The same criteria applies to attacking with a creature this rule as a whole is informally known as " summoning sickness".Īctivated abilities cannot be countered by spells or abilities that counter spells, because they aren't spells. Like triggered abilities, activated ones may have targets.Īn activated ability of a creature that includes the tap or untap symbol ( or ) in its cost cannot be activated unless its controller has controlled it continuously since the start of their most recent turn, or the creature has haste. Mana abilities can also be activated while paying a cost, and do not use the stack. These abilities can usually be activated any time the player has priority and uses the stack, unless it says otherwise, or is a mana ability.
Only an object's controller (or owner, if it has no controller) can activate its activated abilities, and only when it's on the battlefield, unless the ability specifically implies otherwise. Activated abilities are usually found on permanents, but can sometimes be used on cards in other zones, such as the graveyard or a player's hand. An activated ability is an ability that can be activated by paying its activation cost, which often includes mana or tapping but can have many other components.