Can I cast a spell after the end step?
Asked by Frostfrenzy 3 years ago
Situation is as followed: I cast a Wake the Dead to return Sea Gate Stormcaller from my graveyard to the battlefield, copying the next 2 cmc or less spell. I go to my end step and let the Sea Gate Stormcaller be sacrificed by the end of turn effect of Wake the Dead. Can I, after the sacrifice trigger of Wake the Dead has resolved, still cast something like a Rakdos Charm that also hits me for the amount of creatures I control?
Polaris is entirely correct for the question you're actually asking. However, in answer to the question "Can I cast a spell after the end step?" the answer actually is "Maybe."
514.3. Normally, no player receives priority during the cleanup step, so no spells can be cast and no abilities can be activated. However, this rule is subject to the following exception:
514.3a At this point, the game checks to see if any state-based actions would be performed and/or any triggered abilities are waiting to be put onto the stack (including those that trigger "at the beginning of the next cleanup step"). If so, those state-based actions are performed, then those triggered abilities are put on the stack, then the active player gets priority. Players may cast spells and activate abilities. Once the stack is empty and all players pass in succession, another cleanup step begins.
For example, if a during the turn Grizzly Bears had both Giant Growth and Puncture Blast cast on it, during the cleanup step the +3/+3 would wear off and it would be put into the graveyard, causing a round of priority followed by another cleanup step.
Unfortunately, beyond being very situational, this still doesn't help with Sea Gate Stormcaller , as it would be after the cleanup step ended any "this turn" effects, so it would already be too late to use the delayed triggered ability.
February 6, 2021 10:50 a.m.
Frostfrenzy says... #3
So, to summarize, and if I understand correctly: ONLY if another end of turn effect like Wake the Dead is on the stack, resolving after it... and I already lose the copy effect of Sea Gate Stormcaller?
February 6, 2021 11:10 a.m.
No, you can always cast use instant-speed spells and abilities during the end step. What we're saying is that the end step does not end until all spells and abilities on the stack have resolved and all players decide not to to cast or activate anything else.
Neotrup's addition was about the cleanup step, which comes after the end step. Normally you can't take any actions during the cleanup step, except for some edge cases Neotrup outlined. (The cleanup step is when "until end of turn" effects end, damage wears off, etc.)
February 6, 2021 11:57 a.m.
Sorry for the added confusion, as said, Polaris is correct: after all the beginning of the end step triggers resolve (so your creatures are sacrificed), there will be a normal round of priority where you're allowed to cast instants. This isn't after the end step though, it's during the end step.
Maybe the best way to put this is, Wake the Dead says to sacrifice those creatures at the beginning of the next end step, but the end step does continue after you sacrifice them.
Polaris says... #1
The answer to your first question is no, but the move goes thinking of can still work. After the end step is the cleanup step, which is one of the few parts of the turn where players can't do things.
However, a step doesn't end (with a few exceptions like the cleanup step) until all effects have resolved and all players have passed priority. Once the sacrifice trigger resolves, priority will pass around the table before the step ends, and this is your opportunity to cast Rakdos Charm .
TL;DR: You can't cast your spell after the end step, but you can cast it during the end step after everything else has resolved.
February 6, 2021 10:02 a.m.