Mastering Time: Understanding Phase Skipping in Magic: The Gathering
Yes, you can skip phases in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), particularly the combat phase. While the game follows a structured sequence of phases and steps, certain game states or player choices allow for the bypassing of specific segments. Knowing when and how these skips occur is crucial for strategic gameplay and understanding the intricacies of MTG rules.
Diving Deep into MTG Phases and Steps
Magic: The Gathering unfolds in a series of well-defined phases, each broken down into steps. These phases create the structure of a turn, dictating when players can take specific actions. Recognizing the nuances within each phase, and how they can be potentially skipped, separates the casual player from the strategic master.
The Turn Structure in Brief
A typical turn in MTG includes the following phases:
- Beginning Phase: Untap step, Upkeep step, Draw step
- Precombat Main Phase
- Combat Phase: Beginning of combat step, Declare attackers step, Declare blockers step, Combat damage step, End of combat step
- Postcombat Main Phase
- Ending Phase: End step, Cleanup step
When Skipping Becomes an Option
The key to skipping a phase often lies in inaction. The combat phase, for example, is commonly “skipped” by choosing not to attack. Since no attackers are declared, the game moves directly from the beginning of combat step to the end of combat step, bypassing the declare attackers, declare blockers, and combat damage steps entirely. Certain card effects can also cause phases or steps to be skipped as well. This is especially true with the ending phase.
Phase Skipping: FAQs for the Aspiring Planeswalker
To further illuminate this strategic aspect of MTG, let’s address some frequently asked questions.
FAQ 1: Is the Combat Phase Always Mandatory?
No. While the combat phase is a standard part of the turn structure, it’s not mandatory. A player can choose not to attack, effectively skipping most of the steps within the combat phase.
FAQ 2: How Does Declaring No Attackers Affect the Combat Phase?
If no attackers are declared during the declare attackers step, the declare blockers step and combat damage step are skipped. The game proceeds directly to the end of combat step, signifying the end of the combat phase.
FAQ 3: What is the Impact of Skipping the Combat Phase?
Skipping the combat phase prevents any combat-related actions from occurring. Creatures don’t deal damage, abilities that trigger during combat don’t activate, and the game proceeds directly to the postcombat main phase.
FAQ 4: What Exactly is Phasing?
Phasing is a game mechanic where a permanent is temporarily treated as though it doesn’t exist. A phased-out permanent can’t be targeted, doesn’t deal damage, and generally has no effect on the game until it phases back in during its controller’s next untap step.
FAQ 5: Can You Respond to a Permanent Phasing In or Out?
Yes, you can respond to phase changes. Because each player needs to pass priorty in succession without taking action, you can respond to phasing.
FAQ 6: What Happens to Counters on a Phased-Out Permanent?
Counters remain on a permanent that phases out. Phasing doesn’t count as the permanent leaving the battlefield, so any existing counters, linked abilities, or choices made upon entering the battlefield are retained.
FAQ 7: How Can You Prevent a Permanent from Phasing In?
The most direct way to prevent a permanent from phasing in is to skip the untap step entirely. Cards like [[Stasis]] can achieve this.
FAQ 8: Can Triggered Abilities Be Ignored in MTG?
Players are expected to remember their own triggered abilities. Intentionally ignoring them can be considered Unsporting Conduct — Cheating, unless the ability has no impact on the game state.
FAQ 9: What About Skipping Steps within Other Phases?
While the combat phase offers the most obvious example of skipping, steps in other phases can also be skipped. For instance, if a player has no cards in hand during their cleanup step, they simply discard nothing and move to the next turn, skipping the discard portion of the step.
FAQ 10: Can You Cast Sorceries After Skipping Combat?
Yes. After skipping the combat phase, you proceed to the postcombat main phase, during which you can cast sorceries and other spells as normal.
FAQ 11: What is the Significance of Rule 506 in MTG?
Rule 506 in the MTG Comprehensive Rules details the specifics of the combat phase, including the sequence of steps and how permanents enter and leave combat. Rule 506.4 covers the condition by which a permanent can be removed from combat.
FAQ 12: Is There More Than One Combat Phase in a Turn?
Generally, no. However, certain cards and abilities can create additional combat phases. This allows specific creatures to attack multiple times in a single turn.
FAQ 13: How Does Tapping Affect a Creature in Combat?
Tapping or untapping a creature already declared as an attacker or blocker doesn’t remove it from combat, and doesn’t prevent it from dealing combat damage. The creature remains in combat unless explicitly removed by another effect.
FAQ 14: What Happens if a Permanent Phases Out During Combat?
If a permanent phases out during combat, it is removed from combat and ceases to participate. Attackers attacking phased out creatures simply attack the player or planeswalker the permanents’ controller controls.
FAQ 15: If My Commander Phases Out, Where Does It Go?
Objects that are phased out will phase back in during the untap step of the player who controlled them when they phased out. You can only recall you commander to the command zone at the moment it would change zones.
Strategic Implications of Phase and Step Skipping
Understanding the rules governing phases and steps, and when they can be bypassed, unlocks a deeper strategic layer in Magic: The Gathering. Whether it’s carefully choosing to avoid combat or using phasing to protect your resources, mastering these concepts will significantly enhance your gameplay. To further your understanding of the multifaceted aspects of gaming and learning, explore the resources provided by organizations like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.