I was recently playing a game with someone when something came up that made me wonder.
The scenario was this:
I had some creatures on the field. They are not relevant. The enemy controlled a couple of creatures, including Intrepid Hero. I played an Asphyxiate to try to kill it. They then tapped their Intrepid Hero to destroy one of my creatures and therefore their Intrepid Hero survived because it was tapped. My opponent claimed that activated abilities resolve first. Is this what would happen? Or would the instant resolve first and their creature be destroyed?
Spells and abilities resolve in the reverse order they are played: you played Asphyxiate first, so it will resolve after his activating (and tapping) Hero. Hero won’t die.
Activated abilities and instants can both be used/cast whenever a player has priority. When any player casts a spell or uses an ability, priority is passed unless the player retains priority. So the other player can do something (often referred to as in response). The spells and abilities use the stack and do not resolve until both players pass priority.
So your opponent could use the ability while your spell is on the stack. The spells and abilities resove in the reverse order they were used (last thing cast/used is first to resove) so as long as their ability has a target they can use it. It resolves first and then your spell fizzles because the target is not valid.
also note that tapping the opponents creature is a cost of the ability so even if the ability hasn't resolved yet, the creature is already tapped, since costs are paid before the ability can be put on the stack (so you can't cast another asphyxiate in response).
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also note that tapping the opponents creature is a cost of the ability so even if the ability hasn't resolved yet, the creature is already tapped, since costs are paid before the ability can be put on the stack (so you can't cast another asphyxiate in response).
Actually, putting the spell/abilty on the stack is the very first thing you do when casting a spell/activating an ability. It becomes cast/activated after the costs are paid.
okay, you're right, what I was trying to convey was that an opponent can't respond before the costs are paid.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"If you knew anything about the lore you'd see that they were clearly hinting that the madness on Innistrad was caused by Uncle Istvan wearing Urza's Power Armor ... tainted with Phrexyian Oil"
Graham from Loading Ready Run
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The scenario was this:
I had some creatures on the field. They are not relevant. The enemy controlled a couple of creatures, including Intrepid Hero. I played an Asphyxiate to try to kill it. They then tapped their Intrepid Hero to destroy one of my creatures and therefore their Intrepid Hero survived because it was tapped. My opponent claimed that activated abilities resolve first. Is this what would happen? Or would the instant resolve first and their creature be destroyed?
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
Your signature is very interesting, too!
So your opponent could use the ability while your spell is on the stack. The spells and abilities resove in the reverse order they were used (last thing cast/used is first to resove) so as long as their ability has a target they can use it. It resolves first and then your spell fizzles because the target is not valid.
Graham from Loading Ready Run
Actually, putting the spell/abilty on the stack is the very first thing you do when casting a spell/activating an ability. It becomes cast/activated after the costs are paid.
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Graham from Loading Ready Run