main phase priorities , Umezawa's Jitte and flashback

Asked by Ozzywozywoz 9 years ago

Hello, Im 70% sure about this question, if im right then Iv just been had! lol anyway...

Q : Im playing manaless dredge, and my opponent has a 2 creatures, one with Umezawa's Jitte loaded with 2 counters.

In my upkeep I bring back 2 Nether Shadow s and 2 [Ichorid]s. The opponent thinking for a bit, then allows me to draw, or rather dredge from my graveyard. So its the beginning of my main phase... then he uses his Umezawa's Jitte and targets his own 1/1 so I had to get rid of my 2 Bridge from Below ...

However rethinking it, if I had priority... could I have cast say Cabal Therapy or Dread Return for the flashback costs, before his Umezawa's Jitte took effect, on the stack?

Many thanks

Boza says... #1

Both cards you mention are sorceries and cannot be played in response to something on the stack without having something like Leyline of Anticipation out.

October 2, 2014 7:32 a.m.

Gidgetimer says... #2

Players receive priority during the draw step, so it really depends on when he said he was doing it. He could pass priority during your upkeep, allow you to dredge and then activate Jitte during your draw step. If on the other hand he said "during your main phase" then he didn't have priority and should have waited until you cast something or passed to go to combat.

October 2, 2014 7:33 a.m.

filledelanuit says... #3

This depends on exactly what was said. If it was made clear that this was done in your main phase then you get priority first and he would have to wait until you choose to do something or passed priority to do anything.

If this were at a tournament then I would ask the opponent when he wanted to do it. I would generally allow him to do it in either the main phase or the draw step if he knew unless it had been made clear that the draw phase was over. As a judge we aren't allowed to assume that players know what the best line of play is so the players them selves need to know how to time their abilities and such.

October 2, 2014 7:38 a.m.

Ozzywozywoz says... #4

Thanks for the quick replies.I was playing on MWS (online) so it can be a bit hard to answer.... as nothing was said.however, I waited at the draw step, he typed 'thinking'... then 'ok draw'... then I dredge.then he typed 'thinking' again...a few sec's after, and before I was about to do something, he just points an arrow to hit creature and took a counter off Umezawa's Jitte .

I guess I cant really blame him or my self as it was very unclear due to no typing... however im playing my first IRL tournament soon.. just wanted to be clear if this came up again.

SO, he could have used Umezawa's Jitte to 'respond to my draw' step, or maybe between me declaring my dredged replacement and as the cards enter the graveyard?? have I got that wrong?

Or am I right in that once iv completed my drawn/dredged step (ie when the cards are put into the graveyard, and resolved) I get 1st priority again, and may cast a spell b4 he activates?

Many thanksAnd thanks for the answers!

October 2, 2014 10:19 a.m.

Boza says... #5

In order to go to the next step or phase, players need to pass priority once each over an empty stack. Technically, as described in this situation, your opponent acted in your draw step after you replaced your draw, though it is very hard to tell in MWS. Once we reach the main phase though, you get priority first and can cast a sorcery or any other spell or ability before your opponent can do anything.

October 2, 2014 10:30 a.m.

Gidgetimer says... #6

YOu would have priority in your draw step to cast instants or activate abilities after the turn-based action of drawing (or replacing the draw with a dredge). You couldn't have flashed back your sorceries at this time. In order to move to your main phase you would both have to pass, so I am assuming he was trying to do it during your draw step since he just took priority without waiting for it to be passed.

October 2, 2014 11:09 a.m.

Ozzywozywoz says... #7

Ok, I get that i have priority in the Draw Step, and you have to pass priority to your opponent before you can move to the main phase... but it seem so sill to have a stage where your oppents can cast spells and avtivate abillites (IE have priority) before you do in your main step... seems to be a grey area to me, like although your turn, your oppenet can turn around and say 'no,no, before you play a land, or 'x,y,z', I do this in your draw step.... very shifty!

ok final question.

If I draw, or in this case dredge, will the cards hit the graveyard before or after he can snipe his own creature?

EG... I dredge and as he sees another bridge will go into my graveyard, can he get rid of it before i get priority agin?

October 2, 2014 11:17 a.m.

Boza says... Accepted answer #8

First off, drawing a card in the draw phase is a special action that happens in the beginning of the phase - nobody has priority then, it just happens. It does not matter that the draw was replaced by dredge.

If a third bridge and a Narcomoeba hit the graveyard from that dredge instance, the narcomoeba trigger will go on stack and wait to resolve. At that point, the opponent can sac his own creature in response to get rid of the bridges before your main phase, when you have priority first to cast a Cabal Therapy . All of this can be done in the draw step.

October 2, 2014 11:25 a.m.

Ozzywozywoz says... #9

ohh.. just to be clear for when I play my tournament, should I be saying/asking"draw step is replaced with dredge... (etc)...CAN I START MY MAIN PHASE?"

how will I officially move on to the main phase, so he can just jump in before I do anything... or does HE need to say something too??

October 2, 2014 11:25 a.m.

Boza says... #10

Well, unless you are telephatic, you will not know if the opponent wants to do something. He has to speak up - usually when you try to cast Cabal Therapy , he will say something like "before you do that, in your draw step, after you draw I will [insert thing that messes you up here] ".

The things which are good to announce are:

1/ "untap, upkeep, draw" at the begining of the turn2/ begining of combat3/ end of turn

These are the key points when something is actually done by the opponent.

October 2, 2014 11:31 a.m.

Ozzywozywoz says... #11

ok gr8 thank you.So he is aloud to say/do that?If i say 'upkeep, draw'...do what i do, then say 'main step'.. and he dosnt say anything.When annouce Carbal, can he go back??

or shall i ask, 'mainstep, ok?' and await him to pass?

(If i do that, it may imply to him that theres somthing he overlooked)

October 2, 2014 11:50 a.m.

GreatSword says... #12

Just have proper communication with your opponent. It's never good to try and play a mind game to "get" him. Remember that technically the game never moves onto the next step or phase of the turn until both players pass priority over an empty stack, and that your opponent has a much a right to his priority as you do yours.

October 2, 2014 12:34 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #13

I have made it a habit to announce most of my steps and phases. I don't think it is very intrusive and it has helped me to remember things like upkeep triggers as well as making it clear where we are in the turn. At the beginning of the relative steps I just say:

  • Upkeep

  • Draw

  • Main

  • Combat

  • Second Main

And then wait for about 1-2 seconds before taking any actions in those. This gives them the time to stop me and do something but gives me an argument so that they can't say "on your draw step" after I try to cast a sorcery or "at the beginning of combat" after I try to declare an attacker. After the second main I say "pass the turn" and this gives them the ability to do something on the end step.

October 2, 2014 1:48 p.m.

Ozzywozywoz says... #14

wonderful! thank you very much :)

October 3, 2014 3:31 a.m.

This discussion has been closed