Planeswalkers Turned Creatures: A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Transformation
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What happens when a planeswalker becomes a creature? The answer is multifaceted and depends on the specifics of the effect causing the transformation. Primarily, the planeswalker gains the creature type in addition to its planeswalker type. It becomes subject to rules and interactions that affect creatures, such as summoning sickness, being able to attack and block, and being vulnerable to creature-specific removal spells. Its loyalty abilities, however, remain usable (subject to timing restrictions), and it only goes to the graveyard when its loyalty counters reach zero and it is still a planeswalker. Let’s unravel the complexities of this magical metamorphosis.
Planeswalker-Creature Hybrids: A Unique Blend of Power
The concept of a planeswalker turning into a creature adds a fascinating layer of strategy to Magic: The Gathering (MTG). Cards that enable this transformation temporarily grant the planeswalker the creature type, often accompanied by power and toughness stats.
The planeswalker retains its loyalty abilities while it’s a creature. This means you can still activate these abilities (as a sorcery, unless specified otherwise) assuming the planeswalker has enough loyalty counters. A key point to remember is that while it’s a creature, it’s no longer immediately sent to the graveyard if it reaches 0 loyalty. That trigger only happens when the planeswalker is a planeswalker. This provides an extra layer of resilience.
The Implications of Creature-hood
Becoming a creature opens the planeswalker to a whole new world of interactions:
- Summoning Sickness: Although the planeswalker may be summoning sick in the turn it turns into a creature, it is not summon sick if it was in play as a planeswalker, then turned into a creature on a later turn.
- Combat: The planeswalker can now attack opponents or planeswalkers (which is generally preferable to attacking an opponent, from a strategic perspective), or be assigned as a blocker to defend against incoming attacks.
- Creature Removal: Spells and abilities that specifically target creatures (like Murder or Lightning Bolt if it could not target planeswalkers) can now affect the planeswalker.
- Auras and Equipment: Enchantments or Equipment that can be attached to creatures can now be attached to the planeswalker, providing potential buffs or additional abilities.
- Vulnerability: Planeswalkers-turned-creatures are vulnerable to effects that target creatures, such as “destroy target creature” spells.
Returning to Planeswalker Status
When the effect that turned the planeswalker into a creature expires, it reverts to its normal planeswalker state. At that point, the standard rules for planeswalkers apply, including the state-based action that sends it to the graveyard if it has 0 loyalty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a planeswalker use its loyalty abilities while it’s a creature?
Yes! Loyalty abilities can be used as long as the planeswalker has the necessary loyalty counters and it’s your turn (unless you have an ability that states otherwise). The timing restrictions of using loyalty abilities as sorceries still apply, as well.
2. Does a planeswalker die if it reaches 0 loyalty while it’s a creature?
No. A planeswalker only goes to the graveyard for having zero loyalty counters once it is a planeswalker again. While it’s a creature, it persists even with 0 loyalty.
3. Does a planeswalker have summoning sickness when it becomes a creature?
No, only creatures have summoning sickness. This means that if you played the planeswalker earlier in the turn, and then it becomes a creature, it won’t be able to attack or activate any tap abilities the turn that it becomes a creature.
4. Can I attack a planeswalker that has become a creature?
Yes, absolutely! Once a planeswalker is turned into a creature it can attack. You can attack an opposing player directly, or you can turn your now creature planeswalker toward an opposing planeswalker.
5. If a planeswalker-creature takes damage, does it lose loyalty counters?
Yes. Damage dealt to a planeswalker will remove that many loyalty counters. It doesn’t matter if the planeswalker is also a creature.
6. Can I flicker a planeswalker that is also a creature?
Yes, you can! Flickering (exiling and returning) a planeswalker resets its state. It re-enters the battlefield as a new object, allowing you to activate a loyalty ability again that turn, if possible.
7. Can a creature with deathtouch kill a planeswalker-creature?
Yes. Deathtouch applies to creatures, so a creature with deathtouch can destroy the planeswalker-creature normally, unless it has indestructible.
8. Can I target a planeswalker-creature with creature-specific removal spells?
Yes, you can target any creature with a “destroy target creature” or similar removal spells. Now that it is a creature, it will be affected.
9. What happens if a planeswalker-creature is targeted by Wrath of God?
Wrath of God would destroy the planeswalker-creature if it does not have indestructible. Remember, any ability that destroys creatures affects the planeswalker, because it is also a creature.
10. Does indestructible protect a planeswalker-creature from losing loyalty counters?
No. Indestructible prevents destruction, but it doesn’t prevent damage, which causes loyalty counters to be removed. If the planeswalker-creature has 0 loyalty, it will still be put into the graveyard when it is a planeswalker.
11. If a planeswalker with indestructible has 0 loyalty counters, will it be put into the graveyard?
Yes. Indestructible only prevents a permanent from being destroyed. The rule that puts a planeswalker into the graveyard when it has 0 loyalty counters doesn’t destroy it, so the planeswalker will still go to the graveyard once it is a planeswalker.
12. Can I use an Aura that enchants creatures on a planeswalker-creature?
Yes. Because it is a creature, it can be enchanted with Auras (or equipped with Equipment) that target creatures.
13. Can a planeswalker-creature be blocked?
Yes! Just like any other creature.
14. Can I activate a planeswalker’s ability twice in one turn if it becomes a creature?
Generally, no. The standard rule is that you can only activate one loyalty ability of a planeswalker once per turn. Effects like the one you noted which grant additional loyalty ability activations exist, but require specific cards.
15. What happens if I control two planeswalkers with the same name, but one is a creature?
The legend rule applies to planeswalkers with the same name. If you control two planeswalkers with the same name, you must choose one to keep and put the other into the graveyard, regardless of whether one is also a creature. The type of card does not matter.
Transforming planeswalkers into creatures opens up a wealth of strategic possibilities in MTG. Understanding the nuances of these interactions can give you a significant edge in your games. For more in-depth explorations of game mechanics and educational resources, consider visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.