I need help with magic the gathering.?

Question

I dont underdstand how the spell stack works at all. Every thing i read confuses me. What do u do at the beggining of a game when u play as spell and there is no stack yet? Plz explian this.

Answer 1

don't mess w/magic

Answer 2

The stack is the hardest thing to understand in the game.

Player A plays a spell (Original Spell [OS]).

Inititive passes to the other player(s).  If they do nothing, the spell resolves.  If they play a spell (S1) (has to be an instant or ability, everything else is too slow to affect the spell) in response to the OS, then the newly played spell, S1, goes on top of the OS.  Then Player A has a chance to respond to the S1.  Inititive passes between the two until no one can so anything else.

Ex.

A plays Llanowar Elves

B counters the elves

A counters the counter

First in, Last out (FILO):

A counters the counter, the elves come into play

Ex.

A plays the elves

B counters

A counters the counter

B counters the counter

FILO:

B's counter counter's A's counter, then B's counter counters the elves.

Ex.

A shocks (2 damage) to Birds of Paradise (0/1)

B plays Giant Growth (+3/+3) on the Birds (3/4 now)

So the birds live because they only take 2 damage when they have a toughness of 4.

Answer 3

The stack is always there, just like your graveyard is always there even if you have no cards in it.

The stack works as a holding spot for spells waiting to be resolved. A creature card, artifact card, instant card, sorcery card, Planeswalker card and enchantment card counts as a "spell" while it is being played. Basically land is the only type of card that isn't a spell.

The stack is used to give players an opportunity to respond to other spells being cast. The most basic example would be Counterspell being played in response to another spell on the stack.

The stack works as First In Last Out. This just means that the most recent thing played (without responses) will be the first thing to resolve. This will go on down the stack.

A good way to visualize this would be to physically put spells on a pile as they are being played so that every new spell will go on top of the other, older spells until they start to resolve.

The only spells that can be played on a stack with another spell in it are instants. However, abilities can use the stack at instant speed (unless otherwise noted). Abilities such as turning your Mutavault into a creature to boost your creature count while a spell is on the stack or tapping your Cauldron of Souls to give your creatures Persist while Wrath of God is on the stack, waiting to resolve.