I’m new to mtg and still trying to wrap my head around all this stuff. So any replies are appreciated, thank you!! I’m sorry if this question was asked somewhere. I tried searching and reading about it and I’m honestly confused about a lot of stuff so I made this forum account.
When you cast Ajani, it will go on the stack, and in order for it to resolve, both players will need to pass priority. When your opponent has priority, they can activate spells/abilities. So they can use the Firebrands ability, and it will go on the stack above Ajani and kill the Cleric before Ajani can resolve
W may only be paid with white mana. U may only be paid with blue mana. B may only be paid with black mana. R may only be paid with red mana. G may only be paid with green mana. C may only be paid with colorless mana. 1 may be paid with white, blue, black, red, green, or clolorless mana.
Yes, your opponent is correct. Everything you play that uses the stack can be responded to and that response will happen before whatever you played happens. The things that use the stack are: spells, activated abilities, and triggered abilities.
A spell is a card, or a copy of a card, or a copy of a spell, on the Stack. Every card you play that isn't a land is played as a spell. So this includes instants, sorceries, creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. To play a spell, you take it from where it is and put it on the stack, where it waits until all players pass priority (=the right to do stuff) in succession, usually beginning with the player casting the spell, with it being the very top item on it. Then that item resolves, and only that item. Players have to pass priority in succession again to let the next item resolve. But of course they can do stuff instead of passing priority, and if what they do puts another item on the stack, that item goes on top of it, and will be the one to resolve next instead.
Let's illustrate this with your example:
Before you play anything, the stack looks like this:
TOP (empty)
BOTTOM
Then you play your Ajani
TOP
Ajani, Wise Counceler
BOTTOM
Now you pass priority, because you want the planeswalker spell to resolve and let Ajani enter the battlefield where it can be used. But yor opponent doesn't pass priority. Instead he activates the ability of the Firebrand
Now your opponent passes priority back to you. You too pass, so all players have passed priority in succession, which means, whatever is now on top of the stack resolves. This is the Firebrand's ability, so it deals 1 damage to the Court Cleric. The Cleric dies, and you as the active player get priority.
TOP
Ajani, Wise Counceler
BOTTOM
You still want Ajani to resolve so you pass. Your opponent has no further response either so he passes, too. Again, all players have passed priority in succession, and Ajani is on top of the stack, so it resolves and enters the battlefield. Afterwards, you get priority.
Both 'Basic rules' and 'Comprehensive rules' available.
The situation you described is covered on page 10 of Basic Rulebook.
...and by rule 116 (especially 116.3) of Comprehensive Rulebook, but beginners' may be confused by such techno-babble.
Is that true?
I’m new to mtg and still trying to wrap my head around all this stuff. So any replies are appreciated, thank you!! I’m sorry if this question was asked somewhere. I tried searching and reading about it and I’m honestly confused about a lot of stuff so I made this forum account.
When you cast Ajani, it will go on the stack, and in order for it to resolve, both players will need to pass priority. When your opponent has priority, they can activate spells/abilities. So they can use the Firebrands ability, and it will go on the stack above Ajani and kill the Cleric before Ajani can resolve
A spell is a card, or a copy of a card, or a copy of a spell, on the Stack. Every card you play that isn't a land is played as a spell. So this includes instants, sorceries, creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and planeswalkers. To play a spell, you take it from where it is and put it on the stack, where it waits until all players pass priority (=the right to do stuff) in succession, usually beginning with the player casting the spell, with it being the very top item on it. Then that item resolves, and only that item. Players have to pass priority in succession again to let the next item resolve. But of course they can do stuff instead of passing priority, and if what they do puts another item on the stack, that item goes on top of it, and will be the one to resolve next instead.
Let's illustrate this with your example:
Before you play anything, the stack looks like this:
TOP
(empty)
BOTTOM
Then you play your Ajani
TOP
Ajani, Wise Counceler
BOTTOM
Now you pass priority, because you want the planeswalker spell to resolve and let Ajani enter the battlefield where it can be used. But yor opponent doesn't pass priority. Instead he activates the ability of the Firebrand
TOP
Fanatical Firebrand's activated ability targeting Court Cleric
Ajani, Wise Counceler
BOTTOM
Now your opponent passes priority back to you. You too pass, so all players have passed priority in succession, which means, whatever is now on top of the stack resolves. This is the Firebrand's ability, so it deals 1 damage to the Court Cleric. The Cleric dies, and you as the active player get priority.
TOP
Ajani, Wise Counceler
BOTTOM
You still want Ajani to resolve so you pass. Your opponent has no further response either so he passes, too. Again, all players have passed priority in succession, and Ajani is on top of the stack, so it resolves and enters the battlefield. Afterwards, you get priority.
TOP
(empty)
BOTTOM
Former Rules Advisor
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https://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
Both 'Basic rules' and 'Comprehensive rules' available.
The situation you described is covered on page 10 of Basic Rulebook.
...and by rule 116 (especially 116.3) of Comprehensive Rulebook, but beginners' may be confused by such techno-babble.
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules