Stack

Index	Table of Contents	Terms
	The Stack

The stack is where spells and abilities wait to resolve after they've been played. They stay on the stack in the order they were added to it.

How Does the Stack Work?
A player with priority plays a spell or ability, and it goes on the stack. That player can add more spells or abilities to the top of the stack or pass. If the player passes, the opponent gets priority and may add spells or abilities to the top of the stack or pass. Priority goes back and forth this way until both players pass in a row.
When both players pass, the spell or ability on the top of the stack (the one played last) resolves. After each spell or ability resolves, the active player (the player whose turn it is) gets priority again.

Here's an example. You control Knight Errant, a 2/2 creature. Your opponent plays Shock to deal 2 damage to it. Shock goes on the stack. You respond to the Shock with Giant Growth, which gives the Knight +3/+3 until the end of the turn. Giant Growth goes on the stack, on top of Shock. That means Giant Growth resolves first, making the Knight Errant 5/5 until the end of the turn. Then Shock resolves, but it doesn't deal enough damage to destroy the pumped-up Knight.

Here are some things that don't go on the stack:

If an ability produces mana, it doesn't go on the stack. You get the mana immediately.
Static abilities don't go on the stack. They "turn on" as soon as the permanent with the ability comes into play.
When you play a land, you just put it into play. Land cards aren't spells, so they don't go on the stack.

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.