How long do I have to counter?
General forum
Posted on April 5, 2015, 8:15 a.m. by SerTimtheJailer
So I'm playing a control deck for the very first time, and I have to ask how long do I have before I can counter a spell. I know it has to be on the stack but how long do I have before the spell resolves. Do I have time to read his card, see what it does and then counter it before he plays something else. or do I have to be quicker about it? The reason I ask is my friend had literally just played a card, I read it as soon as he played it and then I went to counter it and he said it was too late.
Your opponent should wait for you to say "ok" after each spell he plays, if you play control. And you need to remember to say "ok" after each spell, even if you don't have any counterspells. Playing against control is all about asking for permission ;)
April 5, 2015 8:25 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #4
When he casts a spell, he has to pass priority to you (unless he wants to cast more spells or activate abilities first). At that point, you can hold priority for as long as you want (well, within reason) before either doing stuff or passing priority back. His spell will not resolve until you pass priority back.
So yes, you have plenty of time. If you are worried that your friend will get mad at you taking time, just say "I'm holding priority, let me read your card."
April 5, 2015 8:26 a.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #5
No, Once your opponent plays a spell they have 2 options, Pass priority to you or hold priority.
In order to play spells you require priority, The players whos turn it is is the active player, The active player has priority, So for their turn your opponent poses the questions and you can answer.
Now to directly address your question, Your opponent casts his spell, Chooses modes and targets etc. He then passes priority to you, The spell doesn't resolve until you pass priority back to your opponent, Once you do that the spell resolves and youcan no longer counter it.
I suggest you look at Gathering Magic on YouTube, They have a good series on rulings.
April 5, 2015 8:28 a.m.
In other, more rulesy words:
Your opponent enter his pre combat main phase. He has priority. Whenever he plays a spell it is put on the stack and the priority is passed to you. When you have the priority he cant do anything until you pass it back. Now you have all the time you need to either counter the spell, bounce/bolt the creature he tries to enchant or just do nothing and pass the priority back. If he plays anything while you have priority he is breaking the rules and has to take it back.
Basically, every time your opponent does something he is asking you if its ok, and he has to wait for you to respond before he can do anything else :)
April 5, 2015 8:36 a.m.
As others have said, once you have priority you have all the time you need to make a decision.
April 5, 2015 8:39 a.m.
bijschjdbcd says... #9
Well, At a DCI sanctioned event it would be expected you pkay at a reasonable place.
April 5, 2015 9:59 a.m.
alexthegreat38 says... #10
Yeah. You can always say "card is still on the stack..." and then say either "it resolves" or "I'll respond." If your friend said "it was too late," he was just being unreasonable, pretty much.
April 5, 2015 11:51 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #11
Pretty crummy that he told you it was too late.
In the future you can communicate as you go. "One sec, gotta read it" might work.
April 5, 2015 12:03 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #12
A spell or ability currently on the stack will start to resolve if all players pass instead of making responses. Reading a card isn't passing. You still get a chance to make a response.
The Rules Q&A section of the site (linked in the header bar) is the place to go for answers to all your questions about game rules and tournament rules.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #2
Yes, you can read the card, see what it says, and then decide to counter it.
April 5, 2015 8:19 a.m.