Is Equipping an Artifact an Instant?
Equipping an artifact is not an instant, as it can only be activated at sorcery speed, meaning it can only be done during the main phases of your turn, while the stack is empty. This is because the equip ability is a specific type of activated ability that requires a player to pay a cost and attach the equipment to a creature they control, which can only be done at sorcery speed.
Understanding Equipping Artifacts
To further understand the concept of equipping artifacts, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions that provide valuable insights into how equipping works in various scenarios.
FAQs About Equipping Artifacts
- What is equipping an artifact?: Equipping an artifact refers to the process of attaching an equipment to a creature you control, which can be done by paying the equip cost at sorcery speed.
- Is equipping an artifact a spell?: No, equipping an artifact does not count as casting a spell, as it is an activated ability that allows a player to attach an equipment to a creature.
- Can you equip an artifact to itself?: No, an equipment cannot equip itself, and if an equipment is attached to an illegal or nonexistent permanent, it becomes unattached but remains on the battlefield.
- Does equipping an artifact go on the stack?: Yes, equipping an equipment is an activated ability and goes on the stack, allowing opponents to respond to it.
- Does equipping an artifact count as targeting?: Yes, equipping is an ability that targets the creature it is being attached to.
- Can you equip an artifact to an opponent’s creature?: Normally, no, as the equip ability specifies that the target creature must be one you control, but there may be exceptions based on specific card effects.
- Can you sacrifice an equipped artifact?: The equipped creature cannot be sacrificed for any reason, including paying costs that require sacrificing a creature.
- Can you activate an artifact in response to an instant?: Activated abilities, including those of artifacts, can be used at any time, including in response to instants, unless otherwise stated.
- Do artifacts turn off when tapped?: No, tapping an artifact does not have any effect; it is the tapping of creatures or specific abilities that can have effects.
- Can you tap at instant speed?: Unless otherwise stated, tap abilities can be used at instant speed, allowing for quick responses or plays.
- What speed is equip?: Equipping can only be activated at sorcery speed, limiting when you can attach equipment to your creatures.
- Can you equip more than one artifact per turn?: Yes, you can equip an equipment as many times as you want in a turn, provided you can afford the equip cost each time.
- Can you equip artifacts with shroud?: No, a creature with shroud cannot be the target of any spell or ability, including equipping.
- Can you take control of an equipped artifact?: If you gain control of an equipment, you can keep it equipped to a creature it was already attached to, but you would need to pay the equip cost to move it to a different creature you control.
- How many times can you equip an artifact per turn?: You can equip an equipment any number of times in one turn, as long as you have the mana to pay the equip cost each time, and you are not trying to equip the same creature multiple times simultaneously.