Miya Pearson
In Magic: The Gathering, Sleep is a card that can be used to tap an opponent's creatures. The card's text states that those creatures will not untap during the opponent's next untap step. This has led to some confusion among players as to whether Sleep affects creatures that are already tapped when it is played. According to the Oracle ruling on Sleep, the card affects all creatures controlled by the targeted player as it is resolved, regardless of whether they were already tapped or not. This means that any creatures that are tapped prior to Sleep resolving will remain tapped during the player's next untap phase.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Sleep work on tapped creatures? | Yes, Sleep works on tapped creatures. |
| Does Sleep retap tapped creatures? | Yes, Sleep retaps tapped creatures. |
| Does Sleep only affect creatures that it taps? | No, Sleep affects all creatures the targeted player controls as it resolves, not just the ones Sleep taps. |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep Paralysis can be used on tapped creatures
The wording on the Sleep card can be confusing, as it states that "those creatures don't untap during that player's next untap step". This has been interpreted by some players to mean that only creatures tapped as a result of the card's effect will remain tapped. However, according to the Oracle ruling on Sleep, "the second part of Sleep's effect affects all creatures the targeted player controls as Sleep resolves, not just the ones that Sleep actually caused to become tapped". This means that all of the opponent's creatures on the battlefield will remain tapped during the player's next untap phase, regardless of whether they were already tapped or not.
It is important to note that Sleep does not target the creatures themselves, but the player. This means that all creatures controlled by the targeted player will be affected, even if they are not tapped at the time Sleep is played. The effect of Sleep will also prevent the targeted player from untapping any of their creatures during their next untap step, even if those creatures were not tapped as a result of Sleep's effect.
Sleep can be a powerful card in Magic: The Gathering, as it can effectively paralyze an opponent's creatures, preventing them from taking any action during their next turn. This can be used to a player's advantage, allowing them to gain the upper hand in a game. However, some players may find the wording of the card confusing, and it is important to clarify the effect of Sleep before playing it to ensure that all players are aware of its consequences.
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The targeted creature remains tapped during the untap step
The Sleep card in Magic: The Gathering is a powerful tool that can be used strategically to gain an advantage over your opponent. When played, Sleep affects all creatures controlled by the targeted player, regardless of whether they were already tapped when you cast the spell. This means that any creatures that were previously tapped will remain that way during the untap step, unable to be untapped during the player's next untap phase.
The card's wording can be a source of confusion for players. The relevant part of the text states: "Those creatures don't untap during that player's next untap step." The use of "those creatures" can lead to uncertainty, as it is not explicitly clear whether it refers only to the creatures tapped as a result of Sleep or to all creatures under the targeted player's control.
However, the Oracle ruling on Sleep provides clarification. It states that the card's effect applies to "all creatures the targeted player controls as Sleep resolves, not just the ones that Sleep actually caused to become tapped." This confirms that any creatures already tapped will remain tapped, in addition to those tapped by Sleep's effect.
This distinction is crucial for players to understand, as it can significantly impact gameplay and strategy. By knowing how Sleep interacts with already-tapped creatures, players can make more informed decisions about when and how to use the card to their advantage. It allows for the strategic immobilization of an opponent's creatures, potentially disrupting their plans and providing a tactical edge.
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The creature cannot attack, block or activate abilities
The Sleep card in Magic: The Gathering is a powerful tool that can significantly hinder an opponent's creatures. When played, Sleep affects all creatures controlled by the targeted player, causing them to become tapped. This means that those creatures will be unable to attack, block, or activate their abilities as they are considered exhausted and are denied their usual actions.
Sleep's effect is twofold. Firstly, it directly taps any untapped creatures controlled by the opponent, rendering them unable to take any actions that require tapping. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Sleep prevents all of the opponent's creatures from untapping during their next untap step. This means that creatures that were already tapped when Sleep was played will remain tapped and unable to attack, block, or use their abilities for an additional turn.
