<p>No, you can't just tap cards on a whim. You need to either cast a spell or activate an ability that has an effect that taps the card in question, or you need to have tapping the card as a cost for some activated ability.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-16T20:33:44.410Z
2017-02-16T20:57:59.507Z
2017-02-16T20:57:59.507Z
Rubix Rechvin
<p>No, you cannot tap permanents (including artifacts) unless an ability (inherent, on the card, or another card) allow you to.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-16T20:30:58.920Z
2017-02-16T20:30:58.920Z
JonTheMon
<p>Blinkmoth Urn has an ability that only works if it is untapped at the start of a player's main phase. It has no activated abilities.</p>

<p>Can I, on my turn or any other turn, tap the artifact just to tap it, so it won't become untapped until just before my main phase? Is it legal to tap a permanent even if you are not paying a cost nor resolving a tap effect?</p>

<p>(If possible, a citation from the rules would be helpful, as the answer affects a coworker's main Commander deck.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-02-16T21:37:11.217Z
It's fine! That someone else knew what to look for has happened to me a couple of times too. It doesn't mean anything bad about you.
doppelgreener
<magic-the-gathering>
Can I tap permanents if it's not a cost?
KutuluMike
# Can I tap permanents if it's not a cost?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-02-16)

Blinkmoth Urn has an ability that only works if it is untapped at the start of a player's main phase. It has no activated abilities.

Can I, on my turn or any other turn, tap the artifact just to tap it, so it won't become untapped until just before my main phase? Is it legal to tap a permanent even if you are not paying a cost nor resolving a tap effect?

(If possible, a citation from the rules would be helpful, as the answer affects a coworker's main Commander deck.)

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's fine! That someone else knew what to look for has happened to me a couple of times too. It doesn't mean anything bad about you.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-02-16. Score: 2

No, you can't just tap cards on a whim. You need to either cast a spell or activate an ability that has an effect that taps the card in question, or you need to have tapping the card as a cost for some activated ability.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-02-16. Score: 0

No, you cannot tap permanents (including artifacts) unless an ability (inherent, on the card, or another card) allow you to.


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