Decoding Summoning Sickness for Copy Tokens in Magic: The Gathering
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Yes, copy tokens can absolutely have summoning sickness in Magic: The Gathering, but the answer, as with many things in Magic, isn’t quite that simple. It hinges entirely on what the copy token is copying. The key is whether the copy token is a creature. If it copies a creature, it will have summoning sickness. If it copies a non-creature permanent, summoning sickness does not apply.
The Nuances of Summoning Sickness and Copy Tokens
To fully understand this, let’s break down the core concepts. Summoning sickness is a rule that restricts a creature’s ability to attack or use abilities with the tap symbol (T) during the turn it enters the battlefield under a player’s control. The intent is to simulate a period of adjustment for the creature, preventing immediate action.
A token, on the other hand, is a permanent created by a spell or ability. A copy token is a token that enters the battlefield as a copy of another permanent, be it a creature, artifact, enchantment, planeswalker, or even a land.
Therefore, a copy token that becomes a creature will suffer from summoning sickness. A copy token that copies a non-creature permanent is unaffected by summoning sickness. Consider a card like [[Rite of Replication]], which can create multiple copy tokens of a creature. Each of those tokens will be subject to summoning sickness unless they have haste.
Now, let’s delve into the specifics with some frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Copy Tokens and Summoning Sickness
1. If a copy token is created with haste, does it still have summoning sickness?
No. If the original creature it copies has haste, the copy token will also have haste, effectively bypassing summoning sickness. The copy will be able to attack and tap for abilities immediately. However, the copy still technically has summoning sickness, and if it were to lose haste somehow (e.g., through [[Dress Down]]), it would then be affected.
2. Does “populate” give the token summoning sickness?
Yes, when you populate, you create a copy of an existing token creature. This new token creature enters the battlefield with summoning sickness. However, if the original token had haste, the new populated token will also have haste and can attack or tap immediately.
3. Can a copy token use abilities the turn it enters the battlefield?
It depends. If the copy token is a creature with summoning sickness, it cannot use abilities that require tapping the creature. However, it can use abilities that don’t require tapping, such as triggered abilities or activated abilities that have a different cost.
4. Does mutating onto a copy token remove summoning sickness?
Mutating onto a creature interacts with summoning sickness based on the “base” creature. If the “base” part of the mutated creature didn’t have summoning sickness when it entered the battlefield, the resulting mutated creature doesn’t have summoning sickness either, regardless of whether the mutated copy token previously had it.
5. If I flicker a copy token, does it get summoning sickness again?
Yes. When a permanent leaves the battlefield and returns, it’s considered a new permanent. Therefore, if you flicker a copy token creature, it will re-enter the battlefield and be subject to summoning sickness again, unless it has haste or another ability that negates it.
6. Does a copy token trigger “enter the battlefield” abilities?
Yes. When a copy token enters the battlefield, it triggers any relevant “enter the battlefield” abilities. This is because the copy token is treated as a new permanent entering the battlefield, even though it’s a copy.
7. Can I sacrifice a copy token with summoning sickness?
Yes. Summoning sickness only prevents attacking and using tap abilities. You can still sacrifice a creature with summoning sickness as part of a cost for another spell or ability. Sacrificing a creature doesn’t involve attacking or tapping, so summoning sickness is irrelevant.
8. If I copy a planeswalker with an ability that turns it into a creature, does the copy have summoning sickness?
If the planeswalker has already transformed into a creature, and then it is copied, the resulting copy token will be a creature and will have summoning sickness unless it has haste. If the planeswalker is copied, then the ability is used to transform the copy, it will then be a creature with summoning sickness.
9. How does copying a land work with summoning sickness?
Lands are not affected by summoning sickness unless they are creatures. If you copy a land that is also a creature (e.g., a man-land like [[Raging Ravine]]), the copy will have summoning sickness if it enters the battlefield as a creature. If you copy a basic land or non-creature land, summoning sickness is not a factor.
10. Can I proliferate counters on a copy token?
Yes. You can proliferate counters on any permanent, including copy tokens. Proliferate allows you to add an additional counter of each type already on the permanent. This is a common strategy in counter-based decks.
11. What happens if a copy token with deathtouch deals damage to a creature?
Deathtouch is a static ability that causes any amount of damage dealt by the source to a creature to be lethal. If a copy token creature with deathtouch deals damage to another creature, the creature with deathtouch will be destroyed.
12. Does the legendary rule apply to copy tokens of legendary permanents?
Yes. The legend rule states that if you control two or more legendary permanents with the same name, you must choose one and put the others into their owner’s graveyard. This applies to copy tokens as well. If you create a copy token of a legendary permanent you already control, you’ll have to sacrifice one of them.
13. If a copy token transforms, does it get summoning sickness?
If a transforming double-faced copy token transforms, it doesn’t automatically get summoning sickness unless it enters the battlefield as a creature on the same turn it transforms, and doesn’t have haste. Transforming a permanent doesn’t inherently cause summoning sickness.
14. Can I use a copy token to trigger “dies” or “leaves the battlefield” abilities?
Yes. When a copy token dies or leaves the battlefield, it triggers any relevant “dies” or “leaves the battlefield” abilities. Even though the token ceases to exist shortly after, it still hits the graveyard briefly to trigger those abilities.
15. What if I copy a permanent that has an ability that prevents summoning sickness?
If the permanent being copied has an ability that prevents summoning sickness (such as an ability that states “this creature can attack as though it didn’t have summoning sickness”), the copy token will also have that ability and will not be affected by summoning sickness. The copy token inherits the abilities of the object it’s copying.
Understanding summoning sickness in the context of copy tokens is essential for strategic gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. By grasping these nuances, players can better leverage copy effects and maximize their impact on the game. The rules of Magic can be complex but resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org can help you stay informed and improve your strategy.
[[Rite of Replication]] [[Dress Down]] [[Raging Ravine]]