Do Instants Count as Sorceries in Magic: The Gathering?
Unequivocally, no, instants do not count as sorceries in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). They are distinct card types with specific rules governing when they can be played. While both are non-permanent spells that resolve and go to the graveyard (unless otherwise specified by an effect like flashback or exile effects that allow them to be recast), their timing restrictions are fundamentally different.
Understanding the Core Differences: Instants vs. Sorceries
The key lies in understanding the concept of priority and the stack. In MTG, players take turns having priority, which essentially means it’s their turn to act. The stack is where spells and abilities are placed while they are waiting to resolve. Think of it as a to-do list; the last thing added is the first thing done (Last In, First Out or LIFO).
Instants: The Reactive Powerhouse
Instants are designed for flexibility. You can cast them almost any time you have priority. This includes:
- Your own main phase.
- Your opponent’s turn.
- In response to another spell or ability on the stack.
- During the combat phase (before attackers are declared, after attackers are declared, after blockers are declared, and after combat damage).
This versatility makes instants crucial for disrupting your opponent’s plans, protecting your creatures, or seizing an opportunity to swing the game in your favor. A well-timed Lightning Bolt to remove a blocker or a Counterspell to negate a game-winning spell can be devastating.
Sorceries: Strategic Planning
Sorceries are more deliberate. You can only cast them during your own main phase, when the stack is empty, and you have priority. This means you need to plan ahead, as you can’t react to your opponent’s actions with a sorcery. Sorceries are often more powerful than instants, reflecting their strategic nature. Think of board wipes like Wrath of God or game-winning effects like Time Warp.
Why the Distinction Matters: The Stack and Priority
The ability to respond to spells and abilities using instants is what separates them from sorceries. Consider this scenario: Your opponent casts a creature. You cannot cast a sorcery in response to this. However, you can cast an instant removal spell, like Murder, targeting that creature. The instant will resolve first, sending the creature to the graveyard, and then the game proceeds.
This dynamic interplay of instants and the stack is fundamental to strategic gameplay in MTG. It creates opportunities for bluffs, calculated risks, and outmaneuvering your opponent.
FAQs: Instants vs. Sorceries
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the differences and nuances surrounding instants and sorceries:
1. Are instants considered spells in Magic?
Yes, instants are spells while they are on the stack. Before being cast, an instant card is simply that – a card in your hand, graveyard, or other zone. Once cast, it becomes an instant spell on the stack, and after it resolves, it typically goes to the graveyard.
2. Can you cast a sorcery at instant speed?
Generally, no. Sorceries can only be cast during your main phase when the stack is empty. However, some cards grant sorceries the ability to be cast as though they had flash, which allows you to cast them at any time you could cast an instant.
3. Does copying an instant or sorcery count as casting?
No. When you copy a spell using an effect like Increasing Vengeance, the copy is put directly onto the stack. It is not cast, so it doesn’t trigger effects that trigger upon casting a spell (unless the effect specifies that copies are also cast).
4. Is an instant or sorcery a permanent?
No. Permanents are cards that remain on the battlefield after they are played, such as creatures, artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers. Instants and sorceries are non-permanent spells that resolve and then go to the graveyard (or are exiled).
5. Can you cast instants during combat?
Yes. Combat offers numerous opportunities to cast instants. You can cast them before attackers are declared to remove potential threats, after attackers are declared to disrupt their plans, after blockers are declared to change the combat math, and even after combat damage has been dealt to save a creature or deal extra damage.
6. Do instants resolve before sorceries?
The stack resolves one spell or ability at a time, and the last thing put on the stack resolves first. Therefore, if you respond to a sorcery with an instant, the instant will resolve before the sorcery.
7. Can you play two instants in a row?
Yes. If you have priority, you can cast as many instants as you have in your hand (and the mana to pay for them). You can cast one, retain priority, and cast another, effectively chaining them together.
8. Do instants count as activated abilities?
No, instants are not activated abilities. Activated abilities are written in the format “Cost: Effect” and are found on permanents.
9. Is Dark Ritual an instant or sorcery?
Dark Ritual is an instant. Historically, it had different card types, but in modern MTG, it is an instant.
10. Do sorceries have Lifelink?
Generally, no. However, some effects can grant lifelink to sorceries and instants, such as the ability of Firesong and Sunspeaker.
11. Can you exile a sorcery?
Yes, sorceries can be exiled using effects like Commit // Memory. In some cases, you can even cast exiled sorceries, as specified by cards like The Kami War.
12. What is a true sorcery?
While “true sorcery” isn’t an official MTG term, it might refer to custom magic systems used in other games. If you’re interested in game-based learning and innovative magic systems, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
13. Can I use Boseiju, Who Endures at instant speed?
The channel ability of Boseiju, Who Endures can be activated at instant speed, allowing you to destroy an artifact or enchantment.
14. Do all instants and sorceries have Deathtouch?
No. Certain cards, however, grant Deathtouch to your instant and sorcery spells, such as the ability granted by Gorgon’s Head.
15. Do copies trigger magecraft?
If an effect creates multiple copies of an instant or sorcery spell on the stack, magecraft abilities will trigger once for each copy.
Mastering the Art of Timing
Understanding the distinction between instants and sorceries is fundamental to becoming a skilled MTG player. It allows you to react strategically, control the flow of the game, and maximize your chances of victory. Mastering the art of timing, especially with instants, is a crucial skill that separates casual players from true strategists. Happy dueling!