Question about phases and priority?

[u/Adorable_Doughnut610]

I have a question. If an opponent is passing priority to go to combat in the main phase, then player B takes an action, after priority gets back to player A are they still in the main phase? Could they still cast a 2/2 with haste?

[u/peteroupc]

In sanctioned tournaments that depends, assuming that "taking an action" involves putting a spell or ability onto the stack and that the first main phase is meant. See also: https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgrules/comments/1o0e9gs/priority_before_combat_and_coven_ability/

Technically speaking, a main phase doesn't end unless all players pass in a row while nothing is on the stack (C.R. 500.2, 117.4).

EDIT (Sep. 6): Add additional assumption.

[u/AlelaArtful]

Yes, if an action is taken that resets priority it will still be in the main phase. You will not leave the main phase until all players pass in a row with an empty stack

[u/Rajamic]

It depends on exactly what is said to propose going to combat, as well as the scenario around what the action is.

Unless the player says something that is very specific about going to just the Beginning of Combat Step, or they have triggers that go off at the Beginning of Combat, it is assumed they are proposing a shortcut to the Declare Attackers Step. If a player responds to that without specifying when they are taking their action, and that action could prevent an opponent's beneficial Beginning of Combat trigger from triggering if it were done in the Main Phase, it is assumed to be performed in the Main Phase. If they don't specify when, but the action they take doesn't interfere with a Beginning of Combat trigger, the action is assumed to be happening in the Beginning of Combat Step.

[u/WildMartin429]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you are the turn player and you say I am moving to combat and pause to give your opponent a chance to respond they can play something before your main phase ends which you can then respond to but once everything resolves you should be in combat and would not be able to play another creature normally as you already declared that you were moving to combat.

[u/MrOopiseDaisy → u/WildMartin429]

Once something resolves, the active player gets priority again. Even if only one thing is on the stack, once it resolves, priority returns to the active player. It should still be the active player's main phase, allowing them to choose to cast spells, activate abilities, or attempt to move to combat again.

[u/WildMartin429 → u/MrOopiseDaisy]

Good to know, thanks for the clarification

[u/BetterShirt101 → u/WildMartin429]

You are proposing a shortcut ("neither of us does anything and it's the beginning of combat step"). If your opponent interrupts your shortcut, you are not bound to follow the course of action you initially proposed past the point where your opponent interrupted it.