How is priority given right before combat damage is applied?
Asked by Mongol 8 years ago
Here's the scenario:
Opponent attacks with say, a 1/1 creature, then after I choose to block or let the damage through, they pump the creature with 1 or more instances to 4 power or greater. My goal is to remove the creature before combat damage is applied with one of the following spells: Reprisal, Valorous Stance, or Smite the Monstrous. To do this, I believe I have to wait until the opponent's pump spells resolve to make the 1/1 a power 4 or greater. This tells me that I can't simply put Reprisal on the top of the stack, since it technically wouldn't have a target yet. My question is: is there a point during combat that I have priority after their pump spell(s) resolve, but before combat damage is applied so that I can use one of the mentioned removal spells, or is it possible to put one of these spells on top of the stack whilst allowing the opponent's pump spell(s) to resolve?
I'm a little confused by this, and it leads me to another question. If the opponent casts a Giant Growth for example, then I pass priority, then they cast another Giant Growth, aren't the 2 spells on the same stack? Or is the second spell on an all new stack, which allows each spell to resolve after I pass priority?
I've always played that if an opponent pumps with multiple spells, 2 Giant Growths for example, then a Lightning Bolt on top of all that would still see the creature as a 1/1. It sounds like that's incorrect from what you're telling me?
May 2, 2015 2:14 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #3
There is only one stack.
If players pass priority without adding to the stack, the topmost object on the stack will resolve (if there is an object on the stack) or the game will advance to the next step or phase (if the stack is empty).
When your opponent casts Giant Growth, then he or she has two options:
1) Retain priority and take another action
2) Pass priority
If your opponent passes priority and then you pass back without taking an action, then Giant Growth will resolve. You can't put an object on the stack, pass priority, and then respond to the original object before it resolves unless your opponent has put an object onto the stack during the priority pass.
Because the game only advances to the next step or phase once players pass over an empty stack, your opponent may cast and resolve one Giant Growth, then cast and resolve a second Giant Growth such that the spells are never simultaneously on the stack. This is the "correct" play, as retaining priority after casting the first Giant Growth and then casting a second Giant Growth before passing priority would allow you to respond with a Lightning Bolt to destroy the creature before either Giant Growth resolves. By spacing them out, your opponent has the option of responding to your Lightning Bolt with the second Giant Growth to save the creature or simply allowing the creature to die and saving the second Giant Growth for later.
May 2, 2015 2:21 p.m.
Epochalyptik wrote:"If your opponent passes priority and then you pass back without taking an action, then Giant Growth will resolve. You can't put an object on the stack, pass priority, and then respond to the original object before it resolves unless your opponent has put an object onto the stack during the priority pass."
So in the case of Reprisal, the opponent passes priority after casting pump spell(s), then I pass back allowing them to resolve, and THEN I play my removal spell after my opponent's spell(s) resolve. Does this mean that those spells are still on the stack, though they are now resolved once I put Reprisal on the top?
May 2, 2015 4:20 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
When you resolve a spell or ability, you execute its instructions and then remove it from the stack. Removing the spell or ability from the stack is the last step of the resolution process.
Also, only one spell or ability resolves at a time, and there's a round of priority between each resolution. In order to resolve multiple spells or abilities, you need to pass priority, resolve the first spell or ability, and then repeat those two steps for the remaining spells or abilities.
May 2, 2015 4:29 p.m.
I believe I have it down now. I didn't get the part about getting priority after the spells resolve until now. I really appreciate you taking the time to clarify all this for me! Thank you!
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
The game only advances to the next step or phase once all players pass priority in succession over an empty stack. If an object is placed onto the stack during a priority pass, it must resolve and then priority must be passed once again. This means you can allow all of your opponent's buff spells to resolve, then cast your spell during the priority pass immediately preceding the combat damage step.
Note that once you're in the combat damage step, combat damage is assigned and dealt as a turn-based action before players get priority again.
May 2, 2015 1:55 p.m.