Can I deny a response with combat damage and split second?
Asked by JuJuVoodoo 5 years ago
Can I use split second with combat damage to kill a creature before my opponent has a chance to respond? so here is an example.
Set up: I have a Chimney Imp on the board and a Sudden Death in hand. My opponent has Emperor Crocodile on the board with a Giant Growth in hand (and some other dork on the board).
Declare attackers: Emperor Crocodile attacks me. My opponent passes priority, I pass priority.
Declare blocks: Chimney Imp is declared as a blocker. APNAP take effect, and my opponent passes priority to me. I cast Sudden Death targeting Emperor Crocodile . Sudden Death resolves, and the stack is now empty. I pass priority...
So here is the moment that i'd like clarification on. Does my opponent now gain priority again, allowing him to cast Giant Growth , or do both players now count as having passed on priority moving to combat damage (which i believe there is no priority window during)? I might be out to lunch on this one, but it appears to me that Emperor Crocodile dies, with no window to respond.
It would also help greatly if someone knows where to find a chart that displays EXACTLY when each player gains license to cast spells and activate abilities.
Thanks!
Since you asked for a chart to explain when players can cast spells:
Main Phase (both Pre/Postcombat) - First, and only if you are playing Archenemy and the active player is the archenemy, they set a scheme in motion. Second, you put a lore counter on any Sagas the active player controls. Then the active player gets priority.
Combat Phase
- Beginning of combat step - In multiplayer, the active player chooses defending players. If not multiplayer, or after designation is complete in multiplayer, the active player gains priority.
- Declare Attackers Step - active player declares attackers, then active player gains priority.
- Declare Blockers Step - First, blockers are declared. Then Attacking creatures become blocked and active player announces attacking creatures' damage assignment order. Then Defending player announces blocking creatures' damage assignment order. Then the active player gets priority.
- Combat Damage Step - First active player announces how each attacking creature assigns combat damage, then defending player announces how each blocking creature assigns damage. Second, combat damage occurs simultaneously. Third, the active player gets priority.
- End of Combat Step - the active player gets priority at the beginning, abilities that trigger at the end of combat will go on the stack.
Ending Phase
- End Step - active player gets priority at the beginning of the End Step.
- Cleanup Step - Generally no one gets priority during this step, but there is an exception. If any state-based actions would be performed or any triggered abilities would go on the stack, those state-based actions occur and triggered abilities are put on the stack, and the active player gains priority. After the stack is empty and all players pass, there is another cleanup step.
When a player casts a spell, they hold priority until they specifically pass it. They can continue to cast spells until they pass.
Once all players pass, the top spell on the stack resolves, and the the Active Player receives priority. That round of priority will end when the stack is empty and all players have passed.
Split second prevents players from activating abilities (except mana abilities) or casting spells while the spell with split second is on the stack. It does not prevent triggered abilities from triggering or certain unusual actions that don't use the stack (such as Morph) from being used.
March 11, 2019 10:37 a.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #3
Rules about priority from the Comp MTG Rulebook:
116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
116.3d 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
116.4. If all players pass in succession (that is, if all players pass without taking any actions in between passing), the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves or, if the stack is empty, the phase or step ends.
As you can see from these, once your
Sudden Death
resolves, the active player (your opponent) immediately receives priority again, allowing him to cast his
Giant Growth
to save his creature.
The proper play here would have been to target the mana dork your opponent controls with Sudden Death , triggering the Emperor Crocodile 's ability forcing your opponent to sacrifice it before ever dealing any damage. Or if your opponent had more than those two, target Emperor Crocodile with Sudden Demise after damage had been dealt.
March 11, 2019 2:52 p.m.
IAmTheWraith says... Accepted answer #4
The answer to your question is yes, however you must order the damage correctly. You must wait until after combat damage to cast the SS spell.
Your opponent can cast Giant Growth in that scenario because of the timing of your play. As others have said, wait until after combat damage is dealt so your opponent can't cast Giant Growth to save their creature.
Boza says... #1
"I pass priority..."
You have correctly noted that you pass priority, thus your opponent now has it. The game only moves to the next step/phase once both players pass without doing a thing. Split second only prevents casting while the SS spell is on the stack. There is no way to end the step/phase without your opponent having priority at some point.
If you want kill Emperor Crocodile , there are two options:
1/ Use your Sudden Death to kill the other creature, and thus the Croc.
2/ Block with chimney imp, dealing one damage to the Croc. After that, cast Sudden Spoiling . Your opponent will not be able to respond and Croc will die. Sure, it is a 2-for-1, but in this situation it seems like the only option.
March 11, 2019 5:51 a.m. Edited.