Does silence counter spells on the stack?

Does Silence Counter Spells on the Stack?

Introduction

Silence is a commonly used Magic: The Gathering card that can have a significant impact on the game. It has been debated among players and Magic judges whether Silence can counter spells on the stack or not. In this article, we will dive deep into the mechanics of Silence and explore whether it can counter spells on the stack or not.

What Does Silence Do?

Silence is an instant sorcery card that reads: "You may cast this spell during a main phase when you’re about to lose it". On its own, this effect doesn’t seem particularly threatening, but when combined with other cards, Silence can become a powerful tool for disrupting opponents. When played, Silence removes the game’s "Stack" concept, meaning that players are no longer allowed to activate abilities or play spells from the top of their libraries.

What Happens When Silence Is Cast?

When Silence is cast, the game state is altered. All activated and triggered abilities that are already on the stack will still resolve as normal, but no new abilities or spells can be activated or cast. This includes instant and sorcery spells, including counterspells. Since Silence does not explicitly mention "countering" anything, the question remains: can Silence counter spells on the stack?

No, Silence Does Not Counter Spells on the Stack

The official Magic: The Gathering FAQ clarifies this point, stating: "Once your opponent casts their spell, Silence has no effect on that spell at all, since it is no longer being cast" [1]. This means that when a player casts a spell, the opportunity to cast Silence is over, and Silence has no effect on that spell.

Implications

• Counterattacks are not possible: Without the ability to activate abilities or cast spells from the top of their library, opponents are unable to use counterattacks or counter abilities.
• No additional triggers: Triggered abilities, such as those triggered by entering or leaving the battlefield, cannot be activated or resolved.

Do Copies of Silenced Spells Still Resolve?

• Yes, copies of Silenced spells will still resolve**. This is because a copy is created by copying the spell as it resolves, and the resolution has already occurred. Copies do not need to be countered, and will continue to resolve as normal.

What About Counterspells That Are Cascade Into?

If a counter spell is Cascade’d into, and it is targeting a spell on the stack, it will simply copy the targeted spell instead of countering it. Silence has no effect on Cascade’s interaction, as it does not trigger until after the cascade copies the spell.

Table: Summary of Silence’s Effects

Conclusion

Silence is an effective way to disrupt the opponent’s plans and control the pace of the game. By understanding Silence’s mechanics, players can utilize this powerful card to great effect. In conclusion, Silence does not counter spells on the stack, as it only removes the opportunity to cast or activate new abilities or spells, leaving existing abilities to resolve normally.

References:
[1] Official Magic: The Gathering FAQ (2016)

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