<p>Tapping an artifact, or any other permanent, does not change its abilities, or whether those abilities have an effect, unless the ability says so. Tapped vs untapped is simply part of the status of a permanent [<a href="http://mtg.gamepedia.com/Permanents" rel="noreferrer">CR 110.6</a>].</p>

<p>Historically, artifact abilities did in fact "turn off" when that artifact was tapped. Many of those cards have since been reworded to explicitly only work when the permanent is untapped. Examples include <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWinter%20Orb%5d">Winter Orb</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStatic%20Orb%5d">Static Orb</a> and <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHowling%20Mine%5d">Howling Mine</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T06:51:45.597Z
In addition, tapping an Equipment does not prevent its Equip-ability from being played, unless tapping it is an explicit part of the costs for that ability (though I am unaware of any Equipment having to tap to equip).
steenbergh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T06:06:25.230Z
2017-04-10T06:06:25.230Z
murgatroid99
<p>So if my buddy has <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEmrakul%2c%20the%20Promised%20End%5d">Emrakul, the Promised End</a>, and it's equipped with <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSwiftfoot%20Boots%5d">Swiftfoot Boots</a>, and I use <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPacification%20Array%5d">Pacification Array</a> to "tap target artifact..." can I tap the boots, thus eliminating the hexproof for that turn?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T05:55:56.240Z
Why do you think tapping the Boots would remove Hexproof?
steenbergh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T05:58:37.913Z
It's basically game over if he gets that equipped and I don't have a destroy target artifact. I was thinking that maybe tapping it would disable its abilities.
Justin
<magic-the-gathering>
Does tapping Swiftfoot Boots remove Hexproof from the creature it's equipped to?
Justin
# Does tapping Swiftfoot Boots remove Hexproof from the creature it's equipped to?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-10)

So if my buddy has [Emrakul, the Promised End](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bEmrakul%2c%20the%20Promised%20End%5d), and it's equipped with [Swiftfoot Boots](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSwiftfoot%20Boots%5d), and I use [Pacification Array](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bPacification%20Array%5d) to "tap target artifact..." can I tap the boots, thus eliminating the hexproof for that turn?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why do you think tapping the Boots would remove Hexproof?  
> **username_0**: It's basically game over if he gets that equipped and I don't have a destroy target artifact. I was thinking that maybe tapping it would disable its abilities.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-10. Score: 12 | Accepted answer

Tapping an artifact, or any other permanent, does not change its abilities, or whether those abilities have an effect, unless the ability says so. Tapped vs untapped is simply part of the status of a permanent [[CR 110.6](http://mtg.gamepedia.com/Permanents)].

Historically, artifact abilities did in fact "turn off" when that artifact was tapped. Many of those cards have since been reworded to explicitly only work when the permanent is untapped. Examples include [Winter Orb](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bWinter%20Orb%5d), [Static Orb](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bStatic%20Orb%5d) and [Howling Mine](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHowling%20Mine%5d).

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In addition, tapping an Equipment does not prevent its Equip-ability from being played, unless tapping it is an explicit part of the costs for that ability (though I am unaware of any Equipment having to tap to equip).  

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