Magic the Gathering: Do creature abilities act as instants?

Question

Ex: Telekinetic Sliver- (T): tap target permanent.

Can I play this ability during my opponents turn? Or can it only be played during my turn?

Also if it can be played during my opponents turn, if I tired to tap Avatar of Woe and he tried to destroy my sliver doing this ability who would have first priority?

thanks for the help guys.

Answer 1

In this case, yes. You can play this on your opponent's turn, but you can't stop the Avatar of Woe's effect from resolving. This is one of the most fought over facts in Magic. Think of it this way. I am throwing a grenade at you. You shoot me in response. I die, but the grenade still explodes.

However, in many other cases, there will be effects that prevent a certain effect from happening. For example, there are cards that say "activate this effect only during your turn" and so on. You must obey these instructions, because in Magic, whenever two effects conflict, the "can't" effect always wins. Just be careful.

and keep playing Magic!

Answer 2

Once something is on the "stack" it will resolve even if the card that put it there is removed. There are some exceptions like counter spell that  removes a spell from the stack and stops its resolution, and i believe there are also some "counter creature ability" type cards out there as well.  Magic evolvedso much hard to remember all the new when this and that rules, hence the  reason for the "Stack" and its rules system