Equipping for Victory: Mastering the Art of Multiple Equips in Magic: The Gathering
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
The short answer is: as many times as you can pay the cost! There’s no inherent limit on how many times you can use the Equip ability in a single turn in Magic: The Gathering. As long as you have the mana (or other resources) to pay the equip cost each time, and you adhere to the sorcery speed restriction, you can move that shiny sword around like a hot potato.
Let’s dive deeper into the nuances of equipping, explore the rules that govern it, and address some common misconceptions. Understanding these mechanics can significantly improve your gameplay, allowing you to maximize the potential of your equipment and outmaneuver your opponents.
The Core of Equipping: Understanding the Basics
Equipment is an artifact subtype in Magic: The Gathering that provides bonuses to creatures. Unlike auras, which are enchantments attached to permanents, equipment can be re-used even after the equipped creature leaves the battlefield. This versatility is what makes equipment so valuable.
The Equip ability is an activated ability with the following general structure:
Equip [Cost] ([Cost]: Attach this permanent to target creature you control. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.)
This means you can only activate the Equip ability during your main phase when the stack is empty – essentially, when it’s your turn and no spells or abilities are resolving.
The Sorcery Speed Restriction
The “only any time you could cast a sorcery” clause is crucial. It means you can’t equip in response to an opponent’s spell or ability, or during combat (unless you have a specific ability that allows you to do so at instant speed). Plan your equips strategically during your main phases.
Paying the Cost
Each activation of the Equip ability requires you to pay the specified cost. This cost is typically mana, but some equipment may have different or additional costs, such as tapping a creature or sacrificing a permanent. Make sure you have the resources available to pay the cost each time you want to equip.
Targeting Your Creatures
The Equip ability targets a creature you control. You cannot equip equipment to your opponent’s creatures using the Equip ability. However, some cards, like [[Bloodthirsty Blade]], grant you the ability to attach equipment to creatures you do not control.
Maximizing Your Equips: Strategies and Considerations
Now that you understand the core rules, let’s explore some strategies for maximizing your equip potential:
- Mana Management: Efficient mana management is crucial. Having enough mana to equip multiple times in a turn can significantly impact the board state.
- Equipment Synergy: Choose equipment that works well together and complements your overall strategy. Some equipment might grant evasion, while others provide power boosts.
- Creature Selection: Equip creatures that will benefit the most from the bonuses. Consider their abilities, toughness, and potential for evasion.
- Anticipate Removal: Be aware that your opponent may try to remove your equipped creature or the equipment itself. Have backup plans in place.
- Instant-Speed Shenanigans: Some equipment or related cards might have abilities that allow you to attach or move equipment at instant speed. These can be powerful surprises for your opponent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Equipping
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules and nuances of equipping:
1. Can I equip the same creature twice with different equipment?
Yes, you can. There’s no rule preventing a creature from being equipped with multiple pieces of equipment, unless the equipment card itself states otherwise.
2. Can I equip the same piece of equipment to the same creature multiple times in a turn?
No, you can’t. Once a piece of equipment is attached to a creature, it remains attached until it’s moved or removed. You can’t “re-equip” it to the same creature while it’s already attached.
3. If a creature I control is being targeted by a removal spell, can I equip an equipment to it in response?
No, because Equip can only be activated at sorcery speed.
4. If an equipment grants a creature +1/+1, does the bonus disappear when the creature becomes untapped?
No, the bonus does not disappear. Equipment bonuses apply as long as the equipment is attached to the creature, regardless of whether the creature is tapped or untapped. Tapping an artifact won’t cause its abilities to stop applying unless those abilities say so.
5. What happens if I try to equip an equipment to a creature that is no longer a legal target (e.g., it has gained protection from artifacts)?
The equip ability will fail to resolve. Since the target is no longer legal upon resolution, the equipment will remain in its current zone (usually the battlefield). The mana spent to activate the ability will not be refunded. This falls under MTG Rule 728.1. If a player takes an illegal action or starts to take an action but can’t legally complete it, the entire action is reversed and any payments already made are canceled.
6. Can I equip an equipment to a creature my opponent controls if I somehow gain temporary control of that creature?
Yes, you can. The Equip ability specifies “target creature you control.” If you temporarily control an opponent’s creature, it becomes a creature you control, and you can equip it.
7. If an equipment has an ability that triggers when the equipped creature attacks, does that ability trigger every time the creature attacks?
Yes, the ability will trigger each time the equipped creature attacks.
8. If I equip a creature with an equipment that grants it flying, can it block flying creatures during my opponent’s turn?
Yes, if the creature gains flying from the equipment, it can block flying creatures during your opponent’s turn, assuming it’s otherwise able to block (e.g., it’s not tapped or doesn’t have summoning sickness).
9. Does summoning sickness prevent me from equipping a creature?
No, summoning sickness only affects a creature’s ability to attack or activate abilities with the tap or untap symbol in their cost. It does not prevent you from equipping it.
10. Can I equip during my opponent’s end step?
No, you can only activate the Equip ability during your own main phase when the stack is empty (sorcery speed).
11. What happens if the equipped creature is destroyed? Does the equipment also go to the graveyard?
No, the equipment remains on the battlefield. It becomes unattached and stays there, ready to be equipped to another creature.
12. If an equipment is attached to a creature that is exiled, what happens to the equipment?
The equipment remains on the battlefield. Just like with destruction, it becomes unattached and stays there.
13. Are there cards that can move equipment around at instant speed?
Yes, there are cards that grant the ability to attach or move equipment at instant speed. Keep an eye out for these; they can be very powerful. An example of this might be an ability that moves an equipment when a creature enters the battlefield under your control.
14. Can I equip a creature in response to my opponent casting a spell that would tap it?
No, you cannot. Equipping can only be done at sorcery speed.
15. If I have multiple pieces of equipment on the battlefield, can I equip them all to the same creature in one turn?
Yes, assuming you can pay all the equip costs and it is during your main phase. You can activate each Equip ability individually, targeting the same creature for each one.
Mastering Equipment: A Path to Victory
Understanding the rules and strategies surrounding the Equip ability is essential for any Magic: The Gathering player. By mastering the art of multiple equips in a single turn, you can significantly enhance your board presence, outmaneuver your opponents, and ultimately, achieve victory. For more information on games and education, visit the Games Learning Society website or GamesLearningSociety.org.