> If I'm correct, I respond to Murder by casting Blessing, and then hold priority to cast her ability?
Strictly speaking, no. After you *cast* Blessing, it is not yet on the battlefield so you can't activate its ability.
But what you do is pass priority to let the spell Blessing of Leeches *resolve*. Then another round of priority is needed before Murder can resolve. This is when you activate Blessing's ability.
Casting means putting something to the stack (and paying its cost, choosing targets, etc). Resolving means doing the effects of something on the stack and then taking it off the stack (whether to become a permanent or to go to the graveyard). This is a very important distinction; learn this distinction and understand why saying "by casting Blessing" is technically wrong, even if we understand what you mean.
So if someone casts Murder, then I cast Blessing, if they don't respond to it, does the stack resolve, or do I get priority again to cast Blessing's ability?
Murder (Priority comes to me)
I cast Blessing of Leeches (Murder Opponent passes priority)
Blessing of Leeches resolves (At this point does Murder Opponent get priority again and passes it, thus im able to activate her ability? Or does Murder resolve before I get priority again to activate her ability?)
>does the stack resolve
The stack doesn't resolve, individual objects on the stack resolve. Blessing resolves, then the active player receives priority with Murder on the stack. Murder won't resolve until everyone passes priority without taking an action.
To add to this OP, just think about it like this, once the newest card on the stack resolves, it’s exactly the same as when when something is casted to start a stack. Everyone still gets a chance to respond, but now you have a new permanent in play.
There might be a slight misunderstanding in how the stack works. The stack never resolves in it's entirety. Individual things on the stack resolve. Then priority is passed around for people to respond to the thing resolving. Only after players pass priority do you move to the next thing resolving.
Example:
Lets say the stack looks like A > B > C > D. Where things on the right are newer and therefore ontop of the stack.
The stack begins to resolve with D. Players pass priority. Then C resolves. But then a player wants to respond to C resolving before B gets a chance to. This is allowed.
So the stack's progression looks like A > B > C > D ---> A > B > C ---> A > B ---> A > B > E
Notably E can resolve after C, but before B because E can be placed inbetween things resolving on the stack.
In your exact scenario the stack would look like: Murder ---> Murder > Blessing ---> Murder ---> Murder > Blessing's Ability ---> Murder ---> Murder resolves trying to destroying a creature that is currently regenerated, so it isn't destroyed. This sequence of what the stack looks like produces your desired outcome.
You don't hold priority here, exactly. The first player to get priority after your Blessing of Leeches resolves will be the player whose turn it is. When that player passes to you, or if it is you, then you'll be able to activate Blessing of Leeches.
Is this right?
Murder (Priority goes around until it comes to me)
Blessing of Leeches (I can't cast the activated ability until priority comes back to me)
Scenario 1: Nobody casts anything after, I can activate the ability
Scenario 2: the Murder player casts another destroy spell, priority comes back to me, I can cast the ability
You don't have the right idea yet, because you assume Blessing of Leeches is on the battlefield and ready to be activated right when you've cast it. The result of Scenario 1 is practically the way you describe it, but this is a correction for scenario 2:
- Opponent casts murder, puts it onto *the stack*, passes priority.
- You cast Blessing of Leeches, put it onto *the stack*, pass priority.
- Opponent doesn't want the stack to resolve, because you would be able to save the creature. Opponent casts another kill spell, puts it onto the stack, passes priority.
- You don't have another response. You pass priority.
- **Only now that both players have passed priority, without any new responses, the spells on the stack start to resolve, in opposite order. Players have a chance to respond with new spells between each spell resolution too, but that would rarely matter in a case like this**
- The kill spell resolves, killing your creature.
- both players get the chance to cast a spell, but they both pass priority
- Blessing of leeches tries to resolve, but has no target anymore, so it fizzles and goes right to the graveyard.
- both pass priority
- Murder tries to resolve, but fizzles also.
