Chain Stasis is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
You may tap or untap target creature. Then that creature's controller may pay. If the player does, they may copy this spell and may choose a new target for that copy.
Complete guide
Chain Stasis is a versatile blue instant that allows you to manipulate the state of creatures on the battlefield. Because it offers a recursive payment option, it can potentially bounce across the board, affecting multiple targets in a single sequence. Understanding the timing of its payment and copy mechanics is essential for mastering this cascading effect.
What Chain Stasis Does
Chain Stasis allows you to choose a target creature and either tap it or untap it. The unique aspect of this card is the follow-up: the controller of the affected creature is given the option to pay {2}{U} to copy the spell. If they choose to pay, they create a new copy of Chain Stasis on the stack and can select a new target creature, repeating the process.
Resolving the Cascade Step by Step
When Chain Stasis resolves, you first choose whether the target creature becomes tapped or untapped. Immediately after this action, the creature's controller decides whether to pay {2}{U}. This choice happens during the spell's resolution, not as an additional cost to cast it. If paid, the copy is placed on the stack under that player's control, and they choose a new target. This sequence continues as long as players have mana and creatures to target.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A frequent error is thinking the initial caster controls all copies. In reality, the controller of the creature targeted by the previous iteration controls the new copy. Also, remember that since the copy is a new spell on the stack, it can be countered or interacted with just like the original card. If the original spell is countered before it resolves, the chain ends immediately because the payment trigger never happens.
When to Play Chain Stasis
Use Chain Stasis to tap down a dangerous blocker before your combat phase or to untap a powerful utility creature you control to use its ability twice. In multiplayer games, you can even use it politically by targeting a teammate's creature, allowing them to pay the cost and target a common enemy's threat.
Interaction examples
CounterspellIf you cast Chain Stasis and an opponent responds with Counterspell, the original spell is removed from the stack. Because Chain Stasis never resolves, the target's controller never gets the option to pay {2}{U} to create a copy.
An Offer You Can't RefuseIf your opponent pays the {2}{U} and puts a copy of Chain Stasis on the stack, you can cast An Offer You Can't Refuse targeting that copy. This will counter the copy and grant your opponent two Treasure tokens, effectively ending the chain of tapping and untapping.
You cast Chain Stasis targeting your own tapped creature. Upon resolution, you choose to untap it. Since you are the controller of that creature, you then choose to pay {2}{U} to copy the spell, targeting another creature you control to untap that one as well.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Chain Stasis
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The decision to tap or untap is made on resolution of the spell (and of each copy).
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Paying to make Chain Stasis continue is done as part of the resolution of the spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The copy is a spell, so it can be targeted by other spells and abilities that target a spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
The player putting the copy spell on the stack controls that spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
The spell copy has all the text and can result in itself being copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Chain Stasis + Bloom Tender
- 1Activate Bloom Tender by tapping it, adding at least
. - 2Cast Chain Stasis by paying , untapping Bloom Tender and choosing to pay
to copy Chain Stasis, targeting Bloom Tender. - 3Activate Bloom Tender by tapping it, adding at least .
- 4Resolve the copy of Chain Stasis, untapping Bloom Tender and choosing to pay to copy Chain Stasis, targeting Bloom Tender.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
- 6If there are at least four colors among permanents you control, this combo produces infinite mana.
Chain Stasis + Faeburrow Elder
- 1Activate Faeburrow Elder by tapping it, adding at least
. - 2Cast Chain Stasis by paying , untapping Faeburrow Elder and choosing to pay to copy Chain Stasis, targeting Faeburrow Elder.
- 3Activate Faeburrow Elder by tapping it, adding at least .
- 4Resolve the copy of Chain Stasis, untapping Faeburrow Elder and choosing to pay to copy Chain Stasis, targeting Faeburrow Elder.
- 5Repeat from step 3.
Codie, Vociferous Codex + Chain Stasis + Training Grounds
- 1Cast Chain Stasis by paying , targeting Codie.
- 2Holding priority, activate Codie by paying and tapping it, adding
. - 3Resolve Chain Stasis, untapping Codie and causing you to pay to copy Chain Stasis, with the copy targeting Codie.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
- 5Once you have an arbitrarily large number of Codie triggers, you may choose not to copy Chain Stasis and cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost, reduced by the added in step 1.
- 6Codie triggers for each time you activated its ability.
- 7Resolve the first trigger, causing you to exile cards from the top of your library until you exile an instant or sorcery spell with lesser mana value, and allowing you to cast that spell without paying its mana cost.
- 8Repeat step 6 for each remaining trigger.
Codie, Vociferous Codex + Chain Stasis + Biomancer's Familiar
- 1Cast Chain Stasis by paying , targeting Codie.
- 2Holding priority, activate Codie by paying and tapping it, adding .
- 3Resolve Chain Stasis, untapping Codie and causing you to pay to copy Chain Stasis, with the copy targeting Codie.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
- 5Once you have an arbitrarily large number of Codie triggers, you may choose not to copy Chain Stasis and cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost, reduced by the added in step 1.
- 6Codie triggers for each time you activated its ability.
- 7Resolve the first trigger, causing you to exile cards from the top of your library until you exile an instant or sorcery spell with lesser mana value, and allowing you to cast that spell without paying its mana cost.
- 8Repeat step 6 for each remaining trigger.
Displacer Kitten + Archaeomancer + Cerulean Wisps + Chain Stasis
- 1Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 2Cast Chain Stasis by paying , targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 3Displacer Kitten triggers, blinking Archaeomancer.
- 4When Archaeomancer enters the battlefield, it triggers, returning Cerulean Wisps from your graveyard to your hand.
- 5Resolve Chain Stasis, untapping the mana-producing creature.
- 6Activate a mana-producing creature by tapping it, adding at least .
- 7Cast Cerulean Wisps by paying , targeting the mana-producing creature.
- 8Displacer Kitten triggers, blinking Archaeomancer.
Chain Stasis + Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Prismite
- 1Cast Chain Stasis targeting Kydele.
- 2Pay to copy Chain Stasis.
- 3Holding priority on Chain Stasis, activate Kydele to make
. - 4Holding priority on Chain Stasis, pay to activate Prismite, adding .
- 5Let the copy of Chain Stasis resolve.
- 6Repeat steps 2-5.
Codie, Vociferous Codex + Chain Stasis + Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
- 1Cast Chain Stasis by paying , targeting Codie.
- 2Holding priority, activate Codie by paying at most and tapping it, adding .
- 3Resolve Chain Stasis, untapping Codie and causing you to pay to copy Chain Stasis, with the copy targeting Codie.
- 4Repeat from step 2.
- 5Once you have an arbitrarily large number of Codie triggers, you may choose not to copy Chain Stasis and cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 6Codie triggers for each time you activated its ability.
- 7Resolve the first trigger, causing you to exile cards from the top of your library until you exile an instant or sorcery spell with lesser mana value, and allowing you to cast that spell without paying its mana cost.
- 8Repeat step 6 for each remaining trigger.
Storm-Kiln Artist + