Shields of Velis Vel says, "Creatures target player controls get +0/+1 and gain all creature types until end of turn." Can the "target player" be different on different turns, or do you have to choose one player to always associate this ability with, so that it always applies to that player? My guess is that it's the former. If a card has a static ability which refers to "target player," and the ability isn't in effect for the entire turn, can it be used on more than one person in a single turn?
Shields of Velis Vel says, "Creatures target player controls get +0/+1 and gain all creature types until end of turn." Can the "target player" be different on different turns, or do you have to choose one player to always associate this ability with, so that it always applies to that player?
Part of casting that instant spell is choosing a target (player). That target may or may not be the same target chosen for any other spell or ability, even an earlier spell with the same name. It's the same as Peppersmoke or Fistful of Force or any other instant that has a target.
115. Targets
115.1. Some spells and abilities require their controller to choose one or more targets for them. The
targets are object(s) and/or player(s) the spell or ability will affect. These targets are declared as part
of the process of putting the spell or ability on the stack. The targets can’t be changed except by
another spell or ability that explicitly says it can do so.
115.1a An instant or sorcery spell is targeted if its spell ability identifies something it will affect by
using the phrase “target [something],” where the “something” is a phrase that describes an
object and/or player. The target(s) are chosen as the spell is cast; see rule 601.2c. (If an activated
or triggered ability of an instant or sorcery uses the word target, that ability is targeted, but the
spell is not.)
It's an instant: you just play it, pick a player, and this player gets miserable for the duration of the turn. End of story.
You probably got confused by the fact that this card is also a TRIBAL:
300.1. The card types are artifact, (...) creature, enchantment, instant, land, (...) sorcery, tribal, (...)
300.2. Some objects have more than one card type (for example, an artifact creature). (...)
300.2b Each tribal card has another card type. Casting and resolving a tribal card follow the rules for casting and resolving a card of the other card type.
Hope this isn't confusing. I'm trying to better understand priorities, counters, and instants.
In EDH, priority has been passed. Cleanup stage. Now the new opponent has priority. When priority is now out to all opponents to cast an instant in response I may cast an instant with "target player". This does not have to go at the current player on turn. I can select target player as any other player?
Now, if I cast my instant onto another player can they activate an ability on a creature untapped in response? Not play anything at hand. Just tapped this creatures ability in response to me using my instant on them
Hope this isn't confusing. I'm trying to better understand priorities, counters, and instants.
In EDH, priority has been passed. Cleanup stage. Now the new opponent has priority.
Priority is unlikely during the cleanup step; you haven't stated anything that would make the exception apply.
514.3. Normally, no player receives priority during the cleanup step, so no spells can be cast and no abilities can be activated. However, this rule is subject to the following exception:
514.3a At this point, the game checks to see if any state-based actions would be performed and/or any triggered abilities are waiting to be put onto the stack (including those that trigger “at the beginning of the next cleanup step”). If so, those state-based actions are performed, then those triggered abilities are put on the stack, then the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities. Once the stack is empty and all players pass in succession, another cleanup step begins.
I'll assume that this is actually happening during a step or phase in which players get priority.
When priority is now out to all opponents to cast an instant in response I may cast an instant with "target player". This does not have to go at the current player on turn. I can select target player as any other player?
If it says "target player" rather than "target opponent" or "target active player" or any other such restriction, you literally choose any player. It's the same as any other target selection. (This ignores issues like shroud/hexproof.)
115. Targets
115.1. Some spells and abilities require their controller to choose one or more targets for them. The targets are object(s) and/or player(s) the spell or ability will affect. These targets are declared as part of the process of putting the spell or ability on the stack. The targets can’t be changed except by another spell or ability that explicitly says it can do so.
115.1a An instant or sorcery spell is targeted if its spell ability identifies something it will affect by using the phrase “target [something],” where the “something” is a phrase that describes an
object and/or player. The target(s) are chosen as the spell is cast; see rule 601.2c. (If an activated or triggered ability of an instant or sorcery uses the word target, that ability is targeted, but the spell is not.)
Example: A sorcery card has the ability “When you cycle this card, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.” This triggered ability is targeted, but that doesn’t make the card it’s on targeted.
Now, if I cast my instant onto another player can they activate an ability on a creature untapped in response? Not play anything at hand. Just tapped this creatures ability in response to me using my instant on them
They will get priority while your spell is on the stack. They can use that priority to cast a spell (instant) or activate an ability, same as any other time they get priority. (This assumes your spell doesn't have split second.)
117.1. Unless a spell or ability is instructing a player to take an action, which player can take actions at any given time is determined by a system of priority. The player with priority may cast spells, activate abilities, and take special actions.
117.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time they have priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during their main phase any time they have priority and the stack is empty.
117.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time they have priority.
117.3c If a player has priority when they cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action, that player receives priority afterward.
117.3d If a player has priority and chooses not to take any actions, that player passes. If any mana is in that player’s mana pool, they announce what mana is there. Then the next player in turn order receives priority.
