The rule they don't tell you when you start playing... - Beginners guide to APNAP - MTG Rules

APNAP, Rule 101.4 is a Foundational rule you should know about. If you want to master Triggered Abilities and the stack, make sure you learn this.

[dapperghastmeowregard]

On a slightly tangential note, but the perfect example card for abilities is Magda, Blazin' Outlaw. She has a static ability, a triggered ability, and an activated ability.

[临高]

it seems we are plying with the wrong understanding the whole time, we always think the active player will decide the order of all triggered abilities(whether or not it is controlled by him)

[benmohr]

Just to see if I understand something: state-based actions happen every time a player received priority (such as when the triggers are resolving down the stack). In the video's example the opponent dies because the AP's Sheoldred trigger will give players priority and thus check state-based actions, where the game will note the opponent has 0 life. This is *different* than taking damage and also gaining life with lifelink because the damage and life gain happen at the same time. It just felt like a similar example to me, but is different because lifelink is a static ability, not a triggered ability.

[oneeyedstranger]

Just for fun, pre-6th edition, the sheoldred player wouldn't lose as both effects would have resolved before a check of life total would occur at the end of the phase.

[shaden]

I admitadly already have known this for some time but this is a really good explanation of a very important rule that sadly not allot of commander players are aware of

[coreymartin]

I love that both Magic the Gathering and Computer Science both have an abstract structure that operate similarly and are called the exact same thing (The Stack). There also happens to be a significant overlap in MtG players and CS majors

[hoodiegal]

I learned this during MID/VOW, playing standard on Arena and having both players play Meathook Massacres into complex boardstates. Stuff got very confusing until I looked up how this worked!

[autokymatic]

For commander, I like to visualize the stack as a corkscrew or spiral staircase where the stack spirals up in clockwise turn order, then unwinds in counter-clockwise order as it resolves.

[liamkirkwood]

really needed this video me and my friends have been trying to figure this out, great video man :)

[Player-Won]

If it’s your turn, you’re the active player
The active player’s triggered abilities happen after other players’ triggered abilities

[The_Loreseeker]

This was an informative and well-edited video - you definitely deserve more subscribers because this was great!

[WhyMe]

Thanks! For a long time I didn't understand why I lost when I was on 2 life and there were two Sheoldreds on the field. Now I get it.

[BearClaymore]

No one has ever been able to explain this rule so eloquently... until now. Thanks for this video, looking forward to more!

[AlrycaAeveaHexendias]

I honestly thought state-based check / state-based actions only happens when the everything in stack is cleared. Well that was insightful!

[KdAkim]

Thanks for sharing this makes alot of sense for situations ive come to in the past i didnt understand as a newer player.

[zyklqrswx]

this ruling is really just a consequence of the more fundamental principle of player priority

at any instance where actions could be taken, the active player(s) always receives priority first, even if they then choose to do nothing. priority is only passed to a non-active player after the active player either takes an action, or declines to do so

this applies even to triggers, with priority belonging to the active player at the moment any abilities are triggered, resulting in theirs being stacked first

[JoyousOblivion]

Honestly I was kind of expecting this to be clickbait based on the title.

But I’m pleasantly surprised to be wrong. You earned a like and a new sub!

[devvitruvius]

I'm looking forward to learn more about MTG from your videos.

Thanks a lot for the shared knowledge. You are doing a great job.

[randomguyontheinternet]

That's odd because Yugioh used to have a rule that worked with priority called turn player priority that said the "active player" (the turn player) could activate cards in response to triggers before the opponent (trigger ex: summoning a monster, activating an effect, changing the phase). It basically let monsters chain their own effects to the summon of themself which lets them activate effects you need to declare. An example was judgement dragon had an effect that says "You can pay 1000 Life Points; destroy all other cards on the field." under this rule, you would be able to chain to his summon before something like bottomless traphole could be used to banish it. All in all it was confusing rule and thankfully they got rid of it.

[geeknseek]

I’ve seen a few videos about APNAP. This is probably the best one