Can You Hold Priority to Cast a Sorcery?

Yes, you absolutely can hold priority to cast a sorcery, but only if you have priority in your main phase when the stack is empty. This is a fundamental concept in Magic: The Gathering, understanding when and how you can cast a sorcery. Let’s break down why this is the case and explore the nuances.

Understanding Priority and Sorcery Speed

To grasp the answer fully, we need to understand two core concepts: priority and sorcery speed.

• Priority: In Magic, priority is the right to take an action, such as casting a spell or activating an ability. After a spell or ability resolves, the active player (the player whose turn it is) receives priority first. Players can only take actions when they have priority.

• Sorcery Speed: Sorceries are a type of spell that can only be cast during your main phase when the stack is empty. The stack is where spells and abilities “wait” to resolve. If something is already on the stack (a spell that was cast, or an ability that was activated), you cannot cast a sorcery.

Therefore, you can hold priority to cast a sorcery, meaning after you performed any action, you may retain priority before your opponent can cast a spell or use an ability. This is particularly relevant for casting multiple sorceries in a turn, or activating mana abilities.

Why Hold Priority?

Holding priority is often done for strategic reasons. Here are a few scenarios:

• Casting Multiple Sorceries: If you want to cast two sorceries in the same main phase, you must cast the first, then hold priority after it is cast but before it resolves, so you can cast the second. If you don’t, your opponent will get priority after the first sorcery is cast and would be able to respond.

• Using Mana Abilities: You might need to tap lands or use other mana abilities to generate the mana needed to cast your sorcery. Holding priority allows you to do this in response to your own actions.

• Preventing Opponent’s Responses: Although you might not be able to prevent all responses, holding priority can sometimes force your opponent to react at a less opportune time for them.

Practical Examples

Let’s illustrate with examples:

• Example 1: Casting two sorceries. You are in your main phase and want to cast two copies of [[Sign in Blood]]. First, you cast Sign in Blood. You hold priority (you indicate this intention to your opponent). Then, with the first Sign in Blood still on the stack, you cast the second Sign in Blood. Now both spells are on the stack, and your opponent gets priority to respond to either spell, or let them resolve.

• Example 2: Using a Mana Ability before casting a sorcery. You have 2 lands that produce black mana. You want to cast [[Torment of Hailfire]], which costs {X}{B}{B}, where X is a variable cost. You choose X = 5 (for a total cost of {5}{B}{B}). You tap your two lands for {B}{B}. You hold priority after tapping them to then use [[Dark Ritual]] to produce {B}{B}{B}. Now you have enough mana to cast Torment of Hailfire. You cast it!

Common Mistakes

Many players misunderstand priority rules, leading to mistakes. A common error is assuming you can cast a sorcery at any time during your turn. Remember the key requirements:

• It must be your main phase.
• The stack must be empty.

FAQs: Holding Priority and Casting Sorceries

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules around holding priority and casting sorceries:

1. What exactly does it mean to “hold priority”?

Holding priority means that after you cast a spell or activate an ability, you retain the right to take another action before your opponent gets a chance to respond. You explicitly state that you are holding priority.

2. How do I indicate that I’m holding priority?

Simply tell your opponent “I’m holding priority”. Be clear in your communication to avoid misunderstandings. Online, most platforms have a way to indicate this through a button or chat.

3. Can I hold priority in my opponent’s turn?

No, you cannot hold priority in your opponent’s turn, unless you gained priority to begin with. If you cast an instant in their turn, you would gain priority, and thus could hold it to cast another instant, or activate an ability that you could cast as though it had flash.

4. Can I cast a sorcery during my combat phase?

No, you can only cast a sorcery during your main phase. You have two main phases: the precombat main phase and the postcombat main phase.

5. What happens if I try to cast a sorcery when the stack isn’t empty?

The game will not allow you to cast it. If you try to cast a sorcery when the stack isn’t empty (e.g., another spell is waiting to resolve), it’s an illegal action and the game will rewind to the state before you attempted to cast the sorcery.

6. Can my opponent respond if I hold priority?

Yes, after you take your action while holding priority, your opponent eventually gets a chance to respond. Holding priority only allows you to take another action before your opponent can act after your first action.

7. If I cast a sorcery and don’t explicitly say I’m holding priority, what happens?

If you don’t explicitly hold priority, you are assumed to be passing it to your opponent. They then have the opportunity to respond to your sorcery.

8. Can I cast a sorcery at instant speed if I have an ability that says so?

Yes, some cards allow you to cast sorceries as though they had flash. In this case, you could cast them whenever you have priority, even in your opponent’s turn.

9. What’s the difference between priority and the stack?

Priority is the right to take an action. The stack is the zone where spells and abilities wait to resolve. You need priority to add things to the stack.

10. If I have multiple main phases, can I cast a sorcery in each one?

Yes, you can cast sorceries in both your precombat and postcombat main phases, as long as you have priority and the stack is empty.

11. If my opponent casts a spell, can I cast a sorcery in response?

No, because the stack is not empty when your opponent casts a spell. You would have to cast an instant in response.

12. Does holding priority give me an advantage?

Yes, strategically holding priority can give you a significant advantage by allowing you to chain spells or abilities in a way that disrupts your opponent’s plans.

13. Can I hold priority indefinitely?

No, eventually, you have to pass priority to allow the game to progress. You can’t just hold priority and do nothing forever.

14. Can I activate a mana ability and then cast a sorcery while holding priority?

Yes, this is a common play. You can activate mana abilities, then hold priority to cast a sorcery with the mana you generated.

15. What if I accidentally pass priority when I meant to hold it?

This can be a tough situation. If you realize your mistake immediately, you can call a judge (if in a tournament) and explain the situation. If the game state hasn’t changed significantly, the judge may allow you to rewind the game. However, it’s best to be clear and deliberate in your actions to avoid such errors.

Understanding the intricacies of priority and sorcery speed is crucial for mastering Magic: The Gathering. By understanding these concepts, you can improve your gameplay and make informed decisions that can lead to victory.