Unraveling the Flicker Enigma: Does Flickering Trigger Summoning Sickness?
The question of whether flickering a creature causes summoning sickness is a common point of confusion in Magic: The Gathering. The short answer is yes, it does. When a creature is flickered—that is, exiled and then returned to the battlefield—it is treated as a brand new permanent entering the battlefield. Therefore, it will be affected by summoning sickness, preventing it from attacking or using abilities with the tap symbol {T} unless it has haste or you have controlled it continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn.
Understanding Summoning Sickness and Flicker Effects
Summoning sickness is a fundamental rule in Magic: The Gathering. It dictates that a creature cannot attack or use abilities that require tapping during the turn it enters the battlefield, unless it has haste. The reasoning behind this game mechanic is rooted in the narrative of the game, suggesting that newly summoned creatures need time to adjust to their surroundings before being battle-ready.
Flicker effects, also known as blink effects, are spells or abilities that exile a permanent and then return it to the battlefield immediately or at the beginning of the next end step. These effects are incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of strategic purposes, such as saving a creature from removal, resetting counters, or triggering “enter the battlefield” abilities multiple times. The key is to understand that the returning permanent is considered a new game object.
The interaction between these two mechanics can be crucial. Knowing whether your flickered creature will have summoning sickness can significantly affect your strategic decisions during a game.
The Nuances of Flicker and Summoning Sickness
While the general rule is that flickering a creature causes summoning sickness, there are important nuances to consider. Firstly, the timing of the flicker effect matters. If you flicker a creature on your opponent’s turn, it will not have summoning sickness when your turn begins, since you will have controlled the creature since the beginning of your most recent turn. Secondly, creatures with haste are immune to summoning sickness, regardless of how recently they entered the battlefield.
FAQs: Decoding Summoning Sickness and Flicker
To further clarify this interaction and related concepts, let’s delve into some frequently asked questions.
1. What exactly constitutes a “flicker” effect?
A flicker effect is any effect that exiles a permanent and then returns it to the battlefield. These effects often use phrases like “exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control” or “exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step.” Common examples of flicker spells include Cloudshift, Momentary Blink, and Ghostly Flicker.
2. Does flickering a token creature give it summoning sickness?
Yes. Just like any other creature, a token creature that is flickered will have summoning sickness when it returns to the battlefield. The token will be considered a new creature entering the battlefield.
3. If a creature gains haste after being flickered, does it bypass summoning sickness?
Yes. If a creature gains haste after being flickered but on the same turn, it can attack and use tap abilities that same turn. Haste overrides summoning sickness, regardless of when the creature entered the battlefield. For example, if you flicker a creature and then cast a spell that gives it haste, the creature can attack immediately.
4. Can I use a creature’s activated ability that doesn’t involve tapping even if it has summoning sickness from being flickered?
Yes. Summoning sickness only prevents a creature from attacking or using abilities that require the tap symbol {T}. You can still activate abilities that don’t involve tapping or attacking. For example, a creature with summoning sickness can still be sacrificed to pay a cost or use an activated ability that only requires mana.
5. Does flickering reset counters on a creature?
Yes, in most cases. When a creature is flickered, it is treated as a new object entering the battlefield. Any counters that were on the original creature are removed, as they do not transfer to the new instance of the creature. However, some counters, like experience counters a player might have, are unaffected, as they exist outside the battlefield.
6. Can I flicker a creature to avoid a “destroy” effect?
Yes. Flickering a creature in response to a destroy effect can save it. Because the creature is exiled and then returns to the battlefield, it becomes a new object and is no longer affected by the spell or ability that was targeting it for destruction.
7. If I flicker a creature enchanted with an Aura, what happens to the Aura?
When a creature leaves the battlefield, any Auras attached to it are usually put into their owner’s graveyard as a state-based action. When the creature returns from being flickered, it’s a new game object, and the Aura would need to be re-attached. Some Auras, however, might return with the creature if the flicker effect specifies.
8. Does flickering a creature trigger “enter the battlefield” abilities?
Yes. When a creature is flickered, it is considered to be entering the battlefield again. This triggers any “enter the battlefield” abilities it has, as well as any other triggered abilities that look for creatures entering the battlefield. This is a common strategy to gain additional value from creatures with powerful ETB effects.
9. How does flickering interact with the Commander tax in Commander format?
In the Commander format, each time you cast your commander from the command zone, it costs an additional 2 generic mana. Flickering your commander does not count as casting it, so the commander tax does not increase. However, if your commander is exiled and you choose to return it to the command zone instead of the battlefield, the next time you cast it from the command zone, the tax will apply as normal.
10. Can I block with a creature that has summoning sickness from being flickered?
Yes. While a creature with summoning sickness cannot attack or use tap abilities, it can block. The creature is still present on the battlefield and can be declared as a blocker during your opponent’s combat phase.
11. What happens if I flicker a creature that’s also a planeswalker (e.g., Gideon Jura)?
If you flicker a permanent that is both a creature and a planeswalker (such as Gideon Jura when its ability turns it into a creature), it will have summoning sickness upon its return. It will be unable to attack unless it has haste. However, it is important to note that Planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness in their base form.
12. Does phasing out a creature cause summoning sickness when it phases back in?
No. Phasing is different from flickering. When a creature phases out, it is essentially removed from the game temporarily but not exiled. When it phases back in, it’s still considered the same permanent and therefore is not affected by summoning sickness unless it didn’t exist under your control since the beginning of your most recent turn.
13. Can I crew a vehicle with a creature that has summoning sickness from being flickered?
Yes. You can crew a Vehicle with a creature that has summoning sickness. The act of crewing a vehicle only requires tapping the creature, and the restriction of summoning sickness only prevents creatures from attacking or using tap abilities of their own.
14. Does a creature being “bounced” back to my hand cause summoning sickness when I replay it?
Yes. When you “bounce” a creature back to your hand (i.e., return it to its owner’s hand), and then replay it, it is considered a new creature entering the battlefield. Therefore, it will be affected by summoning sickness unless it has haste.
15. How can understanding summoning sickness and flicker enhance my gameplay?
Mastering the nuances of summoning sickness and flicker effects can significantly improve your strategic options in Magic: The Gathering. By understanding how these mechanics interact, you can:
- Save creatures from removal spells.
- Reset counters strategically.
- Re-trigger “enter the battlefield” abilities for value.
- Plan your attacks and defenses more effectively.
The interplay between these rules and abilities highlight the complexity and depth of Magic: The Gathering.
Understanding these interactions allows you to make informed decisions, optimize your plays, and gain a competitive edge.
For those interested in delving deeper into the educational aspects of gaming, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, which examines how games can enhance learning and problem-solving skills. Games, like Magic, not only entertain but also foster critical thinking and strategic planning.