Beginning of combat step

In Magic: The Gathering, the beginning of combat step is the first step of the combat phase.

Description

Players receive priority in APNAP (Active Player, Nonactive Player Order), having the right to cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action. This step is the last chance for a player to tap or otherwise prevent an opponent's creature from being identified as an attacker.

Rulings

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

Beginning of Combat Step: Part of the turn. This step is the first step of the combat phase. See rule 507, “Beginning of Combat Step.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)

507. Beginning of Combat Step
- 507.1. First, if the game being played is a multiplayer game in which the active player’s opponents don’t all automatically become defending players, the active player chooses one of their opponents. That player becomes the defending player. This turn-based action doesn’t use the stack. (See rule 506.2.)
- 507.2. Second, the active player gets priority. (See rule 117, “Timing and Priority.”)

Comprehensive Rules

100. Game Concepts

The Magic Golden Rules Players Starting the Game Ending the Game Colors Mana Numbers and Symbols Cards Objects Permanents Tokens Spells Abilities Emblems Targets Special Actions Timing and Priority Costs Life Damage Drawing a Card Counters Stickers

200. Parts of a Card

Name Mana Cost and Color Illustration Color Indicator Type Line Expansion Symbol Text Box Power/Toughness Loyalty Defense Hand Modifier Life Modifier Information Below the Text Box

300. Card Types

Artifacts Creatures Enchantments Instants Lands Planeswalkers Sorceries Kindreds Dungeons Battles Planes Phenomena Vanguards Schemes Conspiracies

400. Zones

Library Hand Battlefield Graveyard Stack Exile Ante Command

500. Turn Structure

Beginning Phase Untap Step Upkeep Step Draw Step Main Phase Combat Phase Beginning of Combat Step Declare Attackers Step Declare Blockers Step Combat Damage Step End of Combat Step Ending Phase End Step Cleanup Step

600. Spells, Abilities, and Effects

Casting Spells Activating Activated Abilities Handling Triggered Abilities Handling Static Abilities Mana Abilities Loyalty Abilities Linked Abilities Resolving Spells and Abilities Effects One-Shot Effects Continuous Effects Text-Changing Effects Interaction of Continuous Effects Replacement Effects Prevention Effects Interaction of Replacement and/or Prevention Effects

700. Additional Rules

800. Multiplayer Rules

Limited Range of Influence Option Attack Multiple Players Option Attack Left and Attack Right Options Deploy Creatures Option Shared Team Turns Option Free-for-All Variant Grand Melee Variant Team vs. Team Variant Emperor Variant Two-Headed Giant Variant Alternating Teams Variant

900. Casual Variants

Planechase Vanguard Commander Archenemy Conspiracy Draft

Beginning of combat step

Description

Rulings

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