As a Magic: The Gathering player, you may have heard the term “summoning sickness” thrown around when discussing creatures. But what about Planeswalkers? Do they have summoning sickness too?
Understanding Planeswalkers Before we dive into whether or not Planeswalkers have summoning sickness, let’s first make sure we’re all on the same page about what Planeswalkers are.
Planeswalkers are a type of card in Magic: The Gathering that represent powerful mages who can traverse the multiverse. They have their own set of rules and mechanics that make them distinct from other card types, such as creatures and artifacts.
Summoning Sickness Explained Now that we know what Planeswalkers are, let’s talk about summoning sickness.
Summoning sickness is a term used to describe a creature’s inability to attack or use abilities with the tap symbol or untap symbol in their activation cost if they have not been under their controller’s control continuously since the beginning of their most recent turn.
This means that if you play a creature card, it cannot attack or use abilities that require tapping or untapping until the beginning of your next turn. But what about Planeswalkers? Do they have summoning sickness too?
Key Takeaways – Planeswalkers Have Summoning Sickness
- Planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness.
- You can use a Planeswalker’s loyalty abilities the turn it enters the battlefield.
- If a Planeswalker becomes a creature, it will have summoning sickness like any other creature.
Understanding Planeswalkers
Definition and Role in MTG
As a Magic: The Gathering player, I find Planeswalkers to be one of the most interesting card types in the game.
A Planeswalker is a card that represents a powerful mage who is capable of using their magical abilities to aid you in battle. They are not creatures, but they can be attacked and damaged by creatures and spells. Each Planeswalker has a certain number of loyalty counters that represent their power and influence.
When you play a Planeswalker card, it enters the battlefield with a certain number of loyalty counters on it. You can then use its abilities to help you win the game.
There are three types of Planeswalker abilities: loyalty abilities, activated abilities, and static abilities.
Types of Planeswalker Abilities
Loyalty abilities are the most common type of Planeswalker ability. They are activated by adding or removing loyalty counters from the Planeswalker.
These abilities can do a variety of things, from dealing damage to your opponent’s creatures to drawing cards for you.
Activated abilities are similar to loyalty abilities, but they require you to pay a cost, such as tapping the Planeswalker or sacrificing a creature.
These abilities can be used at any time, but they can only be used once per turn.
Static abilities are always active and do not require any action on your part. They can provide a variety of effects, such as making your Planeswalker harder to kill or giving you extra mana to cast spells.
It is important to note that Planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness. This means that you can use their loyalty abilities the turn they enter the battlefield.
However, if a Planeswalker has the ability to turn into a creature, that creature will have summoning sickness if it is activated on the same turn that the Planeswalker entered the battlefield.
Summoning Sickness Explained
General Mechanic
As a Magic: The Gathering player, I know that summoning sickness is a common term used to describe the inability of creatures to attack or use their tap abilities during the turn they enter the battlefield. This is due to the fact that they have not been under their owner’s control since the beginning of their most recent turn. This mechanic is also known as “haste” when a creature can attack or use its abilities immediately.
Rule 302.6 and Its Implications
According to Rule 302.6, all creatures and artifact creatures have summoning sickness, but it only affects their ability to attack or use tap abilities.
This means that if a creature has an ability that does not require tapping, it can be used immediately, even if it has just entered the battlefield.
However, this rule does not apply to planeswalkers. As a general rule, planeswalkers do not have summoning sickness. They can use their abilities as soon as they enter the battlefield.
Planeswalkers are not creatures, and therefore, do not have the tap symbol on their text box. Instead, they have a loyalty symbol that represents the number of loyalty counters they enter the battlefield with.
| Entity | Summoning Sickness |
|---|---|
| Creatures | Yes |
| Artifact Creatures | Yes |
| Planeswalkers | No |
Activating Planeswalker Abilities
As a Magic player, I know that Planeswalkers are powerful cards that can be game-changers. One of the most important things to understand about Planeswalkers is how to activate their abilities.
In this section, I will discuss the basics of activating Planeswalker abilities, including loyalty abilities and activation timing, as well as any restrictions and limitations that apply.
Loyalty Abilities and Activation Timing
Planeswalkers have a unique type of ability called a “loyalty ability.” These abilities are activated by adding or removing loyalty counters from the Planeswalker card.
Each Planeswalker has a set of loyalty abilities that can be activated at different times, depending on the ability’s rules text.
According to the MTG Salvation forum, loyalty abilities can be activated during a player’s main phase when they have priority.
In other words, a player can activate a Planeswalker’s loyalty ability as soon as they play it, provided they have priority and it is their main phase.
