I need to make sure I understand the stack correctly, because it sounds like we never used it correctly years ago.
#1
I currently have no creatures out. I cast a spell that takes control of an enemy creature, and then my opponent casts a spell that forces me to sacrifice a creature. Does the forced sacrifice resolve first and thus have an invalid target? Or am I forced to sacrifice the stolen creature?
#2
My opponent has one 2/2 creature. I cast a 2 damage instant. He follows up with an instant that grants his creature +7/+7. I cast a second 2 damage instant. Does his creature die because my second 2 damage instant resolves before his +7/+7 buff? If so, this means that his buff goes to the graveyard because it was cast on an invalid target?
1. The answer to this depends on timing. To put the scenario in terms of example cards, let's say your opponent controls a Grizzly Bears and you have just cast Domestication targeting it (Domestication is currently on the stack.) If your opponent actually responds to Domestication by casting, let's say Geth's Verdict, then it will resolve before Domestication does and you will be unable to sacrifice a creature because you do not currently control one.
However, your opponent could simply wait for Domestication to resolve, then cast Verdict the next time they gain priority (either in response to the next spell or ability you put onto the stack or prior to ending the current step or phase.) In this case, you would control the Bears while Verdict is resolving and will have to sacrifice them.
2. Yes. First you cast Shock, then your opponent responds to Shock with Righteousness (we'll assume the creature is blocking something so that this is a legal play) and you respond to that with another Shock. The stack looks like this:
-- Top --
Shock (the second one)
Righteousness
Shock (the first one)
-- Bottom --
The second Shock you cast will resolve first since it's the topmost object on the stack, which will destroy the creature. When Righteousness tries to resolve, its target is no longer present and it will be countered on resolution; the same will happen with the first Shock you cast.
Thank you for the fast response! I'm brand new and haven't figured out the card linking stuff yet, am I breaking rules by posting the way I just did? Was hoping to get around it by not naming specific cards. Either way, I'll figure it out soon. Thanks again
If you're asking a question about specific cards, you should use card tags to link to them.
[c ]Shock[/c ] (without the spaces) -> Shock
[card ="Shock"]Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt[/card ] -> Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt
But your question was fine since you were asking about general mechanics that could have involved any of a lot of different cards. There are plenty of cards that deal damage as an instant, gain control of creatures, etc. Shock could have been Lightning Bolt, etc. and the basic premise of the situation is the same. I simply added specific examples for clarity in my response.
The stack is a little complicated, but it can be pretty easy to get the hang of.
There are four important principles:
1) The player whose turn it is is the "Active Player". Every other player is a "Nonactive Player"
2) Any spell cast, activated ability activated, or triggered ability that triggers is put on the stack. (If multiple triggered abilities are put on the stack at the same time, all of the Active player's triggers go on the stack in the order that they choose, then all of the first nonactive player to the left's abilities go on the stack in the order he chooses, then the next nonactive player, etc until all abilities are on the stack)
3) After a spell/ability and any abilities that trigger off of it go on the stack, the player who cast that spell or activated that ability gets Priority. This gives him the opportunity to cast more instants or activate more abilities. If the that player passes priority, the next player in the turn order gets priority. Adding another spell or ability to the stack resets this step, and the player taking the action would get Priority again.
4) If both (or all) players have passed priority, the top spell or ability on the stack resolves. Remember that the stack works under Last In, First Out principles. That is, the last spell or ability to be put on the stack is the first to resolve. It may be helpful to use physical reminders such as the cards representing the spells being cast or token cards for abilities to track larger, more complex stacks. After the top object on the stack resolves, this returns to #3, and the Active Player gets Priority.
If nothing remains on the stack and both players pass Priority, the current phase or step ends.
So, for your examples:
1) You control no creatures. It is your turn. You cast Mind Control or your opponent's Runeclaw Bear. You put that spell on the stack, and then pass priority. Your opponent gets priority. He could cast Diabolic Edict now, but doing so would have no effect, so he passes priority. Mind Control resolves, giving you control of the Bear. You have nothing more to do on your turn, so you pass priority. Your opponent gets priority, and may now cast Diabolic Edict to force you to sacrifice a creature. He passes priority, you pass priority, and the Edict resolves, forcing you to sacrifice the Bear.
2) Your opponent controls a Runeclaw Bear. On your turn, you attempt to cast Shock on it, and pass priority. Your opponent gets priority responds by casting Might of Oaks. He then passes priority. You get priority and respond with another Shock. You pass priority, then he does, and the second Shock resolves, dealing 2 damage to the Bear. The Bear dies. You receive priority again, pass it. Your opponent also passes priority. Might of Oaks is countered because its only legal target became illegal. You both pass again, and the first Shock is countered for the same reason.
