ve controlled a creature since the beginning of your most recent turn, it’s free to attack and use those abilities.
2. Does Summoning Sickness Affect All Permanents?
No. While the phrase “summoning sickness” is often thrown around loosely, technically, it only affects permanents that are creatures. An artifact sitting on the battlefield doesn’t have summoning sickness, until it becomes a creature.
3. Does Summoning Sickness Affect Planeswalkers?
Usually not. Planeswalkers can use their loyalty abilities the turn they enter the battlefield. However, if a planeswalker becomes a creature (some have abilities that allow this), then the rules of summoning sickness apply.
4. What About Lands That Become Creatures?
If a land becomes a creature (e.g., via a card like “Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi”), it is subject to summoning sickness on the turn it became a creature. It cannot attack or use tap/untap abilities unless it has haste.
5. If I Flicker an Artifact Creature, Does it Get Summoning Sickness Again?
Yes. “Flickering” (exiling a permanent and then returning it to the battlefield immediately) is treated as a new entry onto the battlefield. Therefore, the artifact creature will be affected by summoning sickness again, unless, of course, it has haste.
6. Do Artifact Creatures Count as Artifacts?
Yes. Artifact creatures possess both the artifact and creature card types. This makes them vulnerable to anything that affects artifacts (like artifact removal spells) and anything that affects creatures (like creature removal spells).
7. Are All Artifact Creatures Colorless?
No. While most artifact creatures are colorless (they don’t have colored mana symbols in their mana cost), there are colored artifact creatures. Examples include cards from the Shards of Alara block, which had multicolored artifact creatures.
8. Can I Tap an Artifact Creature For Mana The Turn It Enters The Battlefield?
If the artifact is only an artifact and has an ability to tap for mana, then yes. However, if that ability needs the artifact to tap and it is also a creature, it is subject to summoning sickness and you cannot tap it the turn it comes onto the battlefield unless it has haste.
9. Do Artifact Vehicles Have Summoning Sickness?
Vehicles are artifacts, and only become artifact creatures when they are crewed. Once crewed, they are treated like any other artifact creature and are subject to summoning sickness unless they have haste.
10. Does “March of the Machines” Affect Summoning Sickness?
Yes. “March of the Machines” turns all noncreature artifacts into artifact creatures. If an artifact you just played is turned into a creature by “March of the Machines”, it will have summoning sickness and can’t attack or tap for abilities.
11. Does Deathtouch Affect Indestructible Artifact Creatures?
No. Indestructible creatures can’t be destroyed by damage, and this includes damage from creatures with deathtouch.
12. Can I Counterspell an Artifact Creature Spell?
Yes. While it’s on the stack (before it resolves and enters the battlefield), an artifact creature is a spell. Any counterspell that can target an artifact spell or a creature spell can be used to counter it.
13. Do Artifact Creatures Count as Creature Spells?
Yes. When you cast an artifact creature, it’s both an artifact spell and a creature spell. This means it triggers effects that care about either artifacts or creatures being cast.
14. How Does Double Strike Interact With Artifact Creatures?
Double strike functions the same way with artifact creatures as it does with regular creatures. A creature with double strike deals combat damage in both the first combat damage step and the regular combat damage step.
15. Can Artifacts Activate At Instant Speed?
Some artifacts do have activated abilities that can be used at instant speed, but this depends on the specific wording of the card. If an artifact has an activated ability and nothing specifies it can only be used at sorcery speed, then you can activate it at instant speed.
Strategy and Tactics with Artifact Creatures
Understanding the rules surrounding artifact creatures and summoning sickness is crucial, but knowing how to leverage that knowledge is where you gain a competitive edge. Here are a few strategic considerations:
- Haste Enablers: Cards that grant haste (either to all your creatures or to specific ones) are invaluable in an artifact creature deck. This allows you to circumvent summoning sickness and immediately apply pressure on your opponent.
- Planning Ahead: Consider casting your artifact creatures before the turn you plan to attack with them. This gives them a turn to get over summoning sickness naturally.
- Using Artifact Creatures for Defense: Even if an artifact creature has summoning sickness, it can still block. This can be a great way to protect yourself while waiting to launch an offensive.
- Synergistic Abilities: Look for artifact creatures with abilities that trigger upon entering the battlefield, or have static abilities that benefit you regardless of whether they can attack. These types of creatures offer value even when “sick”.
Final Thoughts
Artifact creatures are a unique and powerful component of Magic: The Gathering. While summoning sickness can seem like a limiting factor, understanding the rules and strategies surrounding it will allow you to utilize these versatile permanents to their full potential. Remember, careful planning and a solid understanding of the game mechanics are key to victory. Be sure to visit GamesLearningSociety.org to discover more about the intersection of games and learning. Happy dueling!