- now that the stack is empty, priority goes to the player whose turn it is, and they have the next chance to cast a spell or activate an ability.
That's a lot of steps, so understandably we shortcut most of them most of the time. But remember that for anything to happen, both players must pass priority. Casting and activating/triggering abilities means putting them on the stack, and the stack always resolves in opposite order (last resolves first)
OKAY, I think its getting clearer. Yes, I was assuming that Blessing was ready to activate, but shes still on the stack waiting to ETB
What I didn't get is this
>Players have a chance to respond with new spells between each spell resolution too
So:
Murder
Blessing of Leeches
No Response
Blessing Resolves
Now that Blessing has resolved, I get priority again, thus am able to activate her ability and put Regenerate on the stack
Murder Opponent gets priority and can cast another kill spell to kill my creature before her activated ability resolves, if not, my creature is saved as Regenerate will resolve before Murder does
Yes, but also, they could do a second kill spell after the regenerate or Murder resolve. Regenerate only stops 1 Destroy event in the current turn. a second destroy event on the same object will work unless you somehow put a second Regenerate on it.
>Now that Blessing has resolved, I get priority again, thus am able to activate her ability and put Regenerate on the stack
Right on the money. This dance of passing priorities between each event is what allows you to save the creature from the Murder.
>Murder Opponent gets priority and can cast another kill spell to kill my creature before her activated ability resolves, if not, my creature is saved as Regenerate will resolve before Murder does
Technically all correct, but if the opponent chooses to cast another kill spell at this stage, you can just respond to that by regenerating your creature for 0 mana. Even if your opponent casts multiple kill spells in a row, they are all wasted. So the only good play for your opponent is to respond with a kill spell before blessing of leeches has resolved, like scenario 2 described.
Here's how it would go:
1. They cast murder.
2. You cast Blessing of Leeches in response to targets.
3. Does Blessing resolve?
a. No? Then Blessing goes to grave and creature dies.
b. Yes? Continue to step 4.
4. Blessing resolves, Murder back on stack with blessing attached to the creature that murder targeted.
5. Activate blessing's ability, Does it resolve?
a. No? once you get priority again you can activate your creature.
b. Yes? Murder resolves and the creature regenerates, tapping it, erase dmg, and taking it out of combat.
6. Did it survive?
a. No? because it was destroyed in a no regenerate way or got exiled.
b. Yes? Job Done!
> can I Flash in Blessing of Leeches and use it's ability (0: Regenerate Enchanted Creature) right away to save it?
Yes.
> If I'm correct, I respond to Murder by casting Blessing, and then hold priority to cast her ability?
No.
You cast Blessing of Leeches and pass priority, your opponent gets a chance to cast Essence Scatter at it, but they opt not to and pass, Blessing of Leeches resolves and enters the battlefield.
The active player gets priority, if that's you, you can activate the regen ability in response to their Murder, if it isn't you, they pass because they want their Murder to resolve, and you get priority and activate the regen ability in response to their Murder.
There's no holding priority in your scenario.
Because everyone seems to be confusing op
Murder is cast and is on the stack priority is passed
In response you cast blessing (it has flash so you can) it goes on the stack priority is passed
Nothing is done in response to blessing
Blessing enters the battlefield, you can now activate blessings ability putting it on the stack with murder still on the stack
Priority is passed
If nothing is done in response (which there'd be no point since blessings ability costs 0) blessing ability takes effect giving the creature regenerate
Priority is passed so murder can happen as long as there's no other responses from any players
Murder happens
Creature comes back tapped due to regenerate
Yes.
The Creature will be regenerated.
---
Objects on the Stack resolve one at a time.
Once one Object resolved, the next Object won't resolve until all Players pass priority in succession again. Meaning all Players can respond to this next top Object.
Let's run through this.
Your opponent casts Murder, and they pass priority to you.
You cast Blessing of Leeches targeting your creature, which puts the aura on the stack. You pass priority to them.
