Split Second in MTG: Rules, History, and FAQs

Jeff Nabors December 15, 2021 Collecting, MTG Cards, MTG Rules

Last updated on March 14, 2024

Sudden Substitution | Illustration by Noah Bradley

Time Spiral was one of the most influential blocks to ever come out. I mean, have you ever seen how often these cards are used in older formats? It's insane, really. It pushed the power level out the window and introduced iconic cards to the game.

It also introduced split second, a mechanic that oozes flavor for the time-themed set. A callback to the old interrupt card type from the early days of Magic with a flavorful twist.

Today I wanna talk to you about how the mechanic works, and more importantly, why it's too good to see again.

Table of Contents show

How Does Split Second Work?

Extirpate | Illustration by Jon Foster

Split second essentially means “as long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast other spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.” That's the reminder text for the ability, and it's pretty good. Nobody can do anything while a split second spell is on the stack until it resolves.

Well, not actually anything.

Triggered abilities and special actions can still happen, so you can morph Willbender or trigger Standstill and Hesitation.

Which Sets Have Split Second?

Split second was printed in Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, and Future Sight. It also had one card each in Commander 2019 and Modern Horizons 2.

History of Split Second

Sudden Death

Split Second first appeared in the mechanics reveal for Time Spiral in 2006 with Sudden Death. The mechanic was originally intended to be Izzet's keyword for Guildpact before being shuffled off to Coldsnap and then settling into Time Spiral‘s design.

Sadly, Mark Rosewater has confirmed several times that split second resides at a 7-8 on the Storm Scale, so it's unlikely we'll see it make a reappearance in the future.

Split Second vs. Interrupts

If you weren't aware, interrupts were a card type that was supposed to resolve before anything else on the “batch,” a precursor to Magic's stack. They were errata'd to become instants with the release of Sixth Edition, which meant their near-uninteractable presence was gone.

Split second is a callback to interrupts, but they work a little differently. Once an interrupt was played, only more interrupts could be played. But once a split second spell is played, nothing can be played. Only triggered abilities and special actions (like morphing a card face-up or flipping a conspiracy card up) can be performed.

Can You Respond to Split Second?

You're only able to respond with “special actions” that don't use the stack. Sadly, the only real actions that work in this scenario are flipping morph creatures face-up. Cards like Willbender and Voidmage Apprentice can be flipped face-up and their abilities will trigger, but you can’t cast any cards or use activated abilities.

Do You Still Get Priority with Split Second Spells?

Technically priority is still passed between players before the split second spell is resolved. But you can't do much other than using special abilities.

Does Split Second “End” the Stack?

A split second spell doesn't end the stack or automatically resolve it. The stack can't be ended without “end the turn” effects like Time Stop or Sundial of the Infinite.

What Happens to Spells Already on the Stack with Split Second?

Spells already on the stack resolve as normal after the split second spell resolves. Once a split second spell resolves, the stack can resolve as normal or be responded to again.

How Do Triggered Abilities Work with Split Second?

Triggered abilities still happen after a spell with split second hits the stack. Abilities like Hesitation, Standstill, and Decree of Silence will trigger. But any triggered ability that requires you to cast another spell (like Sunbird's Invocation) won't allow you to cast it but the ability will still trigger.

What About Mana Abilities?

Mark Rosewater once commented that “the game doesn't like it when you stop mana abilities,” and he's right. Very few interactions will stop mana abilities, and split second isn’t one of them. You can still activate mana abilities as needed, though there's not much you can do until the spell resolves.

Can Morph “Counter” Split Second?

Morph in itself can't counter a split second spell, but some morph creatures can interact with them. Because morph (and megamorph) are special actions, they don't use the stack. I already mentioned the two cards that deal best with split second cards, but I'm sure you can find others.

Can You Copy a Spell with Split Second?

You can't cast a spell that copies another spell while something with split second is on the stack, but there are other ways around it. Triggered abilities that copy spells like The Mirari Conjecture, Mirari, and Bonus Round still trigger and copy those spells.

Is There a Counterspell with Split Second?

As of right now there's no printed card that counters a spell and also has split second. The closest we have to that is Trickbind, but this only counters activated and triggered abilities, not actual spells. I wouldn't be surprised if R&D ruled out a completely uncounterable counterspell when they were first designing Time Spiral, and I doubt we'll see it anytime soon.

How to Beat Split Second

One of split second's best features is that it's really hard to beat. They're basically uncounterable and they can't be interacted with in most situations. You can redirect or counter the spell with morph creatures, or you can rely on triggered abilities from permanents to deal with split second spells, but that's it.

Because you can't interact with split second spells, it makes it hard to balance. Either spells are overcosted for the ability or they're too good and there’s nothing you can do against them.

Split Second Card List and Gallery

Bringing It Back to Speed

Wipe Away | Illustration by Jeff Miracola

Split second is a really unique mechanic. It balances between being extremely powerful while also not having enough cards to really explore the design space. Maybe it's because of how powerful the keyword is; we don't know. I'd like to see it return in a future set, but the theme’s limitations really puts Wizards in a tight space.

How do you feel about split second? Do you have some bitter memories about your stuff getting blasted by Krosan Grip? Let me know in the comments or tell us over on Twitter.

As for me, I'm going to go grind some Arena now that it's back up after all that downtime. Make sure to wash your hands, and stay safe!

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Jeff Nabors

Jeff Nabors is a writer, a Lord of Sealand as well as a long-time Magic player, ever since he picked up his Eventide Intro deck. When he isn't combo-ing out at a cEDH table or trying to climb the MTGA Ladder, you can find him streaming on Twitch or hosting his podcasts. You can also see his ramblings about writing on Twitter.