Turn structure

Revision as of 12:24, 17 November 2007

Template:Navigation turn structure

General rules

A turn in Magic consists the following series of phases and steps:

Beginning phase
Main phase (pre-combat)
Combat phase
Main phase (post-combat)
End phase
- End of turn step
- Cleanup step

Beginning phases and steps

When a phase or step begins, any abilities that trigger "at the beginning of" that phase or step are added to the stack in "Active Player, Non-Active Player" (APNAP) order. The active player (the player whose turn it is) puts the triggered abilities they control (if any) on the stack in any order they wish, then the non-active player does likewise for the triggered abilities (if any) they control. Priority then passes to the active player. As usual every player then gets a chance to respond to these triggers with instants and instant-speed activated abilities when they have priority.

Ending phases and steps

When all players pass priority in succession and the stack is empty, a phase or step ends. Nothing happens between turns, phases or steps. Because a phase or step only ends when the stack is empty and all players pass priority, every player gets an opportunity to add new things to the stack before the current phase or step ends.

Mana burn

Whenever a phase ends, any unused mana in a player's mana pool is removed. That player loses 1 life for each mana removed. This is called mana burn. This game action is a triggered ability that counts as a mana ability, and therefore it does not use the stack. (Remember that mana burn causes life loss and thus it cannot be prevented or redirected.)

Extra turns

If an effect gives a player extra turns, it does this by adding the turns directly after the current turn. if multiple extra turns are created or if multiple players get extra turns during a single turn, the extra turns are added one at a time. This is done in the regular Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) order.

Extra phases and steps

If effects add a phase to a turn, or steps to a phase they work the same way as with extra turns. An extra phase is added directly after a specified phase, and an extra step is added directly after or before a specified step. If multiple phases or steps are created after the same phase or step they resolve in LIFO order. If phases (or steps) are created after seperate phases (or steps) they occur in the order they would normally occur in the turn structure.

Skipping turns, phases and steps

Some effects can cause a turn, phase or step to be skipped. A turn, phase or step is skipped by proceeding past it as though it didn't exist. This means that any actions for any player that would normally happen during the turn, phase or step is skipped as well.

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 {{Rules|
 text = '''From the [[Comprehensive Rules]]'''
-* 300. General
+* '''300.''' General
-**300.1. A turn consists of five phases, in this order: beginning, precombat main, combat, postcombat main, and end. Each of these phases takes place every turn, even if nothing happens during the phase. The beginning, combat, and end phases are further broken down into steps, which proceed in order.
+**'''300.1.''' A turn consists of five phases, in this order: beginning, precombat main, combat, postcombat main, and end. Each of these phases takes place every turn, even if nothing happens during the phase. The beginning, combat, and end phases are further broken down into steps, which proceed in order.
-**300.2. A phase or step ends when the stack is empty and all players pass in succession. No game events can occur between turns, phases, or steps. Simply having the stack become empty doesn’t cause the phase or step to end; all players have to pass with the stack empty. Because of this, each player gets a chance to add new things to the stack before the current phase or step ends.
+**'''300.2.''' A phase or step ends when the stack is empty and all players pass in succession. No game events can occur between turns, phases, or steps. Simply having the stack become empty doesn’t cause the phase or step to end; all players have to pass with the stack empty. Because of this, each player gets a chance to add new things to the stack before the current phase or step ends.
-**300.3. When a phase ends (but not a step), any unused mana left in a player’s mana pool is lost. That player loses 1 life for each one mana lost this way. This is called mana burn. Mana burn is loss of life, not damage, so it can’t be prevented or altered by effects that affect damage. This game action doesn’t use the stack. (See rule 406, “Mana Abilities.”)
+**'''300.3.''' When a phase ends (but not a step), any unused mana left in a player’s mana pool is lost. That player loses 1 life for each one mana lost this way. This is called mana burn. Mana burn is loss of life, not damage, so it can’t be prevented or altered by effects that affect damage. This game action doesn’t use the stack. (See rule 406, “Mana Abilities.”)
-**300.4. When a phase or step ends, any effects scheduled to last “until end of” that phase or step expire. When a phase or step begins, any effects scheduled to last “until” that phase or step expire. Effects that last “until end of combat” expire at the end of the combat phase, not at the beginning of the end of combat step. Effects that last “until end of turn” are subject to special rules; see rule 314.2.
+**'''300.4.''' When a phase or step ends, any effects scheduled to last “until end of” that phase or step expire. When a phase or step begins, any effects scheduled to last “until” that phase or step expire. Effects that last “until end of combat” expire at the end of the combat phase, not at the beginning of the end of combat step. Effects that last “until end of turn” are subject to special rules; see rule 314.2.
-**300.5. When a phase or step begins, any abilities that trigger “at the beginning of” that phase or step are added to the stack.
+**'''300.5.''' When a phase or step begins, any abilities that trigger “at the beginning of” that phase or step are added to the stack.
-**300.6. Some effects can give a player extra turns. They do this by adding the turns directly after the current turn. If a player gets multiple extra turns or if multiple players get extra turns during a single turn, the extra turns are added one at a time. The most recently created turn will be taken first.
+**'''300.6.''' Some effects can give a player extra turns. They do this by adding the turns directly after the current turn. If a player gets multiple extra turns or if multiple players get extra turns during a single turn, the extra turns are added one at a time. The most recently created turn will be taken first.
-**300.7. Some effects can add phases to a turn. They do this by adding the phases directly after the specified phase. If multiple extra phases are created after the same phase, the most recently created phase will occur first.
+**'''300.7.''' Some effects can add phases to a turn. They do this by adding the phases directly after the specified phase. If multiple extra phases are created after the same phase, the most recently created phase will occur first.
-**300.8. Some effects can add steps to a phase. They do this by adding the steps directly after a specified step (or directly before a specified step). If multiple extra steps are created after the same step, the most recently created step will occur first.
+**'''300.8.''' Some effects can add steps to a phase. They do this by adding the steps directly after a specified step (or directly before a specified step). If multiple extra steps are created after the same step, the most recently created step will occur first.
-**300.9. Some effects can cause a step, phase, or turn to be skipped. To skip a step, phase, or turn is to proceed past it as though it didn’t exist. See rule 419.6e and rule 419.6f.
+**'''300.9.''' Some effects can cause a step, phase, or turn to be skipped. To skip a step, phase, or turn is to proceed past it as though it didn’t exist. See rule 419.6e and rule 419.6f.
 |}}