<p>Zero power does not prevent a creature from attacking.</p>
<p>More generally, any creature can attack if it does not have <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Defender" rel="noreferrer">Defender</a>, has been under your control since the beginning of your turn (see <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Summoning_sickness" rel="noreferrer">Summoning Sickness</a>) or else has Haste, and no other effect specifically restricts it from attacking. The effect will usually be obvious, like an enchantment that reads &quot;Creatures with power {X} or less can't attack.&quot; <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bReverence%5d">Reverence</a> is a pretty good example of this.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>302.5. Creatures can attack and block. [...]</p>
<p>508.1c The active player checks each creature he or she controls to see whether it’s affected by any restrictions (effects that say a creature can’t attack, or that it can’t attack unless some condition is met). If any restrictions are being disobeyed, the declaration of attackers is illegal.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T14:23:34.003Z
Maybe it's useful to list Summoning Sickness as effect preventing a creature from attacking?
steenbergh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T14:33:32.750Z
@steenbergh I liked the idea behind your edit, but I wanted to word it differently. Rather than list all of the different powers that are unrestricted (0, 1, 2, etc.) I would rather generalize the first sentence to cover all powers. I did that and also covered your comment, which was a good addition.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T15:08:34.007Z
I was thinking it's weird to answer a question of "does this prevent a creature from attacking" with "these things do prevent a creature from attacking", which is subject to change. That said, now that the other answer is accepted, it's great to have this answer as well.
TheThirdMan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T15:30:22.343Z
@TheThirdMan I challenge you to write an answer that is not subject to change. The answer may look strange to you, but all I did was generalize "zero power" to "anything not in this list". If, tomorrow, the question author wants to know if being a Wall prevents a creature from attacking, then the answer addresses that. Anyway, I edited the answer for readers who just want the quick, specific answer.
Rainbolt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T15:36:50.510Z
I didn't mean to criticize your approach, just state why I preferred the other answer to this one, as "there is no restriction based on power" is a lot more timeless. Yet, your answer is more useful and informative in general, so it's good to have both, and I've upvoted both of them.
TheThirdMan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-06T21:20:58.673Z
2016-12-07T15:29:59.853Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
Rainbolt
<p>Yes, creatures with a power of 0 can attack.  Otherwise, it would be very hard to use creatures like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSignal%20Pest%5d">Signal Pest</a> which buff your team when they attack, but don't have any power of their own. </p>

<p>The rules just say that a creature attacks.  There's no stipulation based on power:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>506.2. During the combat phase, the active player is the attacking player; creatures that player controls may attack. During the combat phase of a two-player game, the nonactive player is the defending player; that player and planeswalkers he or she controls may be attacked.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T00:32:47.077Z
Or cards like Silent Skimmer, the OP's example.
Cascabel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-06T20:57:01.317Z
2016-12-06T21:10:59.030Z
2016-12-06T21:10:59.030Z
JonTheMon
<p>If I have a creature with 0 power, can I still attack with it? I am asking in regards to Silent Skimmer but also in general. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/EtMKT.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EtMKT.png" alt="Silent Skimmer"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T00:32:35.620Z
[There are even creatures with power less than zero.](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&power=+%3C[0])
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-07T00:33:54.647Z
@doppelgreener woah, I did not know that, nor did I think it could exist.
The Man
<magic-the-gathering>
Can a creature with 0 power attack?
The Man
# Can a creature with 0 power attack?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-06)

If I have a creature with 0 power, can I still attack with it? I am asking in regards to Silent Skimmer but also in general.

[![Silent Skimmer](https://i.sstatic.net/EtMKT.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/EtMKT.png)

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [There are even creatures with power less than zero.](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&power=+%3C[0])  
> **username_0**: @username_1 woah, I did not know that, nor did I think it could exist.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-12-06. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

Yes, creatures with a power of 0 can attack. Otherwise, it would be very hard to use creatures like [Signal Pest](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSignal%20Pest%5d) which buff your team when they attack, but don't have any power of their own.

The rules just say that a creature attacks. There's no stipulation based on power:

> 506.2. During the combat phase, the active player is the attacking player; creatures that player controls may attack. During the combat phase of a two-player game, the nonactive player is the defending player; that player and planeswalkers he or she controls may be attacked.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Or cards like Silent Skimmer, the OP's example.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-12-06. Score: 13

Zero power does not prevent a creature from attacking.

More generally, any creature can attack if it does not have [Defender](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Defender), has been under your control since the beginning of your turn (see [Summoning Sickness](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Summoning_sickness)) or else has Haste, and no other effect specifically restricts it from attacking. The effect will usually be obvious, like an enchantment that reads "Creatures with power {X} or less can't attack." [Reverence](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bReverence%5d) is a pretty good example of this.

> 302.5. Creatures can attack and block. [...]
>
> 508.1c The active player checks each creature he or she controls to see whether it’s affected by any restrictions (effects that say a creature can’t attack, or that it can’t attack unless some condition is met). If any restrictions are being disobeyed, the declaration of attackers is illegal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Maybe it's useful to list Summoning Sickness as effect preventing a creature from attacking?  
> **username_2**: @username_3 I liked the idea behind your edit, but I wanted to word it differently. Rather than list all of the different powers that are unrestricted (0, 1, 2, etc.) I would rather generalize the first sentence to cover all powers. I did that and also covered your comment, which was a good addition.  
> **username_4**: I was thinking it's weird to answer a question of "does this prevent a creature from attacking" with "these things do prevent a creature from attacking", which is subject to change. That said, now that the other answer is accepted, it's great to have this answer as well.  
> **username_2**: @username_4 I challenge you to write an answer that is not subject to change. The answer may look strange to you, but all I did was generalize "zero power" to "anything not in this list". If, tomorrow, the question author wants to know if being a Wall prevents a creature from attacking, then the answer addresses that. Anyway, I edited the answer for readers who just want the quick, specific answer.  
> **username_4**: I didn't mean to criticize your approach, just state why I preferred the other answer to this one, as "there is no restriction based on power" is a lot more timeless. Yet, your answer is more useful and informative in general, so it's good to have both, and I've upvoted both of them.  

---

