If my opponent has {Elixir of Immortality} on the field and 2 mana available, and on my turn I play something to destroy target artifact, can he use the ability on Elixir to render my spell useless?
Yes, abilities can be activated at instant speed unless otherwise stated.
Another senario, Elixir is on his side and he only has 1 mana avalible and a {Arbor Elf} untapped. If i want to destroy his artifact, could he tap the elf to untap a forest and use the elixir all before i destroy it?
Also yes. Youd cast your spell to destroy his artifact then pass priority. He could then activate arbor elf to untap a land. You would then receive priority. If you have no response priority would pass to him once again. He would then have 2 mana available with which to activate elixir of immortality.
I dont understand that.
I play "destroy target artifact" -> priority to him
in response, he taps the elf to untap a land -> priority to me
why wouldnt my spell continue to go through? Why would he receive priority again to use the elixir?
Because for spells to resolve priority must be passed by both players with no action.
Example:
I play a spell
*priority passes
Opponent does nothing
*priority passes
I have no more to do, spell resolves
Or
I play a spell
*
Opponent plays a spell
*
I do nothing
*
Opponent does nothing, spells resolve
VERY rough example but im not expert enough to illustrate better. Wheres Gorzeyoto combo when we need em :/
Quote from: TreeTopSky on April 16, 2014, 11:14:28 PM
I dont understand that.
I play "destroy target artifact" -> priority to him
in response, he taps the elf to untap a land -> priority to me
why wouldnt my spell continue to go through? Why would he receive priority again to use the elixir?
you're missing a piece of the puzzle. His elf ability resolves, untapping a land. Priority goes around again, THEN he activates the elixir's ability, putting it on the stack. It then resolves, and your {Naturalize} or whatever fizzles because invalid target.
Quote from: MisterJH on April 16, 2014, 11:39:49 PM
Because for spells to resolve priority must be passed by both players with no action.
Example:
I play a spell
*priority passes
Opponent does nothing
*priority passes
I have no more to do, spell resolves
Or
I play a spell
*
Opponent plays a spell
*
I do nothing
*
Opponent does nothing, spells resolve
VERY rough example but im not expert enough to illustrate better. Wheres Gorzeyoto combo when we need em :/
you have your order a bit off on priority when casting a spell. after a spell or ability is put on the stack, the Active Player (the person who is taking the turn) receives priority. so player A casts a spell. Player A receives priority and has no responses. Then Player B receives priority and has a chance to respond. once the active player passes priority after casting a spell, if their opponents have no responses, their spell will resolve before they gain priority again.
Oh well hey i learned something! +1 to you my bad
So what you're saying is if i cast a creature, and my opponent {Cancel}s it, while its on the stack i can throw down a cancel to cancel his cancel? Once my creature is iut, he tries to {Unsummon} it can i give it hexproof until end of turn?
out*
Also if a player has priority he can add as many things to the stack as he chooses as long as they are at instant speed. Priority does not pass after each spell is added to the stack.
Also, once priority has been passed twice the stack resolves. For ex:
Player A plays a spell and then passes.
Player B has no spell and passes back, the stack resolves.
Player A does not receive priority again to add more to the stack.
BUT, If I am wrong about this, would someone that is positive correct me. But I think this mistake was made further up the thread.
You're real close. When everyone passes priority only the last item put on the stack resolves, then AP gets priority again. If there are three items on the stack, everyone has to pass priority three times for the stack to empty.
Ok, didn't think that was the case, but I trust ya. Knowing the stack is SO massive to the game. It literally ups your game.
116.3b (http://imtgapp.com/forum/index.php?action=imtg;area=rule;number=116.3b): The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
It took me way longer than I wanted to find this rule.