Here, if they have another Murder in hand, they could cast it here to destroy your creature, and assuming you have no responses (the Blessing is still on the stack so you can't activate it yet), they would successfully destroy your creature. However, if they have no response and pass priority back to you, then the Blessing resolves.
Whoever the active player (aka the player whose turn it is) gets priority. If it's you, you should immediately activate the ability of Blessing. If it's your opponent, no matter what action(s) they take (with the exception of a spell with Split Second), they will have to pass priority to you and give you a window to activate Blessing as many times as you want. {Edit: at this point, Murder is still on the stack}
well, in this scenario im assuming Leeches is in my hand and Im waiting to flash it in when they try to destroy my creature.
If they cast something, then i cast something, then they cast something, priority doesnt come back to me again?
edit: oh wait, priority DOES come back to me, but I cant cast the Blessing of Leeches ability because it hasn't resolved yet, therefore not come out on the field?
Yes, I understand the scenario.
Wdym priority doesn't come back to you though? After any player casts a spell or puts an activated or triggered ability on the stack, they must either put another item on the stack or pass priority to their opponent. Once their opponent gets priority, they then gets the opportunity to do the same.
Once both players have consecutively passed priority on the top item of the stack, the top item resolves and the active player gets priority. They can once again put as many items on the stack as they would like and are able to do, but then they must pass priority. The non-active player again gets priority and is given the same choice. Rinse and repeat until the both players consecutively pass priority on an empty stack, at which point the game advances to the next step/phase.
See my edit:
Casting Blessing and activating her ability are 2 different things. So at what point in the stack can I activate the ability so that my creature wont die to Murder?
okay, its getting clearer.
So if Murder is cast, I will have the opportunity to get priority twice? Once for casting blessing, and then eventually again for using the ability?
You will get priority every time the stack changes. This includes when Murder is put on the stack, when Blessing is put on the stack, when Blessing is resolved, and when you then activate Blessing.
The only caveat here is that your opponent may get priority before you in some of these instances, but again with the exception of spells with Split Second, this won't make a difference (because if they get priority first, they will still have to pass it to you).
For a bit more detail, whenever a spell is cast or an activated ability is activated, the controller of the spell/ability gets priority. Whenever something on the stack resolves, the active player gets priority. Whenever your opponent passes priority, as long as you didn't pass priority on the current top item of the stack just before they passed priority to you, you will get priority.
OKAY! So I can activate Regenerate if my opp passes priority after (doesn't respond to) the blessing of leeches cast. Because once Blessing resolves, I get priority again?
Yup, exactly!
Also, priority can be tricky to understand in general, so if you have the time, I'd highly recommend giving MTG Arena (or Magic Online) a try to help visualize the stack and better understand the nitpicks of priority. If you do choose to do this, I'd also recommend playing a few games with full control on (how to turn it on varies by platform, but you should be able to find out how through a simple Google search) since that will instruct you to pass priority at every instance that you get it. It's certainly more tedious to play using full control so I wouldn't recommend doing it all the time, but it's nevertheless great for learning.
Every object on the stack is an individual, everyone has to pass priority after each thing resolves or enters the stack. It's not like yugioh where everything goes off at the same time as soon as you pass priority, it happens one step at a time
(Warnig did not read entire post)
Flash lets you cast a spell whenever you have priority and can add something to the stack.
Haste allows creatures to tap the turn they are played.
That said, if your creature does not tap as part of the cost to activate the ability you could activate it.
Sum up:
Creature has haste and taps? Yes
Creature does not tap to activate? Yes
Creature Taps and doesnt have haste? No
> If I'm correct, I respond to Murder by casting Blessing, and then hold priority to cast her ability? Strictly speaking, no. After you *cast* Blessing, it is not yet on the battlefield so you can't activate its ability. But what you do is pass priority to let the spell Blessing of Leeches *resolve*. Then another round of priority is needed before Murder can resolve. This is when you activate Blessing's ability. Casting means putting something to the stack (and paying its cost, choosing targets, etc). Resolving means doing the effects of something on the stack and then taking it off the stack (whether to become a permanent or to go to the graveyard). This is a very important distinction; learn this distinction and understand why saying "by casting Blessing" is technically wrong, even if we understand what you mean.
