Under Magic’s rule 302.6, a creature generally can’t attack or activate an ability with its own tap or untap symbol in the activation cost unless its controller has controlled it continuously since the beginning of that player’s most recent turn. Haste can change the result. “Summoning sickness” is the informal name for this rule, not a separate status that prevents every action involving a new creature.
What does summoning sickness prevent?
The restriction applies to creatures and names two actions: attacking and activating that creature’s ability if the ability’s activation cost includes that creature’s tap or untap symbol. The current Comprehensive Rules, effective September 25, 2026, identify this as rule 302.6 and say it is informally called the “summoning sickness” rule.
The timing test is continuous control from the beginning of the creature controller’s most recent turn. A creature that enters the battlefield or comes under a player’s control after that turn has begun generally has not met the test for that turn. Once it has been under that player’s control continuously since the start of a later turn, it can attack and use its tap- or untap-symbol abilities, unless haste or another applicable rule or effect changes the result.
Can a creature with summoning sickness be tapped?
Often, yes. The rule does not ban tapping a new creature in general. It restricts activating an ability of that creature when its activation cost includes its own tap or untap symbol. If another spell, ability, or effect taps the creature, that is not the creature activating its own tap-symbol ability.
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For example, if a creature’s ability has a cost shown as “{T}: Add one mana,” the creature generally cannot activate it before meeting the continuous-control test, unless haste or another applicable effect changes the restriction. But an effect that says to tap that creature does not become illegal just because the creature is new. Check the exact card wording and identify whose ability is being activated and what its cost requires.
How to check a specific creature or action
- Is the object currently a creature? Rule 302.6 applies to creatures. For an object that becomes a creature, consider when it became one and whether it has been continuously controlled from the start of its controller’s most recent turn.
- Is it being declared as an attacker? If so, the continuous-control test applies unless haste or another applicable effect changes the result.
- Is the creature activating its own ability? Inspect the activation cost. The restriction applies if that cost contains the creature’s tap or untap symbol; it does not prohibit every activated ability.
- Is another effect tapping or untapping it? That is different from activating the creature’s own ability with a tap or untap symbol in its cost.
- Does haste or another effect alter the rule? Check the specific card text and applicable rules. The rules glossary points to haste alongside the summoning sickness rule; wording can matter for an individual interaction.
Why “summoning sickness” can be misleading
The nickname can sound like a broad ban on using a creature, but rule 302.6 is narrower: it governs attacking and certain activated abilities. A newly controlled creature may still be affected by other cards and effects, including effects that tap it. The right question is not simply “Is it sick?” but whether the creature is attacking, activating an ability whose cost uses its own tap or untap symbol, and whether the continuous-control condition or an exception applies.
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The official rules resource is the best reference when a card interaction is unclear. Wizards’ Magic Rules Blog describes Jess Dunks as “Magic rules architect,” a role that leads efforts to write and improve the rules: Introducing the Blog.
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