Whens the best time to play Silence?
General forum
Posted on Sept. 26, 2013, 12:22 a.m. by DimirZer00
I think it goes without saying you want to play Silence on your Opponent turn.when do you think is the best time to play it? Up keep , as your Opponent taping land or some time else?
I know it's awesome card. am just trying to get the most out of it.
Epochalyptik says... #3
The Q&A is for rules questions. Moved to General.
September 26, 2013 12:38 a.m.
Tradeylouish says... #4
You cannot play Silence in response to an opponent tapping a land for mana. Mana abilities do not use the stack and cannot be responded to. It is true that Silence has no effect on spells already on the stack. In most cases it would be best to cast it during your opponent's upkeep, as it will typically prevent them from casting most of their spells (Creatures, Artifacts, Enchantments etc.). It can also be used in your own turn should you wish to protect your other spells from something like a Counterspell .
September 26, 2013 12:46 a.m.
If it's cast in response then Silence will resolve first meaning whatever spell was on the stack under will not resolve. It kinda like a white.counterspell.
As for the best time to cast it? It depends. You can cast it during your opponents upkeep preventing them from casting during their turn. But that leaves them with all of their mana on your turn. If you play u in response, then they lost resources along with a card in hand. Or save it for your turn to save a creature or combo piece. It all comes down to whaat helps you the most at that point in time.
September 26, 2013 12:47 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #6
I think, if you're not running it alongside Isochron Scepter , and you're just playing it, that (depending on the deck) playing it right before you're about to dump your hand on a winning play would be optimal.
And if you're running a control build, you would just play it on your opponents upkeep.
Just my opinion, I haven't had much experience with the card myself.
September 26, 2013 12:47 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #7
@Replayced: Silence is not a counterspell. It does not interact with spells cast before Silence resolves. You also can't respond to mana abilities.
September 26, 2013 12:48 a.m.
If you are running silence, I assume you are playing a control deck. In that case, you want to play it either during your upkeep to resolve a win-con, such as aetherling, or on your opponent's upkeep if you want to protect your Sphinx's Revelation at the end of their turn, or some other instant spell. Otherwise, you're simply guessing if they really NEED to play a spell that turn.
September 26, 2013 12:49 a.m.
Hmm I may be wrong. I'm gonna go check gatherer for clarification.
September 26, 2013 12:49 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #10
@Replayced, If an opponent has already cast a spell, and you respond with Silence , then the spell that's already been cast will still resolve. It is not a pseudo-counterspell by any means.
A card is cast before it is put onto the stack, once it's there, all that's left is for it to resolve or be responded to.
September 26, 2013 12:49 a.m.
I should have stated in response to a spell. Good to know that my group has been using the spell wrong. I'm gonna make sure they all read this.
September 26, 2013 12:51 a.m.
That's the way I thought it worked the first time I saw the spell, but after being berated by my group about how I was wrong I gave up the argument. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. Can't wait to cram this down their throats.
September 26, 2013 12:54 a.m.
Tradeylouish says... #13
@CobthecobblerThat isn't entirely correct (you are right about how Silence works though). A spell is actually put onto the stack before it becomes cast - it's just that no players receive priority between the spell moving onto the stack and later becoming cast.
September 26, 2013 12:59 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #14
Even if you cast it in response to a spell, that spell can still resolve unless removed from the stack. Just saying.
If you don't want your opponent to cast spells on his/her turn, it's cast before they have a chance to cast anything, so usually on their upkeep.
September 26, 2013 1 a.m.
Cobthecobbler says... #15
Ah, thank you for the clarification.
One of these days I need to commit the comprehensive rules to memory.
The idea is still the same though.
September 26, 2013 1:02 a.m.
DimirZer00 says... #17
So, may you use Silence during the taping of land or mana to prevent card from being play? Or is it too late by then?
Lets say: Opponent taps their first land/mana in their pool in playing a card. And you play Silence at that moment. Dose that work ?
September 26, 2013 1:40 a.m.
chandlerwrx06 says... #18
You have priority at their draw-step. anything past that isnt worth it. I'll have to disagree with xlaleclx on this one. its definitely not a 4x but I have used this a few times to stall the game until I get things going. Its not a great card, but it has its place. . . the sideboard lol
September 26, 2013 1:42 a.m.
Tradeylouish says... #19
It is too late to cast Silence when your opponent begins tapping lands for mana in order to cast a spelll. Mana abilities do not use the stack and cannot be responded to. You will not get an opportunity to cast Silence while your opponent is producing mana - you will not have priority. The only exception would be if your opponent floated mana and then passed priority to you for some reason.
September 26, 2013 1:55 a.m.
Also if you read the perenthesis after what Silence does, it says that all spells cast before its resolution, resolve.
September 26, 2013 1:55 a.m.
chandlerwrx06 says... #22
no, silence just says. . hey, you dont get to cast anything else this turn. You know, except that one thing you cast right before this.
Which is why you need to cast it at the opponent's draw-step otherwise its pretty blah.
September 26, 2013 2:06 a.m.
