Let's say we have a stack of spells or abilities. For the sake of argument, three. It's doesn't really matter what they are.
I'm the opponent (not active player)
Can I do the priority shuffle and let each of the three spells resolve individually, then after the last one resolves, add something to the empty stack again?
Thanks
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
The active player gets priority after every spell or ability on the stack resolves (C.R. 116.3b); it doesn't matter whether the stack becomes empty this way. As a consequence—
if the stack becomes empty, the game doesn't automatically move on to the next part of the turn (C.R. 500.2),
the stack itself doesn't resolve, but rather individual spells and abilities do, with priority windows in between (C.R. 116.4, 116.3b), and
because the active player gets priority, that player can choose whether to cast a spell before other players do, but all other players, including all opponents, will eventually get priority before the game moves to the next turn or to the next part of the turn or the topmost object on the stack resolves, as the case may be (C.R. 116.3d, 116.4, 116.1a).
Let's say we have a stack of spells or abilities. For the sake of argument, three. It's doesn't really matter what they are.
I'm the opponent (not active player)
Can I do the priority shuffle and let each of the three spells resolve individually, then after the last one resolves, add something to the empty stack again?
Thanks
Yes you can, though it will be after the active player has passed priority to you (as the active player, they get priority first on an emtpy stack). The game won't proceed to the next step or phase until all players have passed priority in succession on a an emtpy stack.
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I'm a former judge (lapsed), who keeps up to date on rules and policy. Keep in mind that judges' answers aren't necessarily more valid than those of people who aren't judges; what matters is we can quote the rules to back up our answers. When in doubt, ask for such quotes.
To clarify, I mean before an opponent gets a chance to play a land or cast a sorcery.
Can I let spells resolve down to an empty stack, and then sneak something into an empty stack before any sorcery speed stuff starts getting played again. Is there a point at which we both receive priority before my opponent goes back to casting creatures.
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
To clarify, I mean before an opponent gets a chance to play a land or cast a sorcery.
Can I let spells resolve down to an empty stack, and then sneak something into an empty stack before any sorcery speed stuff starts getting played again. Is there a point at which we both receive priority before my opponent goes back to casting creatures.
Assuming this is the opponents main phase, otherwise they couldn't do sorcery stuff anyway, then no. The active player is the first to gain priority, so your opponent will get priority first on their turn.
To clarify, I mean before an opponent gets a chance to play a land or cast a sorcery.
Can I let spells resolve down to an empty stack, and then sneak something into an empty stack before any sorcery speed stuff starts getting played again. Is there a point at which we both receive priority before my opponent goes back to casting creatures.
Assuming this is the opponents main phase, otherwise they couldn't do sorcery stuff anyway, then no. The active player is the first to gain priority, so your opponent will get priority first on their turn.
So, just to make absolutely clear, there isn't a passing of priority (apnap) after the last spell in a stack. Meaning once that final spell or ability resolves, I have no more opportunity to add anything to the now-empty stack before the stack disappears and we go back to 'sorcery speed' and my opponent can cast creatures etc.
To put this in a specific example:
Player 1 (their main phase) casts oath of nissa & it resolves. Trigger goes on the stack. Can I let the trigger resolve down to an empty stack, see what my opponent gets as part of the resolution of the ability (for sake of argument a creature), then cast an instant back onto that empty stack, before they get to cast their creature. For this to work I'm assuming that after the last spell resolving there's a round of passing priority before the stack disappears.
The rules seem fuzzy because I've read that after each spell or ability resolving there's a round of priority. So I assumed that one could let spells resolve down to an empty stack and then (still at instant speed, before the stack goes away) still add spells back to the stack.
In fact, I'm fairly sure there's a deck that existed, that relies on this very interaction (maybe?). I have definite memory of more than one player using this stack interaction over the years, so what's the deal? I've had mixed responses and nobody seems to quite be able to specifically pinpoint this one within the comp rules. The main quote is the one referring to moving to the next step or phase which isn't what I'm talking about.
Let's say we have a stack of spells or abilities. For the sake of argument, three. It's doesn't really matter what they are.
I'm the opponent (not active player)
Can I do the priority shuffle and let each of the three spells resolve individually, then after the last one resolves, add something to the empty stack again?
Thanks
Yes you can, though it will be after the active player has passed priority to you (as the active player, they get priority first on an emtpy stack). The game won't proceed to the next step or phase until all players have passed priority in succession on a an emtpy stack.
You've answered a different question that I wasn't asking. See my more clarified post immediately above (comment 6 in the thread). Apologies for the double post. On mobile can't seem to merge quotes.
Thanks in advance.
