Today’s Rules Tip submitted by reader Sean Stackhouse, who is also a Level 2 Judge! Thanks, Sean!

Many players have, at some point, been disappointed to read one particular sentence on Haunted Plate Mail: “Activate this ability only if you control no creatures.” But what if I told you it’s possible to create an army of ghostly armor and some other friends in the same turn? Let’s have some fun with the stack, shall we?

Magic is not a game of reflexes. You can only act when you have priority. The Active Player (whose turn it is) always gets priority first as each step begins, and each time a spell or ability resolves. Then the game moves on when each player passes priority without doing anything with an empty stack. But when a player puts something on the stack, such as by casting a spell or activating an ability, that player retains priority at first even if it’s not their turn. Of course, the Active Player does eventually gain priority.

So how does all of this allow us to make multiple 4/4 spirits? Easy. Let’s say we have three Haunted Plate Mails. You animate the first one, but explicitly state that you’re holding priority. This allows you to respond to the activation, which has not resolved yet. Then you animate the second one, again holding priority, and then the last one. Remember that the number of creatures you control is only checked when you try to activate each ability. And when you do so, your number of creatures is still zero. After they resolve, feel free to activate some Mutavaults and go nuts! Just remember that if your opponent destroys them, they go to the graveyard. They don’t just “stop being a creature” and remain on the battlefield!