Discussion Forum

[QUOTE=Jasoni22]If a card causes you to tap your own creatures when you cast it (e.g. Harmony of Nature), and a creature you tap with it has an ability that activates when you tap it and has no other costs (e.g. Immaculate Magistrate), does the creature's ability become activated? Or can you only use that ability when you tap the card specifically to play that ability and not as an action from another card?[/QUOTE]

The second part of your question is the correct assumption. You only get the abilities of cards if you pay their cost. In the case of Immaculate Magistrate, it's cost is tapping it. This means you have to tap it with the intention of activating it's ability. If a card such as harmony of nature has you tap your creature then because you didn't pay Immaculate Magistrate's cost, you do not get it's effect. The reverse is also true in this case. What I mean is that you cannot tap Immaculate Magistrate as a response to Harmony of Nature being played to get both effects. You either tap it for the +1/+1 counters on a creature, or for the 4 life from Harmony of Nature.

Hope this helps and doesn't cause more confusion. :)