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If you're asking a question about specific cards, you should use card tags to link to them.
[c ]Shock[/c ] (without the spaces) -> Shock
[card ="Shock"]Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt[/card ] -> Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt
But your question was fine since you were asking about general mechanics that could have involved any of a lot of different cards. There are plenty of cards that deal damage as an instant, gain control of creatures, etc. Shock could have been Lightning Bolt, etc. and the basic premise of the situation is the same. I simply added specific examples for clarity in my response.
The stack is a little complicated, but it can be pretty easy to get the hang of.
There are four important principles:
1) The player whose turn it is is the "Active Player". Every other player is a "Nonactive Player"
2) Any spell cast, activated ability activated, or triggered ability that triggers is put on the stack. (If multiple triggered abilities are put on the stack at the same time, all of the Active player's triggers go on the stack in the order that they choose, then all of the first nonactive player to the left's abilities go on the stack in the order he chooses, then the next nonactive player, etc until all abilities are on the stack)
3) After a spell/ability and any abilities that trigger off of it go on the stack, the player who cast that spell or activated that ability gets Priority. This gives him the opportunity to cast more instants or activate more abilities. If the that player passes priority, the next player in the turn order gets priority. Adding another spell or ability to the stack resets this step, and the player taking the action would get Priority again.
4) If both (or all) players have passed priority, the top spell or ability on the stack resolves. Remember that the stack works under Last In, First Out principles. That is, the last spell or ability to be put on the stack is the first to resolve. It may be helpful to use physical reminders such as the cards representing the spells being cast or token cards for abilities to track larger, more complex stacks. After the top object on the stack resolves, this returns to #3, and the Active Player gets Priority.
If nothing remains on the stack and both players pass Priority, the current phase or step ends.
So, for your examples:
1) You control no creatures. It is your turn. You cast Mind Control or your opponent's Runeclaw Bear. You put that spell on the stack, and then pass priority. Your opponent gets priority. He could cast Diabolic Edict now, but doing so would have no effect, so he passes priority. Mind Control resolves, giving you control of the Bear. You have nothing more to do on your turn, so you pass priority. Your opponent gets priority, and may now cast Diabolic Edict to force you to sacrifice a creature. He passes priority, you pass priority, and the Edict resolves, forcing you to sacrifice the Bear.
2) Your opponent controls a Runeclaw Bear. On your turn, you attempt to cast Shock on it, and pass priority. Your opponent gets priority responds by casting Might of Oaks. He then passes priority. You get priority and respond with another Shock. You pass priority, then he does, and the second Shock resolves, dealing 2 damage to the Bear. The Bear dies. You receive priority again, pass it. Your opponent also passes priority. Might of Oaks is countered because its only legal target became illegal. You both pass again, and the first Shock is countered for the same reason.
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain that. I think it makes sense to me now. One more thing though. If something is somewhere other than the top of the stack, it can still be targeted right? Can I Counterspell something that is at the bottom of the stack?
Correct. Anything on the stack is a legal target for a spell or ability that targets a spell or ability (i.e. Counterspell, Stifle, Nivix Guildmage's second ability, Voidmage Husher's Enter the Battlefield ability).
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Thanks so much for taking the time to explain that. I think it makes sense to me now. One more thing though. If something is somewhere other than the top of the stack, it can still be targeted right? Can I Counterspell something that is at the bottom of the stack?
Correct. All the spells are on the stack and when you have priority you can cast Counterspell and target any of them (under normal conditions).
Say for example you are in a multiplayer game with you (A) and two others, B and C. B casts a creature and C casts a counterspell. In response B casts his own counterspell to try and get his creature to resolve. So the stack looks like this:
You can cast your own Counterspell and target any of those spells. If you wanna make sure B's creature doesn't resolve you can target the creature spell or B's counterspell. You also have the option to let B's CS resolve so that the stack is just B's creature spell. Then cast your Counterspell then.
Understood, thanks. Another unrelated question came up today... if my 4/4 creature with lifelink kills a 1/1 creature, has 4 damage been dealt or 1? Am I going to heal for 4 or 1, in other words?
Creatures don't pull their punches. The 4/4 will deal 4 damage to the 1/1, so you'll gain 4 life.
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#1
I currently have no creatures out. I cast a spell that takes control of an enemy creature, and then my opponent casts a spell that forces me to sacrifice a creature. Does the forced sacrifice resolve first and thus have an invalid target? Or am I forced to sacrifice the stolen creature?
