What counts as an ability in MTG?

An ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) refers to a text or characteristic on an object that is un-italicized, being neither flavor text nor reminder text, and always falls into one of four categories: spell abilities, activated abilities, triggered abilities, and static abilities. In MTG, abilities are a crucial aspect of gameplay, allowing players to interact with the game in various ways, and understanding what counts as an ability is essential to mastering the game.

Understanding Abilities in MTG

Abilities in MTG can be complex and varied, and there are several key concepts to understand in order to play the game effectively.

Ability Types

There are four main types of abilities in MTG: activated abilities, triggered abilities, static abilities, and spell abilities. Activated abilities require a player to pay a cost to activate the ability, while triggered abilities are automatically triggered by a specific event or action. Static abilities are abilities that are always active and do not require any action to be taken, and spell abilities are abilities that are associated with a specific spell.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered an ability in MTG? An ability in MTG is a text or characteristic on an object that is un-italicized, being neither flavor text nor reminder text, and always falls into one of four categories: spell abilities, activated abilities, triggered abilities, and static abilities.

2. What counts as activating an ability? Activating an ability refers to the act of paying the cost associated with an activated ability to make the effect happen, such as tapping a creature or paying mana.

3. Do keywords count as abilities? Keywords describe a card’s abilities, but they are not abilities themselves. For example, a creature with the keyword Flying means it may only be blocked by opponent’s creatures with Flying or under other special conditions.

4. What counts as a mana ability? A mana ability is an activated ability that creates mana or a triggered ability that triggers off of mana creation and makes more mana itself.

5. What is not a mana ability? Abilities that don’t meet the criteria specified in rules 605.1a–b and spells are not mana abilities. Additionally, abilities with targets or loyalty abilities never count as mana abilities.

6. Is Deathtouch an ability? Deathtouch is a static ability that causes any damage dealt to a creature by a source with it to be considered lethal damage.

7. Is flying an ability in Magic The Gathering? Flying is an evergreen evasion ability that makes creatures without flying unable to block creatures with flying.

8. Do enchantments count as abilities? No, enchantments are not abilities, but they can have abilities. Auras, which are enchantments that enchant permanents, sometimes grant abilities to those permanents.

9. Does tapping go on the stack? No, tapping lands or creatures for mana does not use the stack and cannot be responded to.

10. Does summoning sickness effect abilities? A creature with Summoning Sickness is neither able to attack nor use any tap abilities, but it can use non-tap abilities.

11. Is cycle an activated ability? Yes, cycling is an activated ability that functions only while the card with cycling is in a player’s hand.

12. Do spells count as abilities? No, spells are not abilities, and they cannot be countered by abilities that counter abilities.

13. Does Deathtouch cancel Deathtouch? No, multiple instances of Deathtouch do not cancel each other out.

14. Is an ability a spell in MTG? No, an ability is not a spell, and it is not considered a spell when it is activated or triggered.

15. Does tapping a land count as a mana ability? Yes, tapping a land for mana is an example of a mana ability, as it creates mana and is an activated ability.

By understanding what counts as an ability in MTG and how different types of abilities work, players can improve their gameplay and make more informed decisions during matches. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, grasping the concept of abilities is essential to mastering the game of Magic: The Gathering.