What is a state based action?
Asked by Fizzz 11 years ago
Seriously, what is it? I have read the definition, and it just confused me more?
There are many kinds of state-based actions but they are all defined such that they are performed each time a player would receive priority. Priority is what gives a player the permission to play spells and activate abilities, and priority is passed between players as they perform actions or choose not to.
One example of a state-based action (CBA for short) is a creature being destroyed by lethal damage.
December 23, 2013 6:36 p.m.
So let me see if I get it with examples:
Stack (top to bottom)
It would resolve like:
SBAs
SBAs
???
December 23, 2013 6:38 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
Correct.
Basically, state-based actions are checked whenever something in the game changes. That's the simplified way of thinking about it.
December 23, 2013 6:39 p.m.
YouGotFranked says... #5
Important to note that nobody, at any time, can respond to a state based action. They resolve automatically so they offer no chances of response. They're also no way to prevent them.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
State-based actions are basically the game's way of maintaining the game state (hence the name). They clean things up: they remove destroyed permanents from the battlefield, remove dead players from the game, and perform other essential functions.
State-based actions are performed before each player receives priority. This means they check immediately after the resolution of any object on the stack, and they also check when the game transitions to a new step or phase. SBAs happen before triggered abilities are put onto the stack.
December 23, 2013 6:32 p.m.