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Why bother with mere rulings when so many answers can be found in the Rules?
"Target player" can be any player still in the game, including yourself.
Only one player at most has priority at any given time, no matter how many players there are. Here are the rules for who gets priority:
1) The active player gets priority when a step/phase begins,
2) After any object on the stack resolves, the active player gets priority,
3) After any player has used priority to do stuff (casting a spell, activating an ability, taking a special action), THAT player gets priority first. So THAT player gest to respond to his own action first.
Only special actions and mana abilities are resolved immediately. Anything that uses the stack can be responded to by all players before any of its effects happen. However, cost for casting a spell/activating an ability are paid when the spell gets cast/the ability gets activated, and so the payment of those costs happens before anyone can respond. And well, pretty much anything can be a cost, even something beneficial to that player, like adding loyalty counters to a planeswalker when activating its + loyalty ability.
Thank y'all so much. Really appreciate the broken down explanation to my comment.
Is there a good source video to watch each phase happen? From untap to end phase to cleanup?
The rules don't prescribe, or describe, anything other than to track which step and phase of the turn you're in, in the order it specifies.
The phases are, Beginning, Main, Combat, Main, and Ending
and, in the Beginning phase, there is an Untap step, Upkeep step, and Draw step. In the Combat phase, there is a Beginning of Combat step, Declare Attackers step, Declare Blockers step, Combat Damage step, and End of Combat step. In the Ending phase, there is the End step, and the Cleanup step.
The main phases do not have steps.
To end a step, begin the next step, unless it's the Draw step, in which case end the Beginning phase, or the Cleanup step, in which case end the Ending phase.
When you end a phase you start the next phase, or end the turn if it's the Ending phase.
When you end a turn you start the next turn. To start a turn, start its Beginning phase.
To start a phase, start its first step.
Someone could make a version of a spindown life counter except for the parts of the turn, but Im not aware that anyone has. The rules don't say anything about needing to keep a physical document of where in the turn you are, I guess since both players would just... know. If you did something and disagreed on when it was occurring, you'd just rewind until the last time you agreed you were in the same place. Not as a tournament procedure but at the kitchen table, mind you.
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No static ability has a target. Only an object on the stack can have a target.
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
You probably got confused by the fact that this card is also a TRIBAL:
300.2. Some objects have more than one card type (for example, an artifact creature). (...)
300.2b Each tribal card has another card type. Casting and resolving a tribal card follow the rules for casting and resolving a card of the other card type.
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
In EDH, priority has been passed. Cleanup stage. Now the new opponent has priority. When priority is now out to all opponents to cast an instant in response I may cast an instant with "target player". This does not have to go at the current player on turn. I can select target player as any other player?
Now, if I cast my instant onto another player can they activate an ability on a creature untapped in response? Not play anything at hand. Just tapped this creatures ability in response to me using my instant on them
Priority is unlikely during the cleanup step; you haven't stated anything that would make the exception apply.
I'll assume that this is actually happening during a step or phase in which players get priority.
If it says "target player" rather than "target opponent" or "target active player" or any other such restriction, you literally choose any player. It's the same as any other target selection. (This ignores issues like shroud/hexproof.)
They will get priority while your spell is on the stack. They can use that priority to cast a spell (instant) or activate an ability, same as any other time they get priority. (This assumes your spell doesn't have split second.)
Only one player at most has priority at any given time, no matter how many players there are. Here are the rules for who gets priority:
1) The active player gets priority when a step/phase begins,
2) After any object on the stack resolves, the active player gets priority,
3) After any player has used priority to do stuff (casting a spell, activating an ability, taking a special action), THAT player gets priority first. So THAT player gest to respond to his own action first.
Only special actions and mana abilities are resolved immediately. Anything that uses the stack can be responded to by all players before any of its effects happen. However, cost for casting a spell/activating an ability are paid when the spell gets cast/the ability gets activated, and so the payment of those costs happens before anyone can respond. And well, pretty much anything can be a cost, even something beneficial to that player, like adding loyalty counters to a planeswalker when activating its + loyalty ability.
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Is there a good source video to watch each phase happen? From untap to end phase to cleanup?
The phases are, Beginning, Main, Combat, Main, and Ending
and, in the Beginning phase, there is an Untap step, Upkeep step, and Draw step. In the Combat phase, there is a Beginning of Combat step, Declare Attackers step, Declare Blockers step, Combat Damage step, and End of Combat step. In the Ending phase, there is the End step, and the Cleanup step.
The main phases do not have steps.
Someone could make a version of a spindown life counter except for the parts of the turn, but Im not aware that anyone has. The rules don't say anything about needing to keep a physical document of where in the turn you are, I guess since both players would just... know. If you did something and disagreed on when it was occurring, you'd just rewind until the last time you agreed you were in the same place. Not as a tournament procedure but at the kitchen table, mind you.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].