Can I cast bioshift in response to my own essence harvest resolving?
Asked by thatgreenguy 3 years ago
For an example, I have a 9/9 Managorger Hydra as well as Corpsejack Menace on the field. I cast Essence Harvest and my opponent chooses not to counter or react to it, so it resolves. Can I then cast Bioshift and move 8 +1+1 counters to corpsejack (for a total of 20) and my opponent lose 20 life and therefore the game, or must I cast the bioshift prior to the essence harvest? The reason I ask is that by playing essence harvest first, I can use the bioshift in the event that a person tries to remove the creature with highest power from play. If I play the bioshift first,I may lose that creature (and its counters) as well as the bioshift and essentially waste the essence harvest.
thatgreenguy says... #2
Sounds right to me! I have been absent from MTG since like 2014 so I have gotten rather rusty on the play! Thanks!
July 18, 2020 10:33 p.m.
You could cast Bioshift in response by "holding priority," but you would need to announce it: "I'll cast Essence Harvest and with that on the stack Bioshift from my Hydra onto my Corpsejack," however this runs into the same problem of an opponent being able to remove the Corpsejack Menace after Bioshift resolves before Essence Harvest does, and gives the opponent more information up front.
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #1
Once you pass priority on Essence Harvest if no one doesn't anything, you can't respond until after Harvest has resolved.
For simplicity's sake, let's say you're in a two-player game. You cast Harvest and pass priority. Your opponent also passes. Since all players have passed priority, the topmost object on the stack will resolve. In this case, that will be your Managorger Hydra's trigger. Once that resolves, there will be another round of priority. If both you and your opponent pass, Harvest will resolve. If you wish to do something before a spell resolves, you must do it before you pass priority.
Hope this helps!!
July 18, 2020 10:03 p.m.