Spells

Index	Table of Contents	Terms
	Spells

What's a Spell?
A card is a spell from the time it's played until it resolves. When the spell resolves, it goes to its owner's graveyard (if it's an instant or sorcery) or is put into play (if it's anything else). Even creature cards are spells while they're being played. For example, when you play Wind Drake, you're actually playing a Wind Drake spell. When the spell resolves, it puts the Wind Drake creature into play (the spell becomes a permanent).

There's one exception: land cards are never spells. They're simply put into play.

Playing Spells
You can play spells only when:

it's your main phase,
nothing is on the stack,
and you have priority.

Instants are the exception. You can play them on your opponent's turn and when another spell or ability is on the stack waiting to resolve. You can play them whenever you have priority.

When you get priority, you can play a spell or ability or pass. If you pass, your opponent gets priority. Also, after a spell or ability resolves, the active player gets priority again. When that player passes, the opponent gets priority again. This goes back and forth until both players pass in a row. (This isn't really as complicated as it sounds. Just remember that you get the first chance to do things on your turn. The Magic Online game lets you play spells and abilities only when you have priority.)

In Magic Online, you automatically pass when you play a spell or ability. If you want to keep priority, just hold down the CTRL (control) key while you play the spell or ability.

How Do Spells Resolve?
1. Each of the spell's targets is checked to see if it's still a legal target. (If the spell has no targets, skip this part.) A target isn't legal if it has left play. It also isn't legal if it doesn't match the requirements of the spell anymore. If none of the spell's targets are legal when it tries to resolve, it's countered. Otherwise, just ignore any illegal targets when the spell resolves.

2. The spell's effect happens, in the order it's written on the card. (Replacement effects may change what you do.) If the text tells you to make a choice other than targets or "Choose one ", you make those choices.

3. The card is put into play (for artifact, artifact creature, creature, and enchantment spells) or into its owner's graveyard (for instant and sorcery spells) after its effect is carried out.