Magic is a complex game. With over 12,000 unique cards and a hefty set of Comprehensive Rules, it\u2019s not reasonable to expect players to have complete mastery over the precise rules behind every action they\u2019re taking in the game.<\/p>\n
As a result, tournament Magic has codified a policy known as Out-of-Order Sequencing (OoOS for short). In a nutshell, OoOS permits players to perform actions without adhering to the strictest sense of the rules, as long as the sequence is still clear and arrives at a legal game state (along with a few other caveats).
\nThis rule serves to reinforce the way that Magic is usually played at kitchen tables and gaming stores everywhere anyway.<\/p>\n
To provide an example, suppose I control an Arbor Elf<\/a> and Thragtusk<\/a>. My opponent, feeling menaced by Mr. Tusk, decides to Supreme Verdict<\/a> the board — so I put Thragtusk in the graveyard, put a Beast token onto the battlefield, and then put my Elf in the bin as well.<\/p>\n Can you see the out-of-order sequencing? Looking closely, the Elf and Thragtusk should both go to the graveyard before I get to make a Beast — but it\u2019s very clear to everyone what\u2019s going on. So even though my actions were technically incorrect, they\u2019re still legal due to the protection of OoOS.<\/p>\n In order for OoOS to be valid, a few criteria have to be met:<\/p>\n Because OoOS is a tournament rule, it applies at all tournaments, from FNM to the Pro Tour.<\/p>\n A recent example of OoOS I observed at my local LGS involved Adam, who controlled a Syndic of Tithes<\/a> and an unevolved Crocanura<\/a>. Adam cast Ivy Lane Denizen<\/a>. His opponent immediately said, \u201cThat resolves.\u201d In one motion, Adam put a counter on his Crocanura and tapped a Plains, saying, \u201cEvolve, extort.\u201d Technically speaking, because extort triggers on casting a creature spell, extort must always resolve before an evolve trigger does. However, in this case, Adam demonstrated that he was aware of both triggers and simply performed them in an incorrect order. The rules for OoOS tell us that this can be okay!<\/p>\n\n