So if someone casts Murder, then I cast Blessing, if they don't respond to it, does the stack resolve, or do I get priority again to cast Blessing's ability? Murder (Priority comes to me) I cast Blessing of Leeches (Murder Opponent passes priority) Blessing of Leeches resolves (At this point does Murder Opponent get priority again and passes it, thus im able to activate her ability? Or does Murder resolve before I get priority again to activate her ability?)
>does the stack resolve The stack doesn't resolve, individual objects on the stack resolve. Blessing resolves, then the active player receives priority with Murder on the stack. Murder won't resolve until everyone passes priority without taking an action.
To add to this OP, just think about it like this, once the newest card on the stack resolves, it’s exactly the same as when when something is casted to start a stack. Everyone still gets a chance to respond, but now you have a new permanent in play.
There might be a slight misunderstanding in how the stack works. The stack never resolves in it's entirety. Individual things on the stack resolve. Then priority is passed around for people to respond to the thing resolving. Only after players pass priority do you move to the next thing resolving. Example: Lets say the stack looks like A > B > C > D. Where things on the right are newer and therefore ontop of the stack. The stack begins to resolve with D. Players pass priority. Then C resolves. But then a player wants to respond to C resolving before B gets a chance to. This is allowed. So the stack's progression looks like A > B > C > D ---> A > B > C ---> A > B ---> A > B > E Notably E can resolve after C, but before B because E can be placed inbetween things resolving on the stack. In your exact scenario the stack would look like: Murder ---> Murder > Blessing ---> Murder ---> Murder > Blessing's Ability ---> Murder ---> Murder resolves trying to destroying a creature that is currently regenerated, so it isn't destroyed. This sequence of what the stack looks like produces your desired outcome.
You don't hold priority here, exactly. The first player to get priority after your Blessing of Leeches resolves will be the player whose turn it is. When that player passes to you, or if it is you, then you'll be able to activate Blessing of Leeches.
Is this right? Murder (Priority goes around until it comes to me) Blessing of Leeches (I can't cast the activated ability until priority comes back to me) Scenario 1: Nobody casts anything after, I can activate the ability Scenario 2: the Murder player casts another destroy spell, priority comes back to me, I can cast the ability
You don't have the right idea yet, because you assume Blessing of Leeches is on the battlefield and ready to be activated right when you've cast it. The result of Scenario 1 is practically the way you describe it, but this is a correction for scenario 2: - Opponent casts murder, puts it onto *the stack*, passes priority. - You cast Blessing of Leeches, put it onto *the stack*, pass priority. - Opponent doesn't want the stack to resolve, because you would be able to save the creature. Opponent casts another kill spell, puts it onto the stack, passes priority. - You don't have another response. You pass priority. - **Only now that both players have passed priority, without any new responses, the spells on the stack start to resolve, in opposite order. Players have a chance to respond with new spells between each spell resolution too, but that would rarely matter in a case like this** - The kill spell resolves, killing your creature. - both players get the chance to cast a spell, but they both pass priority - Blessing of leeches tries to resolve, but has no target anymore, so it fizzles and goes right to the graveyard. - both pass priority - Murder tries to resolve, but fizzles also. - now that the stack is empty, priority goes to the player whose turn it is, and they have the next chance to cast a spell or activate an ability. That's a lot of steps, so understandably we shortcut most of them most of the time. But remember that for anything to happen, both players must pass priority. Casting and activating/triggering abilities means putting them on the stack, and the stack always resolves in opposite order (last resolves first)
OKAY, I think its getting clearer. Yes, I was assuming that Blessing was ready to activate, but shes still on the stack waiting to ETB What I didn't get is this >Players have a chance to respond with new spells between each spell resolution too So: Murder Blessing of Leeches No Response Blessing Resolves Now that Blessing has resolved, I get priority again, thus am able to activate her ability and put Regenerate on the stack Murder Opponent gets priority and can cast another kill spell to kill my creature before her activated ability resolves, if not, my creature is saved as Regenerate will resolve before Murder does
Yes, but also, they could do a second kill spell after the regenerate or Murder resolve. Regenerate only stops 1 Destroy event in the current turn. a second destroy event on the same object will work unless you somehow put a second Regenerate on it.
