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Magic: The Gathering Rules Q&A does killing Ash Zealot prevent its triggered...
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5 months ago  ::  Dec 26, 2012 - 7:18PM #1
MysticOwl
Date Joined: Dec 26, 2012
Posts: 2
Ash Zealot has a trigger where it deals damage to a player if that player casts a spell from the graveyard.

The situation is this:
1. I declare my attack phase (the Ash Zealot is one of my able-to-attack creatures in play)
2. My opponent, during the response to declaring combat phase, casts Searing Spear on the Ash Zealot , then waits for it to hit the graveyard, then flashes back Feeling of Dread to tap my other creatures.

I don't think he should be able to do that - he only gets one response phase, he can't wait for a spell to resolve then go again. Am I right?

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5 months ago  ::  Dec 26, 2012 - 7:26PM #2
Fluxx
Date Joined: Nov 3, 2005
Posts: 297

Dec 26, 2012 -- 7:18PM, MysticOwl wrote:

Ash Zealot has a trigger where it deals damage to a player if that player casts a spell from the graveyard.


The situation is this:


1. I declare my attack phase (the Ash Zealot is one of my able-to-attack creatures in play)


2. My opponent, during the response to declaring combat phase, casts Searing Spear on the Ash Zealot , then waits for it to hit the graveyard, then flashes back Feeling of Dread to tap my other creatures.


I don't think he should be able to do that - he only gets one response phase, he can't wait for a spell to resolve then go again. Am I right?




There is no such thing as a "response phase". Also, you cannot respond to a phase or step.


Your opponent's play is legal. No step of the combat phase can occur without both players passing priority with an empty stack. You or your opponent can cast a spell, allow it to resolve, then cast another spell as long as it is possible to do so.



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.


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5 months ago  ::  Dec 26, 2012 - 7:26PM #3
JaxsonBateman
Date Joined: Sep 16, 2009
Posts: 4,180
I believe you're misunderstanding how the stack and phases work.

1. The stack only resolves one object at a time, with that being the top object. This happens when all players pass priority when the stack isn't empty.
2. If players pass priority and the stack is empty, then the game moves onto the next step or phase.

In any case, when you 'declare your attack phase' (which I assume means that you're done in your main phase and are trying to shortcut to declare attackers with something like "combat?", which is perfectly legal), your opponent can interrupt your shortcut (if he doesn't specify when, it's assumed he's acting in your beginning of combat step, the last step before declare attackers). In this case, he does so, casting Searing Spear to kill your Ash Zealot. If you both pass with Searing Spear on the stack, it'll resolve and kill the Zealot. You then pass priority to try and move to the declare attackers step, but he's still free to take advantage of his priority and add something to the stack - in this case, Feeling of Dread , to tap two of your creatures.

Players don't only get one chance to respond each step/phase - they can act as much as their cards and abilities allow them to.

As an aside, while the aforementioned play won't see Ash Zealot trigger at all, if it did trigger and then was killed before the trigger resolved (lets say for example your opponent decided to cast the Feeling of Dread first, before casting Searing Spear in response to the trigger), the trigger would still resolve, as an ability on the stack is independent of its source. Otherwise, Mogg Fanatic would never work.
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5 months ago  ::  Dec 27, 2012 - 5:08AM #4
2goth4U
Date Joined: Oct 29, 2007
Posts: 9,278

Dec 26, 2012 -- 7:18PM, MysticOwl wrote:

I don't think he should be able to do that


that's unfortunate

Dec 26, 2012 -- 7:18PM, MysticOwl wrote:

he only gets one response phase


Why? because the rules don't say that anywhere

Dec 26, 2012 -- 7:18PM, MysticOwl wrote:

he can't wait for a spell to resolve then go again.


he most certainly can

Dec 26, 2012 -- 7:18PM, MysticOwl wrote:

Am I right?


Unfortunately, you are not.

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.
116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
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.


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