What happens to a players spells on the stack if he just lost in a multiplayer game?

Asked by alblaster 13 years ago

In a muliplayer game an opponent casts Lightning Bolt on me, killing me. Before the bolt resolves, I cast lightning bolt on him to hurt him before I die. He responds to my responding lightning bolt with another lightning bolt.

Question: Since his second lightning bolt finished me before mine could resolve, thereby killing me, does my lighning bolt resolve even though I'm dead at that point?

sporkife says... #1

This is (last I knew) one of the areas that's not covered in the rules. The house rule is either everything you control on the stack when you die stays and resolves, or once you die everything you control on the stack disappears and doesn't resolve.

December 16, 2010 1:54 p.m.

Xander574 says... #2

all effects are on the stack so the would still resolve. simlar to how you cant kill a creature with a tap ability in response to it tapping to stop the effect

December 16, 2010 1:56 p.m.

MagnorCriol says... Accepted answer #3

Sorry, but in this case, your spell just ceases to exist from the stack. You don't get to fire a Parthian shot.

"800.4a. When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the game, all spells and abilities controlled by that player on the stack cease to exist...[snip]...This is not a state-based action. It happens as soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time he or she left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who's still in the game."

December 16, 2010 2:30 p.m.

thaimaishuu says... #4

I support MagnorCriol argument.

December 16, 2010 2:38 p.m.

alblaster says... #5

well damn. I always thought Xander's idea was right.

December 16, 2010 3:12 p.m.

MagnorCriol says... #6

It'd be nice, and it'd make a bit more sense, but unfortunately that's just not how they do it.

Around my casual table we usually play against the rule anyhow, letting spells resolve off the stack. Losing stings a little bit less if you get to live out the "going out with a bang" idea.

December 16, 2010 3:44 p.m.

awesomusprime says... #7

It raises an important question though, for example two players with 2 life each.

Situation 1:

Player 1 bolts player 2, player 2 counters the bolt, life continues as normal.

Situation 2:

Player 1 bolts player 2, player 2 responds by bolting player 1, if this is a multi player game, do they both die?

Actually I guess it's not so hard a question, it would seem that whoever plays the last bolt lives, and all other played spells go poof.

Still interesting to think about.

December 16, 2010 4:27 p.m.

sporkife says... #8

shucks. well, that's a new one. sometimes we just let stuff resolve off the stack, sometimes we don't. depends on what it is :P

December 16, 2010 4:29 p.m.

This discussion has been closed