The stack and responding
A spell does not happen at once. It waits on the stack, and your opponent can answer it.
6 min read
After this guide you can
- Resolve a stack of three spells in the right order.
- Say what a player can and cannot respond to.
What the stack is
A spell does not happen when you cast it. It goes on the stack and waits, and every player gets the chance to answer it.
When every player passes in a row, the spell on top happens. Then every player gets the chance again, on whatever is left.
Before any player gets that chance, the game checks the board. A creature with lethal damage dies, and a player at 0 life loses.
The player with priority can cast a spell or activate an ability. When all players pass in a row, the top object of the stack resolves, or the step ends if the stack is empty.
CR 117.1, 117.3b, 117.3d, 117.4
Each new spell or ability goes on top of the stack, and the last one added resolves first.
CR 405.1, 405.2, 405.5, 608.1
The game checks state-based actions every time a player would get priority, before any player acts.
CR 704.3, 117.5
Worked example: a creature, two counterspells
Last in, first out
Your A.I.M. Scientistswaiting on the stack
Nothing on the stack has happened yet.
Last in, first out
Their counterspellwaiting on the stack- Your A.I.M. Scientistswaiting on the stack
Nothing on the stack has happened yet.
Last in, first out
- Your counterspellwaiting on the stack
- Their counterspellwaiting on the stack
- Your A.I.M. Scientistswaiting on the stack
Nothing on the stack has happened yet.
Last in, first out
- Your counterspellresolves first, and counters theirs
- Their counterspellcountered, so it never happens
- Your A.I.M. Scientistsresolves last, and reaches the battlefield
Resolves from the top down
1 / 4
You cast A.I.M. Scientists. It does not enter the battlefield yet. It waits on the stack.
Your opponent responds with We Say Thee Nay!, which counters your creature unless you pay {2}. It goes on top of your creature.
You respond with your own We Say Thee Nay!, aimed at theirs. Yours goes on top, because it was cast last.
Both players pass. Yours resolves first, and your opponent has no mana left to pay {2}, so their spell is countered. Then A.I.M. Scientists resolves and enters the battlefield.
A.I.M. Scientists, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Bartek Fedyczak. We Say Thee Nay!, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Mateus Manhanini. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
A spell cast while another spell is on the stack is cast in response, and it resolves before the first one.
CR 117.7
What uses the stack, and what does not
- Uses the stack: every spell, every activated ability, and every triggered ability. A player can respond to each one.
- Never uses the stack: playing a land, tapping a land for mana, and a static ability. Nobody can respond to these.
Static abilities, mana abilities, special actions such as playing a land, turn-based actions and state-based actions do not use the stack.
CR 405.6
Tapping a land for mana is a mana ability. It does not use the stack, and a player can activate it while casting a spell.
CR 605.1a, 605.3a, 601.2g
A triggered ability starts with when, whenever or at. It triggers on its own and uses the stack.
CR 603.1, 603.2
An activated ability is written as a cost, a colon and an effect. A player activates it, and it uses the stack.
CR 602.1, 602.2
When you can act
You can cast an instant, or a card with flash, whenever you could act. That includes the turn of your opponent and a moment when a spell is already on the stack.
An instant can be cast at any time you have priority, including in the opponent's turn and in combat.
CR 304.1, 117.1a
A card with flash can be cast at any time you could cast an instant.
CR 702.8a
Your turn: resolve three spells
Wrath of GodSorcery
Lightning StrikeInstant- We Say Thee Nay!Instant — Arcane
Wrath of God, Commander Masters, illustrated by Willian Murai. Lightning Strike, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Toni Infante. We Say Thee Nay!, Marvel Super Heroes, illustrated by Mateus Manhanini. Card images from Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast. Marvel and all related character names are trademarks of MARVEL. BinderLoot is unofficial Fan Content and is not approved or endorsed by Wizards or by Marvel.
Ana casts Wrath of God. Ben responds with Lightning Strike, aimed at Ana. Ana responds with We Say Thee Nay!, aimed at Lightning Strike. Then both players pass.