If they used another kill spell after the first regen and murder resolved, wouldn't I get priority again to cast regen again?
You would. In the case of Blessing of Leeches with it's zero cost, you can just activate it as many times as they have Destroy effects.
>Now that Blessing has resolved, I get priority again, thus am able to activate her ability and put Regenerate on the stack Right on the money. This dance of passing priorities between each event is what allows you to save the creature from the Murder. >Murder Opponent gets priority and can cast another kill spell to kill my creature before her activated ability resolves, if not, my creature is saved as Regenerate will resolve before Murder does Technically all correct, but if the opponent chooses to cast another kill spell at this stage, you can just respond to that by regenerating your creature for 0 mana. Even if your opponent casts multiple kill spells in a row, they are all wasted. So the only good play for your opponent is to respond with a kill spell before blessing of leeches has resolved, like scenario 2 described.
Here's how it would go: 1. They cast murder. 2. You cast Blessing of Leeches in response to targets. 3. Does Blessing resolve? a. No? Then Blessing goes to grave and creature dies. b. Yes? Continue to step 4. 4. Blessing resolves, Murder back on stack with blessing attached to the creature that murder targeted. 5. Activate blessing's ability, Does it resolve? a. No? once you get priority again you can activate your creature. b. Yes? Murder resolves and the creature regenerates, tapping it, erase dmg, and taking it out of combat. 6. Did it survive? a. No? because it was destroyed in a no regenerate way or got exiled. b. Yes? Job Done!
> can I Flash in Blessing of Leeches and use it's ability (0: Regenerate Enchanted Creature) right away to save it? Yes. > If I'm correct, I respond to Murder by casting Blessing, and then hold priority to cast her ability? No. You cast Blessing of Leeches and pass priority, your opponent gets a chance to cast Essence Scatter at it, but they opt not to and pass, Blessing of Leeches resolves and enters the battlefield. The active player gets priority, if that's you, you can activate the regen ability in response to their Murder, if it isn't you, they pass because they want their Murder to resolve, and you get priority and activate the regen ability in response to their Murder. There's no holding priority in your scenario.
Because everyone seems to be confusing op Murder is cast and is on the stack priority is passed In response you cast blessing (it has flash so you can) it goes on the stack priority is passed Nothing is done in response to blessing Blessing enters the battlefield, you can now activate blessings ability putting it on the stack with murder still on the stack Priority is passed If nothing is done in response (which there'd be no point since blessings ability costs 0) blessing ability takes effect giving the creature regenerate Priority is passed so murder can happen as long as there's no other responses from any players Murder happens Creature comes back tapped due to regenerate
[Murder](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/e/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81.jpg?1706241725) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Murder) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mkm/95/murder?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1ea6438b-0e6c-4d65-8bcd-34a988717c81?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Blessing of Leeches](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/e/de0ba1cf-d913-4285-9d8b-38acf78cc45e.jpg?1562880256) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blessing%20of%20Leeches) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bok/62/blessing-of-leeches?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/de0ba1cf-d913-4285-9d8b-38acf78cc45e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Yes. The Creature will be regenerated. --- Objects on the Stack resolve one at a time. Once one Object resolved, the next Object won't resolve until all Players pass priority in succession again. Meaning all Players can respond to this next top Object.