Restrictions and Limitations
While Planeswalker abilities can be powerful, there are some restrictions and limitations that players must be aware of.
One of the most important limitations is that Planeswalkers cannot attack on the turn they are played, but they can use their loyalty abilities.
As Draftsim.com explains, Planeswalkers are not creatures and therefore do not have summoning sickness. However, creatures summoned by a Planeswalker do have summoning sickness unless they have haste.
Additionally, some Planeswalker abilities may have restrictions or limitations on when they can be used.
For example, some loyalty abilities can only be used once per turn, while others require a certain number of loyalty counters to be on the Planeswalker card.
Planeswalkers and the Combat Phase
As I mentioned earlier, Planeswalkers are not affected by summoning sickness. They can use their abilities the turn they enter the battlefield, but they cannot attack or block unless they become creatures. In this section, I will discuss how Planeswalkers interact with the combat phase.
Attacking and Blocking with Planeswalkers
Planeswalkers can be attacked by creatures and can block creatures as well.
When a creature attacks a player, the player can choose to block with a Planeswalker if they want to. The Planeswalker will take damage instead of the player, and it will lose loyalty counters equal to the damage dealt to it.
If a Planeswalker has no loyalty counters left, it is put into the graveyard.
When a Planeswalker blocks a creature, it works the same way as if a creature was blocking. The attacking creature will deal damage to the Planeswalker, and the Planeswalker will lose loyalty counters equal to the damage dealt to it.
Transforming Planeswalkers and Combat
Some Planeswalkers have abilities that can turn them into creatures.
When a Planeswalker becomes a creature, it can attack and block just like any other creature. However, if a Planeswalker becomes a creature, it will be affected by summoning sickness.
This means that it cannot attack or use any of its abilities that have the tap symbol in their activation cost unless it has been under its controller’s control continuously since the beginning of their most recent turn.
For example, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar has an ability that can turn him into a creature. If Gideon becomes a creature, he can attack and block, but he will be affected by summoning sickness.
Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker, on the other hand, has an ability that gives dragons he controls haste. If Sarkhan’s ability is used to turn a Planeswalker into a dragon, that dragon can attack on the turn it enters the battlefield.
Special Cases and Interactions
Planeswalkers with Haste
Some planeswalkers have the ability to grant themselves or other creatures haste, allowing them to attack or use tap abilities on the turn they enter the battlefield. For example, Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker’s +1 ability explicitly gives him haste, allowing him to attack on the turn he enters the battlefield.
Double-Faced Cards and Summoning Sickness
Double-faced cards, also known as DFCs, present a unique interaction with summoning sickness. When a DFC is played, it enters the battlefield with its front face up, and is subject to summoning sickness like any other creature. However, if the DFC has an ability that allows it to transform into its back face, it can be transformed and use any abilities on that side immediately.
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and Gideon Jura are examples of planeswalkers that can turn into creatures with predetermined stats until the end of your turn. When this happens, that card is then subject to summoning sickness and, assuming this happened on the turn you first cast it, it can’t attack.
| Planeswalker | Haste Ability |
|---|---|
| Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker | +1 ability explicitly gives him haste |
| Chandra, Torch of Defiance | -7 ability gives you an emblem with “Whenever you cast a spell, this emblem deals 5 damage to any target.” |
| Domri Rade | +1 ability adds a loyalty counter and gives a creature trample |
| Arlinn Kord | +1 ability adds a loyalty counter and gives a creature +2/+2 and vigilance |
| Garruk, Primal Hunter | -6 ability creates a 6/6 green Wurm creature token for each land you control |
Some planeswalkers have abilities that indirectly grant haste or allow them to use abilities without tapping, effectively bypassing summoning sickness. For example, Chandra, Torch of Defiance’s -7 ability gives you an emblem with “Whenever you cast a spell, this emblem deals 5 damage to any target.” This ability does not require tapping, so it can be used on the turn Chandra enters the battlefield, even if she would otherwise be subject to summoning sickness.
Planeswalkers in Different Formats
Standard and Modern Considerations
In Standard and Modern formats, the use of Planeswalkers is highly dependent on their abilities. Planeswalkers with abilities that can instantly affect the board state are highly sought after in these formats.
For example, the Planeswalker Chandra, Torch of Defiance from the set Kaladesh has the ability to deal 4 damage to target creature or player, which can be a game-changer in a fast-paced format like Modern.
However, the use of Planeswalkers in these formats is also determined by their mana cost. Planeswalkers with high mana costs can be difficult to play in decks that require a faster pace.
For example, the Planeswalker Nissa, Vital Force from the set Kaladesh requires 5 mana to cast, which can be too slow for Modern decks that aim to win by turn 4 or 5.
