<p>No you can't.  due to rule 117.3</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>117.3. A player can’t pay a cost unless he or she has the necessary
  resources to pay it fully. For example, a player with only 1 life can’t pay a cost of 2 life, and a permanent that’s already tapped can’t be tapped to pay a cost. See rule 202, “Mana Cost and Color,” and rule 602, “Activating Activated Abilities”</p>
</blockquote>

<hr>

<p>the text: <code>"tap 7 merfolk"</code> is before the <code>:</code>, and therefore it's a cost.  You can't pay or attempt to pay that cost unless you are able to pay it fully.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-03T16:30:46.483Z
2013-07-03T16:40:14.783Z
2013-07-03T16:40:14.783Z
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
<p>With <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLullmage%20Mentor%5d">Lullmage Mentor</a>'s ability:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Tap seven untapped Merfolk you control: Counter target spell.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Can I attempt to tap less than 7 creatures with his second ability? I know it would not activate his second ability, but can I at least make the attempt to tap 7?</p>

<p>Basically can I intentionally fail to tap 7 creatures and those creatures still get tapped?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Can I tap fewer than 7 creatures with Lullmage Mentor?
prolink007
# Can I tap fewer than 7 creatures with Lullmage Mentor?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-03)

With [Lullmage Mentor](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLullmage%20Mentor%5d)'s ability:

> Tap seven untapped Merfolk you control: Counter target spell.

Can I attempt to tap less than 7 creatures with his second ability? I know it would not activate his second ability, but can I at least make the attempt to tap 7?

Basically can I intentionally fail to tap 7 creatures and those creatures still get tapped?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-07-03. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

No you can't. due to rule 117.3

> 117.3. A player can’t pay a cost unless he or she has the necessary
> resources to pay it fully. For example, a player with only 1 life can’t pay a cost of 2 life, and a permanent that’s already tapped can’t be tapped to pay a cost. See rule 202, “Mana Cost and Color,” and rule 602, “Activating Activated Abilities”

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the text: `"tap 7 merfolk"` is before the `:`, and therefore it's a cost. You can't pay or attempt to pay that cost unless you are able to pay it fully.


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