Speed of Snapcaster Mage
Asked by Mythwind 9 years ago
I want to cast a spell, say Lightning Bolt targeting a creature from my opponent. My opponent reacts casting a Snapcaster Mage and targets a Counterspell in his graveyard to counter my Lightning Bolt.
Is that possible? I would gave expected that Snapcaster Mage needs to resolve for my opponent to be able to use the Counterspell, thus arriving late to counter the Lightning Bolt, as the stack would continue to resolve before he gets a chance to cast again?
The stack never continues to resolve automatically. It only goes on to resolve the topmost object on to it once no player decides to add anything to the stack.
After every action a player takes, there is a round of priority, when any player can respond by playing something else. The stack always resolves one object at a time, in a "last in, first out" model.
This is a good example of that.
- You cast a bolt.
- Opponent responds with Snapcaster Mage, targeting Counterspell.
- Snapcaster's ability resolves, giving flashback to Counterspell.
- The Lightning Bolt is now the only object on the stack, but there is still another round of priority, since something else happened.
- Your opponent uses that time to cast counterspell and thwart lightning bolt.
April 16, 2016 9:55 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #3
As the others have said the stack resolves one object at a time in FILO order with a round of priority for responses between each object. Boza skipped a few things in their list of steps that happen in this interaction. So in the interest of completeness and explaining how the cards work the exact correct order of steps with parenthetical notions of some important points follows.
You cast Lightning Bolt.
You pass priority.
Your opponent casts Snapcaster Mage. (Snappy doesn't target anything. Much like Oblivion Ring it is simply a permanent spell. The ETB ability is what targets. The decision to counter or allow to resolve must be made with no information on what would be targeted. A player can not however prevent the spell from being countered by announcing targets early.)
Each player passes priority and Snapcaster Mage resolves.
You receive priority and the ETB trigger is placed on the stack targeting Counterspell.
Each player passes priority and the ETB resolves giving counterspell flashback.
You pass priority.
Your opponent casts Counterspell for its flashback cost targeting Lightning Bolt.
Each player passes priority and Counterspell resolves countering Lightning Bolt.
April 17, 2016 12:28 a.m.
I agree the stack resolves FILO, first in - last out, but my understanding is that the stack would accumulate the order of all effects and then when no other player has effects to add to the stack resolve them, without adding new instants/effects, and once it begins resolving you can't stop in the middle to add more effects, you had your chance to do that before it begins to resolve. Triggered abilities and damage prevention would come after the 1st stack fully resolves opening a new stack.
To be quick about it, if we add to that initial stack in my question an Ancestral Recall, cast by me, targeting me, in response to the Snapcaster Mage. I do not get a chance to draw 3 cards and cast instants from those 3 new cards before the Snapcaster Mage resolves, just like he is unable to cast Counterspell to my Lightning Bolt.
I have not played magic in a long time, so I may be wrong.
April 17, 2016 11:28 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #5
If you haven't played since before sixth edition, welcome back and welcome to the stack. MtG no longer uses the batch system, objects resolve one at a time. It is hard to pinpoint a single rule that will satisfy everyone on this fact so I will quote rule 116 on timing and priority, and cite a couple of places where it says that the topmost object of the stack resolves. It is important to remember that WotC is not careless with their words in the comprehensive rules; so things function as written to the letter.
116.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time he or she has priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty.
116.1b A player may activate an activated ability any time he or she has priority.
116.1c A player may take some special actions any time he or she has priority. A player may take other special actions during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty. See rule 115, Special Actions.
116.1d A player may activate a mana ability whenever he or she has priority, whenever he or she is casting a spell or activating an ability that requires a mana payment, or whenever a rule or effect asks for a mana payment (even in the middle of casting or resolving a spell or activating or resolving an ability).
116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
116.3d If a player has priority and chooses not to take any actions, that player passes. If any mana is in that players mana pool, he or she announces what mana is there. Then the next player in turn order receives priority.
116.4. If all players pass in succession (that is, if all players pass without taking any actions in between passing), the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves or, if the stack is empty, the phase or step ends.
405.5. When all players pass in succession, the top (last-added) spell or ability on the stack resolves. If the stack is empty when all players pass, the current step or phase ends and the next begins.
608.1. Each time all players pass in succession, the spell or ability on top of the stack resolves.
April 17, 2016 2:12 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #6
I would also like to address a few things in a separate post from the all the rules quoting.
If you cast Ancestral Recall after your opponent's Snapcaster you would indeed get a chance to cast any instants or cards with flash before the Snapcaster resolves.
There is no more "damage prevention" step. If something has not been used to "prevent the next ___ damage" before the damage occurs it is not prevented.
The stack is a shared game zone much like the battlefield. While it can be empty it always exists. Just like you would not say that a creature enter the battlefield after a Wrath of God "created a new battlefield", casting a spell when the stack is empty does not "create a new stack.
April 17, 2016 2:30 p.m.
Yes, last I had a deep dive into the stack rules it was 4th edition + Mirage. So this is quite the change... guess Counterbalance can be abused with something like Soothsaying... you can always adjust as spells get resolved...
I am still in shock to some of the creatures and abilities of the not so new sets, I feel my 1sr cards, except some bombs that I was able to grab, like my revised dual lands have depreciated in power level.
April 18, 2016 12:01 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #8
The more common thing to use with Counterbalance is Sensei's Divining Top. As a rule old spells are more powerful and new creatures are more powerful. I'm kinda waiting for the balance to swing back the other way, but I don't think it will.
GoblinsInc says... #1
No, the stack never resolves. Each item on the stack resolve, individually, in the order of first in last out. However as each one resolves, the active player gets priority and both players will have a chance to play more spells/abilities.
So his snapcaster is on top of your bolt, resolves. This triggers its ability which now goes on top of the stack. when it resolves it gives his cancel flashback, and once you pass priority then he can cast his cancel targetting your bolt.
April 16, 2016 9:53 p.m.