Commander and Brawl Specifics
In Commander and Brawl formats, Planeswalkers are more commonly used as commanders rather than as part of the deck. In these formats, Planeswalkers with high loyalty abilities are highly sought after, as they can be used to generate card advantage over time.
For example, the Planeswalker Teferi, Temporal Archmage from the set Commander 2014 has the ability to untap up to four target permanents, which can be a powerful ability in a format where players have access to a wide range of powerful cards.
In Commander and Brawl formats, Planeswalkers are also more commonly used as part of a theme or strategy.
For example, in the Zendikar Rising set, the Planeswalker Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients has the ability to create a 1/1 white Kor Warrior creature token with vigilance, which can be used to create a token-based strategy.
| Format | Use of Planeswalkers |
|---|---|
| Standard | Abilities and mana cost |
| Modern | Abilities and mana cost |
| Commander | Loyalty abilities and theme |
| Brawl | Loyalty abilities and theme |
Strategic Use of Planeswalkers
As a Magic player, I find Planeswalkers to be one of the most intriguing card types in the game. They can be used in a variety of ways and can often turn the tide of a game. In this section, I will discuss some strategic uses of Planeswalkers that can help you win more games.
Building Around Planeswalkers
When building a deck around Planeswalkers, it is important to consider their abilities and how they can be used to your advantage.
For example, if you are using a Planeswalker with a powerful plus ability, you may want to include cards that can protect it from your opponent’s creatures.
Alternatively, if you are using a Planeswalker with a powerful minus ability, you may want to include cards that can help you control the board and keep your opponent’s creatures at bay.
One way to build around Planeswalkers is to include cards that can help you generate loyalty counters.
Cards like [[Doubling Season]] and [[The Chain Veil]] can be incredibly powerful when used in conjunction with Planeswalkers, allowing you to generate more loyalty counters and activate their abilities more frequently.
Another way to build around Planeswalkers is to include cards that can help you protect them.
Cards like [[Lightning Greaves]] and [[Swiftfoot Boots]] can give your Planeswalkers hexproof and haste, making them more difficult for your opponent to remove.
Countering Opponent’s Planeswalkers
When playing against an opponent who is using Planeswalkers, it is important to consider how you can counter their strategy.
One way to do this is to focus on removing their Planeswalkers from the board as quickly as possible.
Cards like [[Assassin’s Trophy]] and [[Vindicate]] can be used to destroy your opponent’s Planeswalkers, while cards like [[Never // Return]] and [[Hero’s Downfall]] can be used to target them directly.
Another way to counter your opponent’s Planeswalkers is to use cards that can reduce their loyalty counters.
Cards like [[Pithing Needle]] and [[Sorcerous Spyglass]] can be used to prevent your opponent from activating their Planeswalker’s abilities, while cards like [[Phyrexian Revoker]] can be used to shut them down completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Planeswalkers be tapped to use their abilities?
No, Planeswalkers cannot be tapped to use their abilities. Unlike creatures, Planeswalkers do not have a tap symbol in their loyalty abilities. Therefore, activating a Planeswalker’s ability does not require tapping it.
How does summoning sickness affect Planeswalkers’ abilities?
Summoning sickness affects Planeswalkers in the same way it affects creatures. If a Planeswalker enters the battlefield under a player’s control, that player cannot activate any of its loyalty abilities that turn.
However, if a Planeswalker gains haste or is somehow under the player’s control before the turn it enters the battlefield, the player can use its loyalty abilities that turn.
Are Planeswalkers subject to the same rules as creatures regarding summoning sickness?
Yes, Planeswalkers are subject to the same rules as creatures regarding summoning sickness. They cannot attack or use tap abilities the turn they enter the battlefield. However, unlike creatures, Planeswalkers do not have a power and toughness. Instead, they have a loyalty value that can be increased or decreased by using their abilities.
Can a Planeswalker use its abilities the turn it enters the battlefield?
No, a Planeswalker cannot use its abilities the turn it enters the battlefield unless it gains haste or is under the player’s control before the turn it enters the battlefield.
How many times can a Planeswalker’s loyalty abilities be activated in a single turn?
A Planeswalker’s loyalty abilities can only be activated once per turn, during the player’s main phase when they have priority.
The player can activate multiple Planeswalker abilities during their turn, but they can only activate each ability once.
Does Deathtouch apply to damage dealt by Planeswalkers?
No, Deathtouch does not apply to damage dealt by Planeswalkers. Deathtouch only applies to damage dealt by creatures.
Therefore, if a Planeswalker deals damage to a creature with Deathtouch, the creature will not be destroyed unless the damage dealt is lethal.
