Discussion Forum

Ok, I've been asked to do a quick blurb on priority. Unfortunately, it's a wordy topic, so it'll take some wordage, so here goes!
First, a definition, straight from the comprehensive rules;

115.1. Unless a spell or ability is instructing a player to take an action, which player can take actions at
any given time is determined by a system of priority. The player with priority may cast spells,
activate abilities, and take special actions.


So basically, having priority means you can do stuff. The active player (the guy taking his turn right now) gets priority during the beginning of most steps and phases, after turn-based actions (such as drawing during your draw step) have happened. You do not get priority during the untap step, nor during the cleanup step unless an ability triggers during either one of these. Speaking of which, the active player gets priority immediately after any abilities are put on the stack. When the active player gets priority, once the player decides to move on with his/her turn, the next player in the turn order gets priority. If priority is passed all the way around the table (or between both players, as is most often the case), the next part of the turn is taken. For example:
Player A gains priority during his pre-combat main phase. If he decides not to play anything and wishes to move to the combat phase, then he passes priority to Player B. Player B casts Terminate when he gets priority. Player B does not wish to cast anything else while Terminate's on the stack (yet), so he passes priority back to Player A. Player A casts Cancel targeting Terminate, and passes priority. Player B has no response, so Cancel resolves countering Terminate and removing it from the stack. Player A gets priority, passes, Player B passes priority back, and they move on to the Combat Phase (Pre-combat step).

Complicated, huh? Most of the time priority isn't a huge issue, but if you want to do something during an opponent's turn, say kill their dude with terminate, you have to wait until you have priority to do so. Playing a land doesn't pass priority, neither does using a mana ability like Llanowar Elves. It's complicated, but it gets intuitive after a while. So, any questions I can answer?