Do Vehicles Have Haste in MTG? A Comprehensive Guide
No, vehicles in Magic: The Gathering do not inherently have haste. Just like any other nonland permanent that enters the battlefield under your control, vehicles are subject to summoning sickness. This means that unless a vehicle specifically has the haste ability or some other effect grants it haste, it cannot attack or use abilities that require tapping on the turn it enters the battlefield. The presence of haste on some vehicles is a specific design choice, not a universal rule. Let’s dive deeper into this concept and explore the intricacies of how vehicles operate in MTG.
Understanding Vehicles and Summoning Sickness
The summoning sickness rule is a fundamental aspect of MTG gameplay that balances the game and prevents players from immediately using newly played creatures for attacking or tapping abilities. It ensures that players can’t just drop powerful creatures and immediately overwhelm their opponents. Vehicles, as artifact permanents that can become creatures, are also subject to this rule.
How Crewing Affects Vehicles
Vehicles do not automatically become creatures when they enter the battlefield. They start as artifacts. To turn a vehicle into a creature, you must crew it by tapping creatures you control with a combined power equal to or greater than the vehicle’s crew cost. Once crewed, the vehicle becomes an artifact creature until the end of the turn. This temporary creature status is what makes the vehicle vulnerable to summoning sickness.
Why Some Vehicles Have Haste
The design of some vehicles includes the haste ability to bypass the limitations of summoning sickness. This is a deliberate choice by the game designers to make those particular vehicles more aggressive and immediately usable upon entering the battlefield and being crewed. It’s essential to read the card carefully to determine if a vehicle has haste or if another effect grants it haste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vehicles and Haste
Here’s a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about vehicles in MTG, addressing common misconceptions and providing clarification on various aspects of their functionality:
1. Do vehicles get summoning sickness in MTG?
Yes, vehicles do get summoning sickness. They are subject to summoning sickness the turn they enter the battlefield and are crewed, making them unable to attack or use tap abilities unless they have haste or are granted haste by another effect.
2. How do vehicles work in MTG?
Vehicles are artifact permanents that can be turned into artifact creatures by using the crew ability. To crew a vehicle, you tap creatures you control with a combined power equal to or greater than the vehicle’s crew cost. This turns the vehicle into a creature until the end of the turn, allowing it to attack, block, and interact with other creatures on the battlefield.
3. Do vehicles tap to attack MTG?
Once a vehicle has been crewed and becomes an artifact creature, it attacks like any other creature, which means it is tapped when declared as an attacker, unless it has vigilance.
4. Can you crew a vehicle at instant speed?
Yes, you can crew a vehicle at instant speed. This allows you to respond to your opponent’s actions, such as crewing a vehicle in response to a removal spell targeting one of your creatures.
5. What is “Crew” in MTG?
Crew is an activated ability on vehicle cards. By paying the cost (tapping creatures with sufficient power), you turn the vehicle into an artifact creature until the end of the turn.
6. Can you crew a vehicle with summoning sickness?
Yes, you can tap a creature with summoning sickness to crew a vehicle. Creatures with summoning sickness can still be tapped for abilities, even if they can’t attack or use tap abilities themselves.
7. Is crewing a vehicle an instant?
Yes, crewing a vehicle is an activated ability that can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to respond to your opponent’s actions or surprise them with an unexpected attacker or blocker.
8. Do vehicles tap in MTG?
Vehicles themselves don’t inherently tap unless they become creatures. Once crewed, they behave like normal creatures and tap when attacking. Additionally, you can tap a Vehicle to crew another Vehicle.
9. Do vehicles have power in MTG?
Vehicles have printed power and toughness values on the card, but these values only apply when the vehicle is a creature. When the vehicle is just an artifact, it does not have power or toughness.
10. Can you damage an uncrewed vehicle?
No, you cannot damage an uncrewed vehicle with effects that target creatures. Until a vehicle is crewed, it is an artifact without power and toughness, making it immune to creature-specific damage or removal spells.
11. Does Deathtouch work on vehicles?
Yes, if a vehicle is a creature and is dealt damage by a source with deathtouch, it will be destroyed. The damage only needs to be greater than zero.
12. Can a Planeswalker Crew a vehicle?
Some planeswalkers, such as [[Gideon, Ally of Zendikar]], can turn into creatures. If a planeswalker is a creature, it can crew a vehicle. If a planeswalker is not a creature, it cannot crew a vehicle, just like any other permanent that is not a creature.
13. Can I Crew on my opponent’s turn?
Yes, you can crew a vehicle on your opponent’s turn. This allows for surprise blocking or offensive plays, especially if the vehicle has vigilance.
14. Does blinking cause summoning sickness?
Yes, “blinking” a creature (exiling it and then returning it to the battlefield) causes it to be treated as a new permanent, subject to summoning sickness again.
15. Can unmanned Vehicles block MTG?
No, vehicles are not creatures if they haven’t been crewed this turn. Things that aren’t creatures cannot block. Only if they’ve been turned into creatures by another effect other than crewing. If you want to block with a vehicle you need to keep the pilots on standby.
Strategies and Synergies with Vehicles
Understanding how vehicles interact with other cards and abilities opens up strategic possibilities in deck building and gameplay. Here are a few key points to consider:
Utilizing Haste Enablers
If you’re building a vehicle-heavy deck, consider including cards that grant creatures haste. This allows you to immediately attack with your crewed vehicles, maximizing their offensive potential. Cards like [[Hammer of Purphoros]] or [[Swiftfoot Boots]] can be invaluable in enabling haste for your vehicles.
Synergies with Creature Abilities
Vehicles can synergize well with creatures that have beneficial abilities. Tapping creatures with abilities like lifelink, deathtouch, or other relevant keywords to crew a vehicle can provide additional advantages. For example, tapping a creature with deathtouch to crew a vehicle and then attacking with the vehicle can be a powerful way to eliminate opposing threats.
Instant-Speed Crewing for Defensive Plays
The ability to crew vehicles at instant speed allows for strategic defensive plays. You can wait until your opponent declares attackers and then crew a vehicle to block, potentially surprising them and disrupting their attack strategy.
Protecting Your Crew
Since crewing a vehicle relies on having creatures available, protecting your creatures from removal is crucial. Consider including cards that provide protection, such as [[Selfless Spirit]] or [[Boros Charm]], to ensure that you always have creatures available to crew your vehicles.
Conclusion
Vehicles in Magic: The Gathering are a unique and versatile card type that adds depth and complexity to the game. While they do not inherently have haste and are subject to summoning sickness, understanding their mechanics and interactions allows players to utilize them effectively in their strategies. Remember, some vehicles have inherent haste, so reading the card is important. This makes them immediate threats, and you must adjust your tactics accordingly. By considering the information in this comprehensive guide, you can elevate your gameplay and master the art of piloting vehicles to victory. To further enhance your understanding of the complexities and strategic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering, consider exploring resources and engaging with the community at GamesLearningSociety.org.