Can I cast an Instant after the Untap phase but before the upkeep starts?
Asked by Runlue 9 years ago
Just wanted to know because of a combo deck I'm running. I'm not sure if you can finish your untap phase, and then in response to the start of the upkeep, tap a land for mana. Thanks.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #2
Only the active player receives priority at the beginning of the upkeep step. No one can cast spells or activate abilities between the untap and upkeep steps because no one has priority.
If the active player puts a spell or ability on the stack, he then passes priority to other players for them to do the same in response.
At the end of the upkeep step, when the active player moves to transition to the pre-combat main phase, he passes priority for each player to cast spells or activate abilities.
Note that even triggered abilities that occur at the untap step (i.e. Wake Thrasher) wait to actually go on the stack until the beginning of the upkeep.
If any triggered abilities go on the stack at the beginning of the upkeep, the active player first gets priority then he passes to the next player if he has nothing to do.
To answer your questions directly:
You can't cast spells or activate abilities at your untap step or at the transition to your upkeep step because no one has priority.
You cannot activate mana abilties of lands during that time either because no one has priority.
canterlotguardian says... #1
Players receive priority at the beginning and end of the upkeep step, in AP/NAP order. So yes, you could conceivably cast a spell at the beginning of your upkeep once you retain priority.
March 8, 2016 11:12 p.m.