When can i counterspell?
Asked by askeseverin 11 years ago
We can all agree that it's too late to cast a counterspell once the turn (where the spell that i wanted to cancel) is over. But what is the rules for exactly when you can cast a counterspell? Also when counterspelling the casting of a creature, is the creature going back to its owners hand or to the graveyard?
thnx in advance
You can counter a spell as long as it is on the stack (has been cast but has not yet resolved) and you have priority (each player will receive priority before any spell or ability that uses the stack resolves). Any spell that is countered (including creature spells) is sent to the graveyard (any cards that are exceptions will say so on their card).
December 26, 2013 3:32 p.m.
smash10101 says... Accepted answer #3
Whenever anyone casts a spell, it goes on something called the stack. Before the spell resolves, each player, in turn order, starting with the player who's turn it is, gets priority. When a player has priority, they can cast instants and activate abilities. Once all player pass priority, the top item on the stack resolves.
Example: I am the active player (It's my turn)I cast Grizzly Bears . It goes on the stack.I get priority, but do nothing and pass to you.You now have priority. You cast Cancel targeting Grizzly Bears . Stack is now Cancel Grizzly Bears .I now have priority again, which I pass.You get priority again, which you pass.Cancel resolves, countering Grizzly Bears . They both go to their owner's graveyards.
When a spell is countered, it goes to it's owner's graveyard. Some counterspells, like Dissipate , say to do something else. Unless there is something that explicitly states that it should go elsewhere, it goes to the graveyard.
December 26, 2013 3:33 p.m.
harrydemon117 says... #4
The official ruling is when you have priority.
Priority goes as follows: APNAP (an acronym for "active player / non active player")
The active player is the one whose current turn it is. During each phase of the turn, the AP has priority to start with. During a main phase (either 1 or 2 doesn't matter) the AP can cast a creature spell AND STILL has priority. After the AP passes priority to you THEN you are allowed to counterspell the card.
If it is your turn and your opponent casts a creature card with Flash when he/she has priority (such as Boon Satyr ), since you are the active player and receive priority first immediately following the casting of the creature card, you are allowed to cast the counter spell then
Countering any spell normally places the spell into the owner's graveyard unless otherwise stated as in Syncopate .
Hope this helps!
December 26, 2013 3:36 p.m.
@smash10101 the active player is whoever did something last while there is a stack, or the player whose turn it is if the stack is empty or a spell has just resolved. After casting Cancel in your example, that player would retain priority. Pass, pass, Cancel resolves (countering Grizzly Bears ), player whose turn it is gets priority.
December 26, 2013 3:37 p.m.
You can counterspell any time you receive priority, you are able to cast a spell, and the target is legal.
It is too late if after the spell cast, you receive priority and choose to do nothing. At that point the spell resolves, and priority is passed back to the active player.
You are able to counter the spell, if you are allowed to cast a spell. Say if there was a Silence cast that turn, or the spell on the stack has Split second, like Extirpate .
The spell must be a legal target, for example you cannot counter Loxodon Smiter , Slaughter Games , or Mistcutter Hydra .
The countered spell never comes into play, so for effects or abilities that benefit from "comes into play", will not come into effect/get triggered. The spell, once countered, is put into that player's graveyard once it is countered.
December 26, 2013 3:38 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #7
@Dracoson: The active player is ONLY the player whose turn it is. Priority passes, but active/nonactive status does not.
Hallowed_Titan says... #1
You can counter in response to any cast spell. Unless otherwise stated by some other card or effect. Countered creatures go to the graveyard like any other countered spell.
December 26, 2013 3:27 p.m.