When can a player cast an instant?
A player can cast an instant at any time, including during their own main phase, combat phase, end step, upkeep, or draw step, as well as during their opponent’s turn, as long as they have priority. The key aspect of instants is their flexibility in terms of timing, allowing players to react to situations as they unfold, or to seize opportunities that arise during the game, by casting them at instant speed.
Understanding Instants and Priority
Introduction to Instants
Instants are a type of spell in Magic: The Gathering that can be played at any time, providing players with strategic flexibility. Unlike sorceries, which can only be cast during the player’s own main phase and when the stack is empty, instants can be cast in response to other spells or abilities, or at any other time the player has priority.
Priority in Magic: The Gathering
Priority is a crucial concept in Magic: The Gathering that determines when a player can take actions such as casting spells, activating abilities, or taking special actions. The player with priority can choose to cast instants, among other actions, and this can significantly impact the game’s progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you cast an instant without priority?
No, players cannot cast spells, activate abilities, or take special actions at a time when they do not have priority.
2. Can you cast an instant before upkeep?
Yes, players can cast instants before a “beginning of your upkeep” triggered ability resolves, but not before the ability gets triggered and goes on the stack.
3. Can you play an instant between upkeep and draw?
No cards or abilities can be played during the untap step, but during the upkeep and draw steps, players can cast instants and activate abilities as normal.
4. Can you cast an instant after end step?
Yes, players can still cast instants at the end of each turn, during the end step, right before they untap.
5. Can I channel as an instant?
Channel is an ability that can be activated at instant speed.
6. Can you cast an instant on an empty stack?
Yes, players can cast an instant on an empty stack, though it will be after the active player has passed priority to them.
7. Does tapping a land pass priority?
Tapping a land is an activated ability and follows the rules for activating any other activated ability; tapping a land for mana while having priority will force another round of priority.
8. Can I play an instant before blockers are declared?
Yes, players can cast instant spells any time they have priority, including after attackers are declared and before blockers are declared.
9. Can you play an instant before damage occurs?
Yes, players can cast an instant before first strike damage is dealt.
10. Can you play an instant after a sorcery?
Yes, but to do so, players must say they intend to keep priority the moment they cast the sorcery.
11. Can you cast instants during main phase?
Yes, instants can be used during the main phase, among other phases and steps.
12. Can you cast instant between untap and upkeep?
No, because no one has priority between the untap and upkeep steps.
13. Can you cast evoke as an instant?
Evoke is tied to the same casting speed of the creature it’s attached to; if the creature has flash, players can cast it whenever they could play an instant.
14. Can you cast instants during opponents turn?
Yes, one of the key advantages of instants is that they can be played at any time, including during an opponent’s turn.
15. What is the rule 117.5 in Magic The Gathering?
Rule 117.5 states that each time a player would get priority, the game first performs all applicable state-based actions as a single event, then repeats this process until no state-based actions are performed.
By understanding when and how instants can be cast, players can enhance their strategy and gameplay in Magic: The Gathering, utilizing the flexibility of instants to outmaneuver their opponents and achieve victory.