DimirZer00 says... #23
Mythimine I know, That's one of reason I open up the question.Cause it's not a counter spell. But, kinda works in the way of one. Cause, am trying figure out how much guess work are you using when using the card.
September 26, 2013 2:06 a.m.
dantares25 says... #24
I have killed control players with this card by a little bit of mind games. At the beginning of MY upkeep, I'll cast Silence . Opponent: uh...okay? lol
Attack phase with 4 1/1 spirit tokens, cast Rally the Peasants and flashback Rally the Peasants take 20? Opponent: Hold on, no, i'll Dissipate your rally the peasants
You can't, point to Silence , extend hand
September 26, 2013 2:07 a.m.
September 26, 2013 2:22 a.m.
DimirZer00 says... #26
dantares25 Nice. See am currently running X2 silence in tapdown Deck.Due to it's slow build. and was thinking about adding a 3rd. However, I want to have a real mastery over the card before doing so.
September 26, 2013 2:33 a.m.
DimirZer00 says... #27
zandl Yes, there two sentences on Silence in the rules text. and they tell me what I already understood about the card. However, they don't tell me. When best time to play the is. Also, from the sound you can't cast Silence during taping of mana. Even thou, it's Instant. So, yes the rules are there. But, it has nothing on what trying to find out.
September 26, 2013 2:47 a.m.
Wow, I was way off on how this should be played. I thought it was always first in last out which means I could cast Silence last and it will resolve first negating anything cast prior to it but that would be more of a Counterspell type thing.... also would've helped if I'd had read the rules txt :p
@DimirZer00, good question :)
September 26, 2013 7:37 a.m.
In general, silence can work sort of like a (worse) white Thoughtseize . You cast it to make sure whatever you're doing will resolve, or you can cast it while your opponent is mid-combo in storm (assuming they didn't silence you first).
September 26, 2013 9:23 a.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #30
Silence can be played "correctly" at one of three times.
1) Your opponent's upkeep. This will more-or-less keep them from playing any spells on their turn. They get to play a land, then you get a free turn. They'll have a chance to respond with an Instant, but the chances of them having a relevant one are reasonably small.
2) Your own upkeep/main phase. This will keep your opponent from disrupting an important turn. Against control, this will keep them from spot-removing any threats you play or countering your game-winning spell. Again, they get to hit you with an Instant in response, but that's a small price to pay to win the game.
3) In response to a value spell (like Burning-Tree Emissary or Savage Summoning ). This keeps your opponent from steamrolling against you, and is by far the most entertaining way to Silence somebody.
(Bonus) 4) Against any Storm-style deck (ex.Empty the Warrens ). If you Silence in response to the right spell, you can keep your opponent from activating their combo, while at the same time removing combo pieces from their hand. Also quite amusing, and quite backbreaking. Storm can't really win once that happens.
September 26, 2013 10:07 a.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #31
I totally read that last comment as "cream this down their throats", and I was like...
.
.
.
eeew.
September 26, 2013 10:12 a.m.
Lol I wouldn't be suprised if that's what it actually said. This auto correct on my phone is horrible.
September 26, 2013 11:05 a.m.
We already said that players can't respond to the tapping of lands for mana because they are mana abilities (and don't use the stack). Since they don't use the stack, you can respond by putting stuff onto the stack.
Silence is usually best cast at the end of a player's upkeep, when you receive priority. This prevents them from (a) casting any sorcery-speed spells during their turn and (b) drawing an Instant-speed spell during their Draw Phase (after their upkeep) and casting it in response to Silence .
Spells never take effect until they resolve and as soon as a player taps mana, uses it, and announces the casting of a spell (not particularly in that order), the spell is cast. If you respond to that spell with Silence , it doesn't matter because of the parenthesized text on Silence .
September 27, 2013 10:31 a.m.
no bc silence doesnt remove spells from the stack, they still get combat phase and abilties, etc
September 27, 2013 2:51 p.m.
Silence isn't purely to use during your opponent's upkeep to prevent them from casting spells.
What it can also be used as is in combo decks to make sure that spell resolves or to prevent them from countering your main beef by casting this spell while comboing. At worst it will just draw out a counter, which is still a pretty good deal.
September 27, 2013 3:19 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #36
@dimizer00 your opponent can still respond to it being cast with instants, sorceries, creatures with flash, etc.
If they DON'T then they still get their remaining phases etc
September 27, 2013 4:32 p.m.
DimirZer00 says... #37
@harrydemon117 of course. They do. However, After playing Silence they may no longer play cards from their hand during that turn.
They may still attack with creatures, use any cards on the battlefield. Yes, they may still use their sorceries and creatures with flash. but, not until there turn is over. So, what Silence really dose is lock their cards in their hand for a turn. Which could be useful.
abenz419 says... #2
that's a good question.... I might be wrong but if you wait till they announce what they are casting and they put it on the stack, if you cast Silence in response I don't think it'll affect the spell already on the stack. It'll just prevent anything from being cast after Silence resolves, so I'm curious to hear the feed back on this too.
September 26, 2013 12:28 a.m.