Planeswalkers: A Guide to Loyalty Abilities
What are Loyalty Abilities?
Loyalty abilities are special abilities that planeswalkers can use to manipulate the battlefield or gain advantage. They are activated by adding or removing loyalty counters from the planeswalker. For example, the symbol 1 means "Put one loyalty counter on this planeswalker," and the symbol -3 means "Remove three loyalty counters from this planeswalker."
Sorcery Speed vs. Planeswalker Speed
Planeswalker loyalty abilities are typically sorcery speed, meaning that they can only be activated during your main phase when the stack is empty. However, there are some planeswalkers that have abilities that can be activated at instant speed, such as Jace, the Mind Sculptor.
This distinction is important because it allows planeswalkers to use their abilities to respond to your opponent's actions. For example, if your opponent casts a spell that would destroy one of your creatures, you could use Jace's ability to counter the spell before it resolves.
Balancing the Game
The fact that planeswalker loyalty abilities are not all sorcery speed is a balance decision. If all planeswalker abilities were instant speed, it would be very difficult to interact with them. Your opponents would be able to use their abilities to disrupt your plans without you being able to respond.
By making most planeswalker abilities sorcery speed, Wizards of the Coast ensures that players have a chance to play around them. You can wait until your opponent is tapped out before activating a planeswalker ability, or you can use removal spells to take out the planeswalker before it can use its abilities.
Conclusion
Planeswalker loyalty abilities are a powerful tool that can be used to gain advantage in the game of Magic: The Gathering. By understanding the difference between sorcery speed and instant speed abilities, you can make the most of your planeswalkers and minimize the impact of your opponent's planeswalkers.
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