Current Events > Can someone explain to me how this works in magic?

(+) Yeah! (+)

If a card says tap a creature and said creature has a a tap effect, do I get to use that effect? (Assuming it doesn't cost any sort of additional fee?)

if I have a creature that says tap target creature and I use that ability to tap your creature who also has an ability that says tap, blah blah blah, you can, in response, use that ability

the stack would go from the last thing done, which would be you using your creatures ability in response to mine

A creatures ability is played as an instant and can be used at any time, unless otherwise explicitly stated

A creature being forced to tap by a card effect does not automatically activate its tap ability if it has one

I don't play much Magic but often there will be a clause like "if you do" to prevent any funny business on the stack.

So the stack might look like

1. Cast a spell that requires you to tap a creature you control
2. Use the creature's tap ability

(2) resolves first and taps the creature. If (1) is phrased along the lines of "Tap target creature you control. If you do, then X." then it will fizzle because you weren't able to tap it. Or more likely, it fizzles because your opponent destroyed it in response.

Tapping the creature is the cost to activating its ability. If it's already tapped, you can't tap it again to pay the cost. You can tap it in response to the "tap a creature" card. If tapping a creature is the cost on that card, then it will fizzle, as its cost cannot be paid (targets can't be changed). If it's part of the effect, your creature will just stay tapped.

Garioshi posted...

Tapping the creature is the cost to activating its ability. If it's already tapped, you can't tap it again to pay the cost. You can tap it in response to the "tap a creature" card. If tapping a creature is the cost on that card, then it will fizzle, as its cost cannot be paid (targets can't be changed). If it's part of the effect, your creature will just stay tapped.

Thank you and everyone else so much for explaining this to me!

One more question that I believe I already know the answer to, but want to be sure. If a card says to exile a card and that I may play it until the end of next turn, I have to pay the mana cost unless it specifically says I don't have to, correct?

itachi15243 posted...

If a card says to exile a card and that I may play it until the end of next turn, I have to pay the mana cost unless it specifically says I don't have to, correct?

Yep