Can tapping for another card, also activate that card ability? [duplicate]

Question

If I have in play a Selesnya Evangel and tap Tolsimir Wolfblood to create a Saproling, can I create the 2/2 green/white Voja too? Thank you.

Answer 1

Not in the way you describe; both abilities require tapping the Wolfblood as part of their cost; you can't pay one cost to pay for both abilities.

Think of it this way: if a fries and a soda each cost $1 (and you only have $1), you can get one or the other, but not both.

Abilities in Magic the Gathering are written as {cost}:{effect}.

Selesnya Evangel's ability says:

1, T, Tap an untapped creature you control: Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.

Paying for this ability requires 1 mana, tapping the Evangel, and tapping another untapped creature you control.

Tolsimir Wolfblood's ability says:

T: Put a legendary 2/2 green and white Wolf creature token named Voja into play.

Paying for this ability only requires tapping Tolsimir.

You could, however, change the order and do the following:

1. Activate Tolsimir's ability to create the wolf token
2. Then activate Selesnya Evangel, tapping the newly created wolf token, to creature a Saproling.

Note that there are abilities that work more like your original idea, but they're worded much differently. For example, check out Emmara, Soul of the Accord:

Whenever Emmara, Soul of the Accord becomes tapped, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token with lifelink.

Emmara has a triggered ability that creates a token whenever it becomes tapped, for any reason (when she attacks, or tapping her for the Evangel's ability, or if it got tapped down by an opponent's Benalish Trapper).