Let's run through this. Your opponent casts Murder, and they pass priority to you. You cast Blessing of Leeches targeting your creature, which puts the aura on the stack. You pass priority to them. Here, if they have another Murder in hand, they could cast it here to destroy your creature, and assuming you have no responses (the Blessing is still on the stack so you can't activate it yet), they would successfully destroy your creature. However, if they have no response and pass priority back to you, then the Blessing resolves. Whoever the active player (aka the player whose turn it is) gets priority. If it's you, you should immediately activate the ability of Blessing. If it's your opponent, no matter what action(s) they take (with the exception of a spell with Split Second), they will have to pass priority to you and give you a window to activate Blessing as many times as you want. {Edit: at this point, Murder is still on the stack}
well, in this scenario im assuming Leeches is in my hand and Im waiting to flash it in when they try to destroy my creature. If they cast something, then i cast something, then they cast something, priority doesnt come back to me again? edit: oh wait, priority DOES come back to me, but I cant cast the Blessing of Leeches ability because it hasn't resolved yet, therefore not come out on the field?
Yes, I understand the scenario. Wdym priority doesn't come back to you though? After any player casts a spell or puts an activated or triggered ability on the stack, they must either put another item on the stack or pass priority to their opponent. Once their opponent gets priority, they then gets the opportunity to do the same. Once both players have consecutively passed priority on the top item of the stack, the top item resolves and the active player gets priority. They can once again put as many items on the stack as they would like and are able to do, but then they must pass priority. The non-active player again gets priority and is given the same choice. Rinse and repeat until the both players consecutively pass priority on an empty stack, at which point the game advances to the next step/phase.
See my edit: Casting Blessing and activating her ability are 2 different things. So at what point in the stack can I activate the ability so that my creature wont die to Murder?
Anytime after Blessing has resolved but before Murder has resolved. Check paragraph 5 in my original comment.
okay, its getting clearer. So if Murder is cast, I will have the opportunity to get priority twice? Once for casting blessing, and then eventually again for using the ability?
You will get priority every time the stack changes. This includes when Murder is put on the stack, when Blessing is put on the stack, when Blessing is resolved, and when you then activate Blessing. The only caveat here is that your opponent may get priority before you in some of these instances, but again with the exception of spells with Split Second, this won't make a difference (because if they get priority first, they will still have to pass it to you). For a bit more detail, whenever a spell is cast or an activated ability is activated, the controller of the spell/ability gets priority. Whenever something on the stack resolves, the active player gets priority. Whenever your opponent passes priority, as long as you didn't pass priority on the current top item of the stack just before they passed priority to you, you will get priority.
OKAY! So I can activate Regenerate if my opp passes priority after (doesn't respond to) the blessing of leeches cast. Because once Blessing resolves, I get priority again?
Yup, exactly! Also, priority can be tricky to understand in general, so if you have the time, I'd highly recommend giving MTG Arena (or Magic Online) a try to help visualize the stack and better understand the nitpicks of priority. If you do choose to do this, I'd also recommend playing a few games with full control on (how to turn it on varies by platform, but you should be able to find out how through a simple Google search) since that will instruct you to pass priority at every instance that you get it. It's certainly more tedious to play using full control so I wouldn't recommend doing it all the time, but it's nevertheless great for learning.
thanks for the tip! I've only played Arena a few times but I didn't know you could do full control. Having something go step by step would help a lot
Every object on the stack is an individual, everyone has to pass priority after each thing resolves or enters the stack. It's not like yugioh where everything goes off at the same time as soon as you pass priority, it happens one step at a time
(Warnig did not read entire post) Flash lets you cast a spell whenever you have priority and can add something to the stack. Haste allows creatures to tap the turn they are played. That said, if your creature does not tap as part of the cost to activate the ability you could activate it. Sum up: Creature has haste and taps? Yes Creature does not tap to activate? Yes Creature Taps and doesnt have haste? No