#2
My opponent has one 2/2 creature. I cast a 2 damage instant. He follows up with an instant that grants his creature +7/+7. I cast a second 2 damage instant. Does his creature die because my second 2 damage instant resolves before his +7/+7 buff? If so, this means that his buff goes to the graveyard because it was cast on an invalid target?
However, your opponent could simply wait for Domestication to resolve, then cast Verdict the next time they gain priority (either in response to the next spell or ability you put onto the stack or prior to ending the current step or phase.) In this case, you would control the Bears while Verdict is resolving and will have to sacrifice them.
2. Yes. First you cast Shock, then your opponent responds to Shock with Righteousness (we'll assume the creature is blocking something so that this is a legal play) and you respond to that with another Shock. The stack looks like this:
-- Top --
Shock (the second one)
Righteousness
Shock (the first one)
-- Bottom --
The second Shock you cast will resolve first since it's the topmost object on the stack, which will destroy the creature. When Righteousness tries to resolve, its target is no longer present and it will be countered on resolution; the same will happen with the first Shock you cast.
[c ]Shock[/c ] (without the spaces) -> Shock
[card ="Shock"]Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt[/card ] -> Two-thirds of a Lightning Bolt
But your question was fine since you were asking about general mechanics that could have involved any of a lot of different cards. There are plenty of cards that deal damage as an instant, gain control of creatures, etc. Shock could have been Lightning Bolt, etc. and the basic premise of the situation is the same. I simply added specific examples for clarity in my response.
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StaffThere are four important principles:
1) The player whose turn it is is the "Active Player". Every other player is a "Nonactive Player"
2) Any spell cast, activated ability activated, or triggered ability that triggers is put on the stack. (If multiple triggered abilities are put on the stack at the same time, all of the Active player's triggers go on the stack in the order that they choose, then all of the first nonactive player to the left's abilities go on the stack in the order he chooses, then the next nonactive player, etc until all abilities are on the stack)
3) After a spell/ability and any abilities that trigger off of it go on the stack, the player who cast that spell or activated that ability gets Priority. This gives him the opportunity to cast more instants or activate more abilities. If the that player passes priority, the next player in the turn order gets priority. Adding another spell or ability to the stack resets this step, and the player taking the action would get Priority again.
4) If both (or all) players have passed priority, the top spell or ability on the stack resolves. Remember that the stack works under Last In, First Out principles. That is, the last spell or ability to be put on the stack is the first to resolve. It may be helpful to use physical reminders such as the cards representing the spells being cast or token cards for abilities to track larger, more complex stacks. After the top object on the stack resolves, this returns to #3, and the Active Player gets Priority.
If nothing remains on the stack and both players pass Priority, the current phase or step ends.
So, for your examples:
1) You control no creatures. It is your turn. You cast Mind Control or your opponent's Runeclaw Bear. You put that spell on the stack, and then pass priority. Your opponent gets priority. He could cast Diabolic Edict now, but doing so would have no effect, so he passes priority. Mind Control resolves, giving you control of the Bear. You have nothing more to do on your turn, so you pass priority. Your opponent gets priority, and may now cast Diabolic Edict to force you to sacrifice a creature. He passes priority, you pass priority, and the Edict resolves, forcing you to sacrifice the Bear.
2) Your opponent controls a Runeclaw Bear. On your turn, you attempt to cast Shock on it, and pass priority. Your opponent gets priority responds by casting Might of Oaks. He then passes priority. You get priority and respond with another Shock. You pass priority, then he does, and the second Shock resolves, dealing 2 damage to the Bear. The Bear dies. You receive priority again, pass it. Your opponent also passes priority. Might of Oaks is countered because its only legal target became illegal. You both pass again, and the first Shock is countered for the same reason.
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Great I think I get it. Test: Shock
Thanks so much for taking the time to explain that. I think it makes sense to me now. One more thing though. If something is somewhere other than the top of the stack, it can still be targeted right? Can I Counterspell something that is at the bottom of the stack?
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Correct. All the spells are on the stack and when you have priority you can cast Counterspell and target any of them (under normal conditions).
Say for example you are in a multiplayer game with you (A) and two others, B and C. B casts a creature and C casts a counterspell. In response B casts his own counterspell to try and get his creature to resolve. So the stack looks like this:
Counterspell (B) -> targeting C's CS.
Counterspell (C) -> targeting B's creature
Creature (B)
You can cast your own Counterspell and target any of those spells. If you wanna make sure B's creature doesn't resolve you can target the creature spell or B's counterspell. You also have the option to let B's CS resolve so that the stack is just B's creature spell. Then cast your Counterspell then.
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