Clarification on stack resolution
Asked by CamraMaan 4 months ago
I'm still trying to fully wrap my brain around the operation of the stack. Let's say I have Leshrac's Sigil in play and an opponent casts a green spell, and I pay the Sigil to look at their hand and discard a card. This will then go onto the stack, on top of the spell that was cast. Does my opponent get to hold priority and cast more spells before my Sigil trigger is resolved, or will it resolve first, then they can hold priority and cast more spells...?
TIA
So would Leshrac's Sigil's trigger go on the stack whether I want to pay for it or not? The wording of it is kinda weird, but that's what I'm assuming from your reply. Of course, nothing happens if I don't pay for it, but just curious overall.
December 31, 2023 8:14 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
Correct, all triggers that ask for a mana payment are phrased as "you may pay" and so fall under 603.5 for optional effects of triggered abilities. You referred to the first ability on Leshrac's Sigil as a trigger, so I assumed you were familiar with the eratta on the card. In case you aren't or if someone else looking at the thread isn't; the current Oracle text on that first ability is "Whenever an opponent casts a green spell, you may pay . If you do, look at that player’s hand and choose a card from it. The player discards that card." This wording makes it a trigger and as you can see, it says "you may pay".
The triggers for Leshrac's Sigil, Aerie Worshippers, Yasova Dragonclaw, and extort (Blind Obedience) go on the stack no matter if you intend to pay the optional cost, or even have the resources to.
603.5. Some triggered abilities’ effects are optional (they contain “may,” as in “At the beginning of your upkeep, you may draw a card”). These abilities go on the stack when they trigger, regardless of whether their controller intends to exercise the ability’s option or not. The choice is made when the ability resolves. Likewise, triggered abilities that have an effect “unless” something is true or a player chooses to do something will go on the stack normally; the “unless” part of the ability is dealt with when the ability resolves.
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #1
There is a round of priority before anything resolves, so they will be able to cast any instants or spells with flash that they want before you get to force the discard. Leshrac's Sigil doesn't require the payment until it resolves though. If they waited to see if you paid, the trigger is resolving and they will have to discard before being able to cast anything.
December 30, 2023 5:48 a.m.