Can You Exile From the Stack? A Comprehensive Guide
The short and direct answer is yes, you absolutely can exile cards from the stack in Magic: The Gathering. This concept, while not always intuitive for newer players, is a crucial aspect of the game’s mechanics and opens up a wide range of strategic possibilities. Exiling a spell or ability that’s currently on the stack can be a powerful disruption tool, preventing it from resolving and altering the course of a game. This article will delve into the specifics of exiling from the stack, explore common scenarios, and answer frequently asked questions to provide a thorough understanding of this important game element.
Understanding the Stack
Before diving into exiling from the stack, it’s essential to grasp what the stack itself represents. In Magic, the stack is a zone where spells and abilities go before they resolve. When a player casts a spell or activates an ability, it doesn’t immediately take effect. Instead, it goes on the stack. Players then have the opportunity to respond to the spell or ability on the stack by casting their own spells or activating their own abilities. This creates a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) system, meaning the last thing added to the stack is the first thing to resolve.
How Exiling from the Stack Works
When you exile a card from the stack, you’re effectively removing it from the game without allowing it to resolve. Unlike countering a spell, which still sends it to the graveyard, exiling it removes it completely (unless otherwise specified) from the current game context. It’s important to distinguish between these actions, as they yield different results, specifically, triggers related to “dying” won’t trigger for an exiled card.
Several effects in Magic: The Gathering can exile cards from the stack. These are usually spells or abilities that specifically target the stack. Here are a few key ways this can happen:
Specific Exile Effects
Some spells and abilities are explicitly designed to exile things on the stack:
- Summary Dismissal: A powerful counterspell that not only prevents a spell from resolving, it also exiles it.
- Mindbreak Trap: A potent counterspell that can exile a multitude of spells from the stack, especially effective when an opponent casts multiple spells in a turn.
- Time Stop: While more broad, Time Stop can effectively exile a multitude of spells on the stack by ending the current turn, causing all spells and abilities to be removed from the stack.
These spells and abilities create a strategic option to permanently remove an otherwise problematic spell.
Blanket Exile Effects
While less common, some effects will indiscriminately exile multiple cards, potentially removing any spells or abilities on the stack:
- Certain board wipe effects might exile instead of destroying, also removing the spells on the stack in addition to creatures and permanents on the battlefield.
The Strategic Implications of Exiling from the Stack
Exiling cards from the stack is often a high-impact play for the following reasons:
- Permanent Removal: Unlike countering, which sends spells to the graveyard where they could potentially be recovered, exiling provides a more permanent removal.
- Disrupting Combos: Exiling key pieces of an opponent’s combo that are on the stack can effectively shut down their plan.
- Preventing Triggers: Spells and abilities that would trigger if they resolved are prevented from doing so when they are exiled from the stack.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a countered spell be exiled?
No, a countered spell goes to the graveyard, not the exile zone. However, some counter spells, such as Summary Dismissal, will both counter and exile a spell on the stack.
2. Can you exile a land on the stack?
No, lands don’t go on the stack because they are played as special actions, not spells, and thus cannot be targeted by stack exiling effects.
3. Does exiling a spell trigger abilities that trigger when a spell is countered?
No, exiling a spell from the stack does not trigger abilities that look for countered spells. It is an entirely different type of effect.
4. Does hexproof prevent a spell from being exiled on the stack?
No, hexproof only prevents targeting by spells or abilities. Exiling from the stack does not require targeting a specific card in order to exile it, especially for those that effect all cards on the stack .
5. Can you exile a creature card being cast on the stack?
Yes, creature cards that are being cast on the stack can be exiled like any other spell. This prevents the creature from entering the battlefield.
6. Can you cast an exiled card immediately?
It depends on the exiling effect. Some cards, like those that exile an instant or sorcery with the effect of being able to cast them, can be cast immediately if the effect says so. If the effect does not allow it to be cast, it is just exiled.
7. What happens to a spell if it’s exiled from the stack after it’s been copied?
The copied spell will remain on the stack and will resolve if not countered or exiled, while the original will be removed from the stack.
8. If an effect allows a player to cast a spell from exile, can they cast it with Flash?
The timing restrictions of the card being cast still apply, unless specifically overridden. Casting a card from exile will not, on its own, allow you to cast the spell with flash, only if the card allows it or if it is an instant.
9. Does exiling a card from the stack count as the spell resolving?
No, exiled spells do not resolve. They are removed from the stack before they have a chance to resolve.
10. Can you get exiled cards back into your hand, graveyard, or onto the battlefield?
Yes, some cards have abilities that allow you to retrieve exiled cards. Specific card text will explain how to do so.
11. Can you exile a card that is being cast via Flashback?
Yes, a card being cast via Flashback is a spell on the stack and is a valid target to exile from the stack.
12. Does a permanent go to the graveyard if it is exiled?
No, exiled permanents do not go to the graveyard. The card is removed from play entirely.
13. Does a creature with indestructible stay on the battlefield if exiled?
No, indestructible only prevents destruction, not exile. A creature can be exiled regardless of whether it’s indestructible.
14. Do counters stay on a permanent when it is exiled?
No, exiled permanents lose all counters, equipment, and enchantments that are on them. These attached things go to the graveyard if applicable.
15. Does a commander go to the command zone if exiled?
The owner of the commander can choose to send it to the command zone instead of exile when it would go to exile, just like it can when it would go to the graveyard.
Conclusion
Exiling cards from the stack is a powerful and nuanced mechanic in Magic: The Gathering. Understanding how it works is essential for any player looking to improve their game. By knowing how to leverage these effects, you can disrupt your opponents’ strategies, prevent dangerous spells from resolving, and gain a significant advantage. Whether you’re using specific exile effects or blanket board wipes, mastering this concept will undoubtedly enhance your gameplay.