What is an "activated ability" vs. a "Passive ability"

Asked by crabopolis 12 years ago

Illusionist's Bracers being in question here. As i understand activated abilities to be something you must intentional use. Royal Assassin isn't a mana ability, so i could kill two tapped creatures. Doorkeepers ability is a mana ability, so i could not double it. Or am i completely wrong and mana ability refers to something like llanowar elf so i can't produce mana FROM the abilty.

next part of the question, is an ability that gets "triggered" considered an activated ability? Say Firemane Avenger The ability is activated anytime this and 2 other creatures attack? or Boros Reckoner damage ability trigger whenever he takes damage?

GreatSword says... Accepted answer #1

A mana ability is basically an activated ability that generates mana that doesn't have a target. llanawar elf is a mana ability, though Deathrite Shaman is not, because it targets a land card.

An activated ability is one that has a cost. All activated abilities read: [Cost]:[Effect]. Neither the Avenger nor Reckoner are Activated abilities, because they do not have a cost, but instead are Triggered abilities.

Triggered abilities always start with the words "When", "Whenever", or "At".

March 16, 2013 9:12 p.m.

GreatSword says... #2

Also, Doorkeeper is not a mana ability, as it does not generate any mana.

A Passive ability is something like Lord of Lineage  ^Flip's +2/+2 to Vamps. It doesn't have a cost or go on the stack or anything, it just always persists as long as the permanent is on the battlefield.

March 16, 2013 9:17 p.m.

Kbra says... #3

I would like to note that there are no "passive" abilities, there are only activated, triggered and static abilities.

Lord of Lineage  ^Flip has a static ability.

I hope I'm not wrong in this, that's what i've been thought.

March 16, 2013 9:23 p.m.

crabopolis says... #4

Very informative thank you GreatSword &Kbra

March 16, 2013 9:27 p.m.

GreatSword says... #5

You're correct, "Static ability" is the right term.

March 16, 2013 9:36 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #6

There are a couple more restrictions on mana abilities (if you want to get technical). A mana ability:
1) Has no target.
2) Isn't a loyalty ability.
3) Adds mana to a player's mana pool (obviously).
4) If it is a triggered ability, it triggers because of another mana ability (see Crypt Ghast).

March 16, 2013 11:30 p.m.