Haste — what does it mean?

Can attack and use its tap abilities right away, without waiting a turn.

Haste appears on 673 cards.

How does Haste work?

Normally a creature can't attack or use abilities with the tap or untap symbol in their cost unless you've controlled it continuously since your most recent turn began. That's summoning sickness. Haste turns that rule off. A creature with haste can attack and use tap abilities the turn it comes in.

That's all haste does. The creature still has to be untapped to attack, and it can only attack during a combat phase on your turn. Cast it after combat and it does nothing for you that turn. If you want to attack right away, cast it in your first main phase. From your next turn on, haste makes no difference, since by then you've controlled the creature since the turn began.

Haste also matters when creatures change control. If you take control of an opponent's creature on your turn, it has summoning sickness for you, even if it's been on the battlefield for ages. That's why steal effects often grant haste along with it. If a creature loses haste after it's already attacking, it keeps attacking.

An example at the table

Your opponent is at 5 life with no creatures able to block. In your first main phase, you cast a 3/1 with haste. Because it has haste, it can attack this turn. In combat, you attack with the 3/1 and a 2/2 that's been on the battlefield since last turn. Nothing blocks: 3 plus 2 is 5 damage, and your opponent goes from 5 to 0 life. Without haste, the 3/1 would have had to wait until your next turn.

Cards with Haste

Craterhoof BehemothIllustration: Magali VilleneuveAngerIllustration: Svetlin VelinovGoldspan DragonIllustration: Andrew MarLoyal ApprenticeIllustration: Joe SlucherAurelia, the WarleaderIllustration: Slawomir Maniak

Common mistakes

• Thinking haste lets a tapped creature attack. It still has to be untapped.
• Casting a haste creature in your second main phase and expecting it to attack. Combat is already over by then.
• Forgetting that a creature you take control of has summoning sickness for you unless it has haste.
• Thinking haste is only about attacking. It also covers abilities with the tap or untap symbol.

Frequently asked questions

Can a creature with haste use tap abilities the turn it enters?

Yes. Haste covers attacking and abilities with the tap or untap symbol in their cost.

Can I attack with a creature I just took from my opponent?

Only if it has haste. Otherwise, you need to have controlled it since the start of your turn.

Does haste matter after the first turn?

Usually not. Once you've controlled the creature since the start of your turn, it can attack without haste.

What happens if an attacking creature loses haste?

Nothing. It keeps attacking. Haste only matters when you declare attackers.

Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 702.10. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.

Often seen with

FlyingTrampleTreasureVigilanceFirst strike

← All 303 keywords

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Last updated: 26 October 2026