<p><a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Permanent" rel="nofollow">The rules for permanents</a>, specifically 110.2, says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A permanent's owner is the same as the owner of the card that represents it (unless it's a token; see rule 110.5a). A permanent's controller is, by default, the player under whose control it entered the battlefield. <strong>Every permanent has a controller.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Only permanents have controllers, and 110.1 says "A permanent is a card or token on the battlefield," so yes, "creatures you control" means "creatures on the battlefield that you control."</p>

<p>In addition, it's worth mentioning that <a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Object" rel="nofollow">rule 109.2</a> says</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn't include the word "card," "spell," "source," or "scheme," it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Since Haunted Plate Mail just says "creatures," it is referring to creature permanents on the battlefield.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-28T07:13:11.063Z
2014-11-28T07:13:11.063Z
murgatroid99
<p>The card <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=383263" rel="nofollow">Haunted Plate Mail</a> tells "Activate this ability only if you control no creatures."</p>

<p>I want to make sure I understood it right: Only if you control no Creatures on the <strong>Battlefield</strong>?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-28T13:51:54.497Z
can you control creatures anywhere else?
Novarg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-28T16:01:52.000Z
@Novarg My guess: No.
Damaskox
<magic-the-gathering>
Can you use Haunted Plate Mail as a Spirit ONLY when it hangs around all alone on the battlefield?
Damaskox
# Can you use Haunted Plate Mail as a Spirit ONLY when it hangs around all alone on the battlefield?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-28)

The card [Haunted Plate Mail](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=383263) tells "Activate this ability only if you control no creatures."

I want to make sure I understood it right: Only if you control no Creatures on the **Battlefield**?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: can you control creatures anywhere else?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 My guess: No.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-28. Score: 2

[The rules for permanents](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Permanent), specifically 110.2, says

> A permanent's owner is the same as the owner of the card that represents it (unless it's a token; see rule 110.5a). A permanent's controller is, by default, the player under whose control it entered the battlefield. **Every permanent has a controller.**

Only permanents have controllers, and 110.1 says "A permanent is a card or token on the battlefield," so yes, "creatures you control" means "creatures on the battlefield that you control."

In addition, it's worth mentioning that [rule 109.2](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Object) says

> If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn't include the word "card," "spell," "source," or "scheme," it means a permanent of that card type or subtype on the battlefield.

Since Haunted Plate Mail just says "creatures," it is referring to creature permanents on the battlefield.


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