Main Phases

Turn structure · beginner

Each turn has two main phases: one before combat and one after.

What you can do

• Cast any spell -- creatures, sorceries, instants, planeswalkers, enchantments, artifacts.
• Play a land (one per turn).
• Activate abilities (anything not restricted to other timing).

What only the main phase allows

• Cast sorceries and other "sorcery-speed" spells.
• Cast permanents that aren't flash.
• Use sorcery-speed abilities like Karn Liberated's loyalty abilities.

This is true only when the stack is empty and it's your main phase.

Pre-combat vs post-combat

Mechanically the two main phases are identical. The pre-combat one matters when:

• You want to cast a creature with haste before attacking.
• You want to play a land before attacking to make sure you have mana to pump up an attacker.

The post-combat one matters when:

• You want to cast something after you see how combat went.
• You triggered something on combat damage that you want to use this turn.
• You want to trade or bait by holding spells until the path is clear.

Tip for new players

A common new-player mistake is to cast everything in the pre-combat main phase out of habit. Slowing down and asking "do I want to attack first?" often unlocks better lines.

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