Priority

The stack · beginner

Priority is the right to take an action -- cast a spell, activate an ability, or pass.

How priority works

• The active player (whose turn it is) gets priority first at the start of every step (after triggered abilities have been put on the stack).
• After they pass without doing anything, priority passes to the next player in turn order.
• If everyone passes in succession with the stack empty, the game moves to the next step.
• If everyone passes in succession with the stack non-empty, the top object on the stack resolves and priority returns to the active player.

When you can act

You can cast spells and activate abilities only when you have priority (with a few exceptions like mana abilities and special actions).

In Commander, you have priority constantly during your own turn -- between every step and after every spell. On opponents' turns, you get priority after the active player but before the step ends.

When you can't act

• Untap step: No one gets priority.
• Cleanup step: No one gets priority unless something triggered.
• In the middle of resolving a spell or ability: You can't interrupt a resolution. (You can sometimes respond between halves of a "do X, then Y" effect, but only at carefully-defined points like targeting.)

"In response to" timing

When someone says "in response to" something, they're using their priority after the spell or ability went on the stack but before it resolves.

Tip for new players

In casual Commander, players often shorthand priority by saying "go" or "pass." If you want to do anything in someone's turn, speak up before they move to the next step. If they've passed to combat, you've technically missed the upkeep window for some triggers.

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