The distinction between the two parts of Sleep's effect is important and has been a source of confusion for some players. The card's wording, "Those creatures don't untap during that player's next untap step," refers specifically to the second part of the effect. This means that any creatures tapped by Sleep itself, as well as those that were already tapped, will remain tapped during the opponent's next turn.
It is worth noting that Sleep does not target individual creatures but instead targets the player. This is significant because it means that even if a creature is already tapped, it will be affected by the second part of Sleep's effect and will not untap as expected. This can be a strategic element of the card, allowing players to effectively lock down their opponent's creatures for multiple turns if timed correctly.
In summary, Sleep is a powerful tool in Magic: The Gathering that can render an opponent's creatures unable to attack, block, or activate their abilities. By understanding the nuances of its effects, players can utilize Sleep effectively to gain an advantage over their opponents.
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The enchantment can be removed to untap the creature
In Magic: The Gathering, tapping and untapping are fundamental mechanics of the game. Tapping a permanent is to turn it sideways, and untapping is to rotate it back to its standard, upright position. Only tapped permanents can be untapped, and only untapped permanents can be tapped.
A creature that has been tapped can be untapped by removing an enchantment from it. This can be done in several ways, including using a card with an ability that allows the creature to be untapped, such as the "untap symbol" {Q}. This symbol, found in the activation cost, means "Untap this permanent." However, a permanent that is already untapped cannot be untapped again to pay the cost.
Additionally, some creatures have an activated or triggered ability to untap themselves. These abilities may be found on cards of specific colours, such as green, blue, or white. Green and blue have primary untapping abilities, while white has secondary untapping abilities. White can untap all your creatures or an individual creature with a spell defined as solely defensive. Blue's untapping ability is often accompanied by its tapping ability (twiddle).
It is important to note that the rules of the game must be followed when tapping or untapping creatures. For example, the "summoning sickness" rule prevents a creature from being tapped unless it has been under the controller's control since the start of their most recent turn. This rule also applies to the use of activated abilities with the untap symbol in their activation cost.
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Other cards can untap the creature
There are several cards that can be used to untap a creature in Magic: The Gathering. Here are some examples:
- Puppet Strings and Jandor's Saddlebags: These cards can be used to untap a creature, as mentioned in a Reddit thread.
- Samut, Voice of Dissent: This card grants haste to all creatures and can be used to untap a creature.
- Nature's Chosen: If this card is put on a mana dork early, it can be used to untap a creature, especially if it is white.
- Scryb Ranger and Quirion Ranger: These cards can be used in combination with Ashaya, Soul of the Wild to untap a creature multiple times.
- Thornbite Staff, Ashnod's Altar, Mycosynth Lattice, Unwinding Clock, Voltaic Key, and Manifold Key: These cards can be used together to create a strategy that involves untapping artifacts, which may include creatures.
- Umbral Mantle: This card can be used to untap a creature, but it is mana-intensive.
- Final Fortune: This card can be used to take an extra turn and untap a creature.
- Atla with Helm and Quest for Renewal: This combination can be used to create eggs and untap a creature multiple times during a turn.
- Balancing Pole: When this card is played, a person outside the game is asked if a balancing pole looks balanced. If they say yes, the player may tap or untap a target creature.
- Donkey cards: There are cards that mention donkeys getting +1½/+1½ and gaining the ability to untap a target creature and gain control of it until the end of the turn.
- Cards with specific abilities: Some cards have abilities that allow them to untap a target creature when they deal combat damage to a player or enter the battlefield. Others may have abilities that trigger when they are cast for the second time each turn or when a certain condition is met, such as having delirium.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sleep works on tapped creatures. All of the target player's creatures become tapped, and none of them untap during their next untap step.
Sleep causes all of the target player's creatures to become tapped.
No, Sleep affects all creatures controlled by the targeted player, not just the ones that were already tapped.
Yes, Sleep can keep tapped permanents tapped.
No, Sleep targets a player, not creatures.
