Do You Draw or Upkeep First? A Guide to the Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure
When playing Magic: The Gathering, understanding the turn structure is crucial to success. The turn structure is a series of phases that each player goes through during their turn, and mastering these phases can help you make the most of your spells and abilities. One common question that players often ask is: "Do I draw or upkeep first?" In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and delve into the details of the turn structure.
The Magic: The Gathering Turn Structure
The Magic: The Gathering turn structure is composed of five phases: Beginning, Untap, Upkeep, Draw, and Main. Each phase serves a specific purpose and affects the game state in unique ways.
The Draw Phase
The draw phase is the fourth phase of the turn structure, where the player draws a card from their deck. This phase is crucial because it allows players to refuel their hand with new cards, potentially gaining an advantage over their opponent. During the draw phase, the player draws a card, and then the active player gains priority.
The Upkeep Phase
The upkeep phase is the third phase of the turn structure, where the player pays any costs associated with permanents they control. This phase is important because it allows players to activate abilities and pay costs that weren’t available during the untap phase. During the upkeep phase, the active player gains priority, and any triggered abilities that have triggered during the turn resolve.
Do You Draw or Upkeep First?
So, do you draw or upkeep first? The answer is that the active player draws first, followed by the upkeep phase. This means that players must draw their card and then pay any costs associated with their permanents. The order of operations is:
- Draw: The active player draws a card from their deck.
- Upkeep: The active player pays any costs associated with permanents they control.
- Main: The active player gains priority and can play spells, abilities, and attack with creatures.
Why is This Important?
Understanding the order of operations during the turn structure is crucial because it affects the timing of spells and abilities. For example, if you want to play a spell that requires you to draw a card, you’ll need to draw first before playing the spell. If you try to play the spell during the upkeep phase, it will be too late because you’ll have already drawn your card.
Example Scenarios
Let’s look at some example scenarios to illustrate the importance of drawing or upkeep first:
- Scenario 1: You have a card that says "At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card." You want to play a spell that requires you to draw a card. You can play the spell during your main phase, after you’ve drawn your card and paid any costs.
- Scenario 2: You have a card that says "At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose 2 life." You want to play a spell that gains you life. You can play the spell during your main phase, after you’ve paid the 2 life cost and gained the life.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes to drawing or upkeep first:
- Keep track of the phase order: Make sure you’re aware of the order of operations during the turn structure to avoid mistakes.
- Plan ahead: Think about the cards you have in your hand and the phases they’re triggered during. Plan accordingly to maximize your opportunities.
- Use the correct timing: Make sure you’re playing spells and abilities at the correct phase to get the most out of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the draw or upkeep first question is a crucial aspect of Magic: The Gathering turn structure. Understanding the order of operations and the importance of drawing or upkeep first can help you make the most of your spells and abilities. Remember to keep track of the phase order, plan ahead, and use the correct timing to succeed.