MTG Rules FAQ — Common Questions Answered
Direct answers to recurring Magic: The Gathering rules questions, with rule references and links to deeper original guides.
Can I respond to a triggered ability before it resolves?
Yes, for ordinary triggered abilities. They go on the stack and both players receive priority before they resolve, much like spells. Triggered mana abilities are the exception and resolve without using the stack (rule 605.4). When a “when this creature dies” trigger fires, the creature is already in the graveyard, but before an ordinary dies trigger resolves both players can cast instants or activate abilities.
Related: Stack and Priority guide
Can Counterspell counter a triggered ability?
No. Counterspell specifically targets a spell: an object on the stack that is a cast card or a copy of a spell. An ordinary triggered ability on the stack is an ability, not a spell, while a triggered mana ability does not use the stack at all. To counter a triggered or activated ability on the stack, you need an effect like Stifle that explicitly targets abilities.
Related: Common Rules Mistakes
Does damage carry over between turns?
No. All damage is removed from permanents at the end of the turn during the cleanup step (rule 514.2). A creature that was hit for 3 damage on your opponent’s turn starts your turn with zero damage. However, -1/-1 counters and poison counters persist indefinitely; those are counters, not damage.
Can a creature with summoning sickness tap for mana?
No. Summoning sickness (rule 302.6) prevents a creature from using an activated ability that includes the tap symbol as a cost, including mana abilities. A Llanowar Elves that just entered the battlefield cannot tap to produce mana until your next turn unless it has haste. Mana abilities are special because they resolve without using the stack (rule 605.3b), not because they bypass summoning sickness.
Related: Common Rules Mistakes
Does indestructible make a creature immune to everything?
No. Indestructible means the permanent cannot be destroyed. Effects that use the word “destroy” and destruction from lethal damage do not apply, but exile, sacrifice, and reducing toughness to zero or less all bypass indestructible. A -5/-5 effect can put an indestructible creature into its owner’s graveyard through a state-based action, not destruction.
Can I respond to my opponent playing a land?
No. Playing a land is a special action that does not use the stack (rule 305). You cannot respond to the land play itself. You can act before your opponent plays it if you have priority, or after it enters once priority is available again.
What happens when two players both control the same legendary card?
Nothing. The legend rule only applies when one player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name (rule 704.5j). If you and your opponent each control an Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice, neither player has to take an action. If you control two, you choose one and put the other into its owner’s graveyard.
Does a token that dies trigger “when a creature dies” abilities?
Yes. A token follows the same rules as other permanents while it is on the battlefield. It goes to the graveyard and can cause dies abilities to trigger, then ceases to exist as a state-based action (rule 111.7). It was in the graveyard briefly enough for the game to see that it died.
Can I use an instant during my opponent’s turn?
Yes, whenever you have priority and no rule or effect prohibits it. You can cast instants during an opponent’s main phase, during combat, or in response to spells and abilities. Sorceries and most permanent spells normally require your own main phase, an empty stack, and priority.
What is the difference between a replacement effect and a triggered ability?
A replacement effect changes an event as it would happen and does not use the stack. An ordinary triggered ability begins with “when,” “whenever,” or “at,” triggers from an event, and is put on the stack the next time a player would receive priority. Triggered mana abilities are the exception and resolve without using the stack. Lifelink is neither: it is a static ability whose life gain happens as damage is dealt.
Does copying a spell copy the targets chosen for it?
A copy starts with the same targets as the original spell, but the effect that creates the copy may allow its controller to choose new targets (rule 707.10). If it says you may choose new targets, you can change any or all of them while keeping each target legal.
Can I activate mana abilities at any time?
Not literally at any time. You can activate a mana ability when you have priority, and during specific parts of casting a spell or resolving an effect when the game asks you to pay mana. Mana abilities resolve immediately without using the stack (rule 605.3b), so opponents cannot respond to the mana ability itself.
Does first strike mean a creature attacks first?
No. First strike changes when a creature deals combat damage, not when it attacks. If at least one attacking or blocking creature has first strike or double strike as the combat damage step begins, the game creates an additional combat damage step for those creatures (rule 702.7). Creatures that survive may deal damage in the later combat damage step as appropriate.
Can I sacrifice a creature that is attacking or blocking?
Yes, if you can legally activate a spell or ability that asks you to sacrifice it. A creature can be sacrificed after it attacks or blocks, before combat damage. Once a creature is blocked, removing the blocker normally does not make the attacker unblocked, though trample may still let the attacker assign damage to the defending player.
What happens if a spell or ability has no legal targets when it resolves?
If every target is illegal when a spell or ability tries to resolve, it does not resolve and none of its effects happen (rule 608.2b). If at least one target remains legal, it resolves and affects only the legal targets where the instructions can do so.
Is mana burn still in the game?
No. Mana burn was removed in the Magic 2010 rules update. Unspent mana normally empties from a player’s mana pool at the end of each step and phase, with no loss of life (rule 500.4).
Related: Common Rules Mistakes
How does trample work with multiple blockers?
The attacking player assigns the trampling creature’s combat damage among its blockers and the player, planeswalker, or battle it is attacking. Under the current rules there is no blocker damage-assignment order, but the attacker still must assign at least lethal damage to every blocker before assigning excess damage through trample. Damage already marked counts toward lethal damage, and any positive amount from a source with deathtouch is considered lethal for assignment (rules 510.1 and 702.19).
In Commander, does commander damage stack across multiple commanders?
No. Commander damage is tracked for each commander and each player separately (rule 903.10). Taking 10 combat damage from one commander and 11 from another does not meet the condition. A player loses after one commander has dealt that player 21 or more combat damage over the game.
What is the color identity rule in Commander?
A card’s color identity includes the colors in its mana cost and color indicator, colors defined by characteristic-defining abilities, and colored mana symbols in its rules text, while ignoring reminder text (rule 903.4). A card in a Commander deck cannot have a color identity containing a color outside the commander’s color identity.
Can I look at my opponent’s hand?
Only when a rule, spell, or ability allows it. Hands are hidden zones by default (rule 400.2). An effect may let you look at a hand or make a player reveal cards from it. Players may reveal cards from their own hands unless a rule or effect specifically prohibits that choice.