You've been there. It’s your turn, you’re staring down a lethal board state, and you accidentally draw your card before untapping your lands. Your opponent—the one who takes Friday Night Magic way too seriously—points it out with a smirk. It’s annoying. But the truth is, the phases of Magic: The Gathering aren't just a set of arbitrary rules designed to make the game feel like a math exam. They are the actual backbone of every strategic decision you'll ever make.
Magic is a game of timing. If you cast your removal spell too early, you get blown out by a protection spell. Cast it too late, and you’re already dead. Most players think they know how a turn works, but they're usually just glossing over the nuances that actually win games at a Pro Tour level.
The Beginning Phase: Where Most Mistakes Happen
The Beginning Phase is a three-part machine. It’s fast. People blink and miss it.
First, you have the Untap Step. You don't get priority here. Nobody can cast spells or activate abilities while things are untapping. It just happens. If you have a "Beginning of Upkeep" trigger, it hasn't happened yet. Everything just goes from sideways to vertical.
Then comes the Upkeep. This is the first time players can actually do anything during a turn. If you’re playing against a deck with Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, this is where the pain starts. It’s also the graveyard for missed triggers. I’ve seen countless players forget to pay for their Pact of Negation here and just lose the game on the spot. It's brutal. Honestly, the Upkeep is the "maintenance" part of the game. You check your triggers, you pay your taxes, and you prepare for the draw.
Finally, the Draw Step. You draw your card for the turn. Simple, right? Well, mostly. This is also the last chance for your opponent to cast something like a Vendilion Clique to rip that card out of your hand before you hit your main phase.
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The First Main Phase and the Pre-Combat Dance
Once you’re in your Main Phase, the world opens up. You can play a land. You can cast creatures, sorceries, artifacts—whatever. But here's a tip: just because you can cast a creature now doesn't mean you should.
Experienced players usually hold their non-haste creatures until the second main phase. Why? Information. If you cast a big threat before combat, your opponent knows exactly what they’re dealing with when they decide how to block. If you wait, you keep them guessing.
Of course, if that creature gives your other attackers a buff—like a Benalish Marshal—you obviously play it now. Context is everything. The phases of Magic: The Gathering are tools, not just a checklist. Use them to hide information for as long as possible.
Combat: A Five-Step Nightmare for Beginners
Combat is where the game usually ends, and it’s the most misunderstood part of the turn. It isn't just "I swing with everything." It’s a sequenced process.
Beginning of Combat Step: This is the last chance for an opponent to tap down your attackers. If they have a Cryptic Command or a Pressure Point, they have to use it here. Once you move to "Declare Attackers," it's too late for them to stop the "When this creature attacks" triggers from hitting the stack.
Declare Attackers Step: You decide who’s going in. Once you've declared them, they are "attacking." Even if the opponent kills them five seconds later, those "on attack" triggers are already happening.
Declare Blockers Step: The defender decides how to line up. This is where the math gets weird. After blockers are declared, players get priority again. This is the "Ninjustu" window. This is the "Giant Growth" window.
Combat Damage Step: Damage is dealt. It doesn't use the stack anymore (thankfully, that rule change years ago saved a lot of headaches). If a creature has First Strike or Double Strike, there’s actually a second, tiny sub-step for damage here.
End of Combat Step: Things are still "attacking" or "blocking" here. If you have an effect that destroys an attacking creature, you can actually wait until after damage is dealt to use it. It’s a niche play, but sometimes it’s the only way to play around certain "if this creature dies during combat" effects.
The Second Main Phase and the Cleanup
The Second Main Phase is your "post-game" analysis. You've seen how combat went. You know what's left of your board. Now you play the lands you held back or the creatures that didn't need to be out for the fight. This is your time to stabilize.
After that, we hit the Ending Phase.
The End Step is the big one. "At the beginning of the end step" triggers go off here. It’s also the most common time for players to cast "Flash" spells or draw spells like Memory Deluge. You do it now so you have all your mana untapped and ready to go on your own turn.
Finally, the Cleanup Step. You discard down to seven cards. Damage wears off creatures. "Until end of turn" effects expire. Unless something weird happens that causes a trigger (like discarding a Worldspine Wurm), players usually don't get priority here. The turn just... ends.
Why Knowing These Phases Changes Your Win Rate
If you don't respect the phases of Magic: The Gathering, you are leaving percentage points on the table. Think about Settle the Wreckage. If you don't understand the difference between the "Declare Attackers" step and the "End of Combat" step, you might cast it at the wrong time and let your opponent keep their best utility creature that didn't swing.
Or consider the "Stop" in digital versions like Magic Arena. Players who know the phases use stops to bluff. By putting a stop on the opponent's upkeep, you make them think you have a 1-mana removal spell even if your hand is just land. It forces them to play differently. It’s psychological warfare built into the turn structure.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game
Stop rushing. That's the biggest piece of advice any judge or pro will give you.
When you move from one phase to another, look at your opponent. Make eye contact. Say "Move to combat?" or "End of turn?" This isn't just about being polite. It’s about "locking in" the state of the game. It prevents those awkward "Wait, I wanted to do something before that!" moments that lead to judge calls and saltiness.
- Audit your upkeep: Physically put a die or a coin on top of your library. This forces you to stop and check for triggers before you draw and accidentally skip the Beginning Phase.
- Wait for the Second Main: Unless your spell directly impacts combat math, keep it in your hand until after you swing. Knowledge is the most valuable resource in the game.
- Learn the "End of Turn" priority: Practice casting your instants on the opponent's end step instead of your own turn. It keeps your mana open for blocks or counters, giving you maximum flexibility.
- Study First Strike interactions: Remember that First Strike creates an entirely separate damage step. If you have a way to give a creature First Strike after it has already dealt regular damage, it won't deal damage again. Timing is everything.
Understanding the turn structure isn't about memorizing a rulebook. It's about knowing when the window is open and when it’s slammed shut. Start treating the phases like a map. Once you know where the borders are, you’ll stop getting lost in the middle of a match.