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Some spells and abilities let you gain control of a permanent. Most of the time, this means the card will move from your opponent's side to yours. But for Auras or Equipment attached to other cards, the controller changes but it doesn't move.

I'm very new to MTG, a read official rules and attached a screenshot, it says that if someone add aura on my creature, this mean that I'm no longer controller of that creature.

So, for example, someone casts Sleep Paralysis on one of my creatures. After, I want to use Fling. Can I sacrifice my creature tapped by Sleep Paralysis?

Or, for example, I want to cast Certain Death on my creature tapped by Sleep Paralysis. Will I get 2 damage, or my opponent? I'm very. confused about creature controlling.

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  • Note that MtG makes a distinction between when a spell is cast, and when it resolves. When it is cast, it is added to the stack, and you have a chance to respond to the casting of the spell by casting instants or activating most abilities. So if someone were to cast Lay Claim, as mentioned by ikegami, you still control the creature. You do not lose control until after the following things happen - zero, one or more players add spells/abilities to the stack, and then all players pass priority, and then the spells resolve, in reverse to the order in which they were played. – Scott May 15 '17 at 5:31
  • If the target of Lay Claim is still a valid target when Lay Claim resolves, then you lose control over it. So if you have fling in your hand, and sufficient mana available, you can use fling on a creature, even after your opponent tries to Lay Claim it. As long as you do it immediately. More detail at mtg.gamepedia.com/Casting_spells – Scott May 15 '17 at 5:33
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Some spells and abilities let you gain control of a permanent

Sleep Paralysis does not change control of permanents. Lay Claim is an example of an Aura that changes control of a permanent. It has

You control enchanted permanent.

This ability transfers control of the enchanted permanent.

Most of the time, this means the card will move from your opponent's side to yours.

Say you have a creature to which you have a Bone Saw attached, and your opponent attaches Lay Claim to your creature.

Your opponent controls the creature, so it moves to their side, and they can attack with it and use its abilities (but you can't). You can't sacrifice it to Fling (but they can), and they would lose life if it's targeted by Certain Death (and you wouldn't). It even gets the +1/+0 from Bone Saw.

However, you still control Bone Saw. As an Aura or Equipment, it physically stays with the creature to which is attached. Only you can use its activated ability (say to equip Bone Saw to a creature you still control).

But for Auras or Equipment attached to other cards, the controller changes but it doesn't move.

Say you have a creature to which you have a Bone Saw attached, and your opponent attaches Lay Claim to Bone Saw (not the creature).

You control the creature, so it stays on your side, and you can attack with it and use its abilities. You can sacrifice it to Fling, and you would lose life if it's targeted by Certain Death. It even gets the +1/+0 from Bone Saw.

However, your opponent controls Bone Saw. As an Aura or Equipment, it physically stays with the creature to which is attached. Only they can use its activated ability (say to equip Bone Saw on one of their own creatures).

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  • Minor nitpick. Lay Claim being cast (the word used in the title) does not transfer ownership of the creature. Lay Claim resolving does. If someone casts Lay Claim on your creature, you still control that creature in the time between when Lay Claim is cast, and when it is resolved. If you have available mana and an instant like Fling in your hand, you can still use it. – Scott May 15 '17 at 2:27
  • @Scott, I didn't use the word "cast" at all. You appear to be replying to the wrong post. If you're going to nit-pick at what someone said, at least post your comment as a reply to that person! – ikegami May 15 '17 at 5:12
  • @ ikegami - the question asked was 'if someone casts an aura, do I lose control of that creature?' Your answer correctly addresses the question that the OP was trying to ask, in identifying how auras and mind control effects work. However, you did not answer the question that the OP did ask, and therefore upon reading your answer, the OP is likely to continue in their misunderstanding of the meaning of the word cast. I was of the opinion that your post - likely to be the most upvoted and accepted answer, was the best place for this info. But I shall put it as a comment above if you wish. – Scott May 15 '17 at 5:20
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    @Scott, Re "the OP is likely to continue in their misunderstanding of the meaning of the word cast.", I agree, which is why you should leave a comment to the OP. It doesn't do any good to tell me! So move your comment to the question. – ikegami May 15 '17 at 5:21
  • @Scott, Re "However, you did not answer the question that the OP did ask", I disagree. If you think that's the case, feel free to post an answer. – ikegami May 15 '17 at 5:22
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Sleep Paralysis does not change control of your creature. It just taps it and prevents it from untapping, which certainly does make it a lot less useful, but it's still yours.

The kind of thing you have to worry about will explicitly say "control", like the classic Control Magic, which is an aura that reads simply:

Enchant creature

You control enchanted creature.

If your opponent plays that on your creature, then yes, they'd control it. In that case, you wouldn't be able to use Fling with that creature (but they would!), and Certain Death would deal them damage.

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The only way an aura or equipment can change control of a permanent is if it specifically states "you control enchanted/equipped permanent/creature/land/artifact/enchantment"

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