Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure http://www.twoevils.org/html/mtg/turn.

html

Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure

by April King (marumari). Original by nfin8e. Last updated 10/20/2012.

The table below shows the structure of a single turn from start to finish. The first column contains the
five phases of the game, the second column has the steps that are in each phase, and the third column
lists the actions that must be taken during that step, in order.

Phase Step Actions

Phasing happens. All phased out cards phase in and all cards
with phasing which are in play phase out simultaneously.
Untap
Active player untaps all permanents they control.
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
Abilities triggered during the untap step and "at beginning of
upkeep" triggered abilities trigger. A
Beginning Phase

Upkeep The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
Active player draws a card. This is a turn-based action that does
not use the stack.
Abilities triggered "at the beginning of the draw step" and from
Draw the active player drawing a card trigger. A
The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
"At beginning of next main phase" and "at the beginning of
Main Phase

precombat main phase" triggered abilities trigger. A

Precombat

When the stack is empty, the active player gets priority to cast
spells and play lands. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.

Legend for all noted steps:

A
Active player orders and adds their triggered abilities to the
stack first, then the nonactive player orders and adds their
triggered abilities to the stack.
B
Game checks for state-based actions first, whenever a player
receives priority. Then, both players must pass priority in
succession without the other player casting a spell, activating an
ability, or taking a special action, for the turn to continue.

1 of 5 10/28/12 9:08 PM
Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure http://www.twoevils.org/html/mtg/turn.html

Phase Step Actions

"At beginning of combat" triggered abilities trigger. A
Beginning of The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
Combat and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
The active player declares his attackers. If no attackers are
declared, the Declare Blockers and Combat Damage steps are
skipped.
Declare Triggered abilities that trigger off attackers being declared
Attackers trigger. A
The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
The defending player declares his blockers and which attacking
Combat Phase

creatures they will block.

For each attacking creature that has become blocked, the active
player declares the order that combat damage will be assigned
to blockers.
For each blocking creature, the defending player declares the
order that combat damage will be assigned to attackers.
Triggered abilities that trigger off blockers being declared
Declare trigger. A
Blockers The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
If a spell or ability causes a creature on the battlefield to block
an attacking creature, players declare that creature's relative
placement in the order that combat damage will be assigned to
and by that creature's blockers.
If a creature is put onto the battlefield blocking, the active
player declares its relative placement in the order that combat
damage will be assigned for that creature's blockers.

Legend for all noted steps:

A
Active player orders and adds their triggered abilities to the
stack first, then the nonactive player orders and adds their
triggered abilities to the stack.
B
Game checks for state-based actions first, whenever a player
receives priority. Then, both players must pass priority in
succession without the other player casting a spell, activating an
ability, or taking a special action, for the turn to continue.

2 of 5 10/28/12 9:08 PM
Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure http://www.twoevils.org/html/mtg/turn.html

Phase Step Actions

Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
If no attacking or blocking
creatures have first or double
strike, then skip this substep.
All attacking creatures with first or
double strike assign combat
damage to their blockers.
All unblocked creatures with first
or double strike assign combat
damage to defending player or
declared planeswalkers.
All defending creatures with first or
double strike assign combat
First & Double Strike damage to their attackers.
Combat Damage All assigned damage is dealt
simultaneously. This does not use
Combat the stack, and may not be
Damage responded to.
"Deals combat damage" and "is
dealt combat damage" triggered
abilities trigger. A
The active player gets priority to
cast instants, spells with flash, and
to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each
player's mana pool.
All attacking creatures without first
strike assign combat damage to
Combat Damage their blockers.
All unblocked creatures without
first strike assign combat damage

Legend for all noted steps:

A
Active player orders and adds their triggered abilities to the
stack first, then the nonactive player orders and adds their
triggered abilities to the stack.
B
Game checks for state-based actions first, whenever a player
receives priority. Then, both players must pass priority in
succession without the other player casting a spell, activating an
ability, or taking a special action, for the turn to continue.

3 of 5 10/28/12 9:08 PM
Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure http://www.twoevils.org/html/mtg/turn.html

Phase Step Actions

to defending player or declared
planeswalkers.
All defending creatures without
first strike assign combat damage
to their attackers.
All assigned damage is dealt
simultaneously. This does not use
the stack, and may not be
responded to.
"Deals combat damage" and "is
dealt combat damage" triggered
abilities trigger. A
The active player gets priority to
cast instants, spells with flash, and
to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each
player's mana pool.
"At end of combat" effects trigger. A
The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
End of and to use activated abilities. B
Combat All creatures and planeswalkers are removed from combat.
"Until end of combat" effects end.
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
"At beginning of next main phase" and "at the beginning of
Main Phase
Postcombat

postcombat main phase" triggered abilities trigger. A

When the stack is empty, the active player gets priority to cast
spells and play lands.
Ending Phase

Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.

"At the beginning of the end step" or "At the beginning of the
End
next end step" triggered abilities trigger. A

Legend for all noted steps:

A
Active player orders and adds their triggered abilities to the
stack first, then the nonactive player orders and adds their
triggered abilities to the stack.
B
Game checks for state-based actions first, whenever a player
receives priority. Then, both players must pass priority in
succession without the other player casting a spell, activating an
ability, or taking a special action, for the turn to continue.

4 of 5 10/28/12 9:08 PM
Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure http://www.twoevils.org/html/mtg/turn.html

Phase Step Actions

The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
The active player discards down to his maximum hand size
(usually seven).
Simultaneously remove all damage from permanents and end all
"until end of turn" or "this turn" effects.
Check for state-based actions and triggered abilities, such as
those that trigger "at the beginning of the next cleanup step". A
Cleanup If no state-based actions or triggered abilities occur, unused
mana empties from each player's mana pool and the cleanup
step ends.
The active player gets priority to cast instants, spells with flash,
and to use activated abilities. B
Unused mana empties from each player's mana pool.
Repeat the cleanup step.

Legend for all noted steps:

A
Active player orders and adds their triggered abilities to the
stack first, then the nonactive player orders and adds their
triggered abilities to the stack.
B
Game checks for state-based actions first, whenever a player
receives priority. Then, both players must pass priority in
succession without the other player casting a spell, activating an
ability, or taking a special action, for the turn to continue.

5 of 5 10/28/12 9:08 PM