winter orb

R3wind · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 849

Can you "turn off" an artifact with a static ablity like winter orb by tapping it?

So at EOT can you tap the orb to turn it off to untap your lands?

center425 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 334

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 142

some of the older artifacts didn't include the wording that "turned them off when tapped". the newer formatting now includes wording to the effect "as long as THIS is untapped" you get the effect. another example of this is Howling Mine. you can tap it during your turn so your opponent doesn't get the draw for it.

Klos · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 47 Location: Germany

OMFG WTF ............................................ u cant tap anything if it isnt the cost or the effect of something. It has to be an ability on the card....but u can play march the machines with mine and then tao to attack with it Wink

Russell_Nash · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 645 Location: Burn Ward

R3wind · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 849

I was going one better with the Stick imprint Fire/Ice. Lock their mana up and draw for 2 mana seems really good in Legacy but not Vintage. Finish the game with a beast like aeon or an artifact like Black Vice or Ebony Owl. Sudden Impact may be good but too slow. I was thinking a URw bluid with Enlightned and Mystical Tutors to find the pieces. it may be good but not vs discard. I will post a list in the Legacy forums.

Avata · Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 372

Artifacts with static abilities continue to function while tapped.

For example, if you tap an opponents Black Vise at their EOT and still have enough cards in hand, you will still take damage.

However, some artifacts (Winter Orb and Howling Mine, notably) specifically say As long as this is untapped... so yes, you can "turn them off" with tap effects.

Erebus- · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 93

There is actually a deck in Legacy which utilizes Winter Orb and tapping it. Relic Orb:

2 Rainbow Efreet

4 Relic Barrier
4 Winter Orb
2 Echoing Truth
4 Propaganda
4 Daze
4 Counterspell
4 Force of Will
4 Impulse
3 Tangle Wire

3 Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
4 Rishadan Port
2 Blinkmoth Well
16 Island

3 Cursed Totem
4 Chill
4 Hydroblast
4 Chalice of the Void

Tap Relic Barrier/Blinkmoth Well targeting Winter Orb at end of opponent's turn to grant yourself a full land untap. The objective is a $tax-like lock, just without Smokestack. You get the idea.

kfcman · Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 665

throw in the occasional upkeep port and they're locked pretty hard,
i think that mono blue relic orb deck would be a lot faster if you added in place of 8 islands, 4 tundra and 4 flooded strand, so that you could add a few enlightened tutors to speed it up a bit.

Thorns · Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 821 Location: Rath

Hardtrack · Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 272

LoneWulf · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 142