Do Enchantments Count as Spells or Abilities?

Enchantments are considered spells when they are being cast, but once they are on the battlefield, they become permanents, which is a distinct category from spells. Enchantments, therefore, can be both spells and permanents, but not abilities, as abilities refer to specific powers or effects that a card or permanent may have, and are governed by different rules within the game.

Understanding Enchantments, Spells, and Abilities

Enchantments are a type of card in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) that provide various effects and can be played to affect the game state. They are cast as spells, but once they resolve and are placed on the battlefield, they become permanents, offering ongoing effects that can influence the game in numerous ways.

Key Distinctions

It’s crucial to distinguish between spells, permanents, and abilities. Spells are cards that are cast from the hand and can be instants, sorceries, or enchantments. Permanents include creatures, enchantments, artifacts, lands, and planeswalkers that remain on the battlefield until they are destroyed or otherwise removed. Abilities, on the other hand, are specific effects or powers that a card or permanent may have, which can be activated, triggered, or static.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a spell and a permanent in MTG? A spell is a card that is cast from the hand and goes on the stack, whereas a permanent is a card that remains on the battlefield after it is played, such as creatures, enchantments, artifacts, lands, and planeswalkers.

2. Do enchantments count as sorcery spells? No, enchantments do not count as sorcery spells. While both are types of spells, enchantments become permanents when they resolve, offering ongoing effects, whereas sorceries are spells that resolve immediately and then go to the graveyard.

3. Are abilities considered spells? No, abilities are not considered spells. They are specific effects or powers of a card or permanent and are governed by different rules within the game.

4. What types of spells are there in MTG? There are several types of spells in MTG, including instants, sorceries, and enchantments, each with its own unique characteristics and rules for play.

5. Do lands count as spells? No, lands do not count as spells. Playing a land is a special action that does not use the stack, so it cannot be responded to with instants or activated abilities.

6. Can enchantments have abilities? Yes, enchantments can have abilities, which can provide additional effects or powers beyond their basic function as a permanent.

7. Are enchantments spells that target? When casting an enchantment as a spell, it can target a permanent or player if its effect requires it, but once it is on the battlefield, it is no longer considered a spell.

8. Do enchantments count as counters? No, enchantments do not count as counters unless they specifically say so. Only effects that explicitly place +1/+1 counters or other types of counters on a permanent are considered to be adding counters.

9. Does equipment count as a sorcery? No, equipment does not count as a sorcery. While equipment can only be equipped to a creature during the main phase and when the stack is empty, similar to the timing of sorceries, equipping is an activated ability, not the casting of a spell.

10. Do enchantments have summoning sickness? Only creature enchantments, or enchantments that have become creatures, are affected by summoning sickness, which prevents them from attacking or using abilities that require tapping during their first turn on the battlefield.

11. What are the elements of spells in D&D? In Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a spell’s elements include verbal (V), somatic (S), and material (M) components, which are the physical requirements to cast the spell.

12. What is a spell-like ability? A spell-like ability is an effect that has no verbal, somatic, or material component and does not require a focus or have an XP cost, allowing it to be used without the restrictions associated with spells.

13. Does spell mean magic? Yes, in many contexts, spell refers to magic or magical effects, including spoken words believed to have magical power or the influence or control exerted by such words.

14. What is a dry spell? A dry spell can refer to a prolonged period of dry weather or a period of little or no productivity, activity, or success.

15. Are there different types of enchantments? Yes, enchantments come in several forms, including auras, regular enchantments, and curses, each with its own way of affecting the game and the permanents or players they enchant.