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Modern: G Tron, Vannifar, Jund, Druid/Vizier combo, Humans, Eldrazi Stompy (Serum Powder), Amulet, Grishoalbrand, Breach Titan, Turns, Eternal Command, As Foretold Living End, Elves, Cheerios, RUG Scapeshift
Player 1 (their main phase) casts oath of nissa, it resolves. Trigger goes on the stack. Can I let the trigger resolve down to an empty stack, see what my opponent gets as part of the resolution of the ability (for sake of argument a creature), then cast an instant back onto that empty stack, before they get to cast their creature.
No - you can not.
Once your opponent's spell resolves they will be the first person to receive priority, which means they can cast their creature before you can act.
Only if they choose not to cast anything do you receive priority.
(If, at that point, you choose not to cast anything the game moves on to the next phase because both players have passed priority in succession on an empty stack)
That said - if your opponent does cast a creature spell you can then respond to that spell being put on the stack by playing an instant.
Meaning your instant will resolve before their creature arrives on the battlefield.
You may be thinking about tournament shortcuts: These assume a player casting a spell always passes priority to their opponent after their spell resolves.
The rules seem fuzzy because I've read that after each spell or ability resolving there's a round of priority. So I assumed that one could let spells resolve down to an empty stack and then (still at instant speed, before the stack goes away) still add spells back to the stack.
One thing you have wrong is 'the stack disappears' or 'goes away'.
The stack never moves: it is a zone, a space, a placeholder for cards.
It can be empty, or it can have objects pile up, but it's always there.
Yes, there is a round of priority after each and every spell/ability.
And there is one also after the last object resolves.
If there is stuff on the stack, only instants and abilities can be played.
If the stack is empty, the active player may also play sorceries & creatures. (assuming Main Phase)
Here's how it goes:
One last object is left on the stack.
You both pass.
That last object resolves. (so the stack is now empty)
Priority now goes around.
Active player gets priority first, facing an empty stack: they get to play a creature.
I'm the opponent (not active player)
Can I do the priority shuffle and let each of the three spells resolve individually, then after the last one resolves, add something to the empty stack again?
Thanks
EDIT (Dec. 7): Correctness edit.
Can I let spells resolve down to an empty stack, and then sneak something into an empty stack before any sorcery speed stuff starts getting played again. Is there a point at which we both receive priority before my opponent goes back to casting creatures.
So, just to make absolutely clear, there isn't a passing of priority (apnap) after the last spell in a stack. Meaning once that final spell or ability resolves, I have no more opportunity to add anything to the now-empty stack before the stack disappears and we go back to 'sorcery speed' and my opponent can cast creatures etc.
To put this in a specific example:
Player 1 (their main phase) casts oath of nissa & it resolves. Trigger goes on the stack. Can I let the trigger resolve down to an empty stack, see what my opponent gets as part of the resolution of the ability (for sake of argument a creature), then cast an instant back onto that empty stack, before they get to cast their creature. For this to work I'm assuming that after the last spell resolving there's a round of passing priority before the stack disappears.
The rules seem fuzzy because I've read that after each spell or ability resolving there's a round of priority. So I assumed that one could let spells resolve down to an empty stack and then (still at instant speed, before the stack goes away) still add spells back to the stack.
In fact, I'm fairly sure there's a deck that existed, that relies on this very interaction (maybe?). I have definite memory of more than one player using this stack interaction over the years, so what's the deal? I've had mixed responses and nobody seems to quite be able to specifically pinpoint this one within the comp rules. The main quote is the one referring to moving to the next step or phase which isn't what I'm talking about.
Help please!
You've answered a different question that I wasn't asking. See my more clarified post immediately above (comment 6 in the thread). Apologies for the double post. On mobile can't seem to merge quotes.
Thanks in advance.
No - you can not.
Once your opponent's spell resolves they will be the first person to receive priority, which means they can cast their creature before you can act.
Only if they choose not to cast anything do you receive priority.
(If, at that point, you choose not to cast anything the game moves on to the next phase because both players have passed priority in succession on an empty stack)
That said - if your opponent does cast a creature spell you can then respond to that spell being put on the stack by playing an instant.
Meaning your instant will resolve before their creature arrives on the battlefield.
You may be thinking about tournament shortcuts: These assume a player casting a spell always passes priority to their opponent after their spell resolves.
The stack never moves: it is a zone, a space, a placeholder for cards.
It can be empty, or it can have objects pile up, but it's always there.
Yes, there is a round of priority after each and every spell/ability.
And there is one also after the last object resolves.
If there is stuff on the stack, only instants and abilities can be played.
If the stack is empty, the active player may also play sorceries & creatures. (assuming Main Phase)
Here's how it goes:
One last object is left on the stack.
You both pass.
That last object resolves. (so the stack is now empty)
Priority now goes around.
Active player gets priority first, facing an empty stack: they get to play a creature.
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
Thanks for the replies. Makes sense now =)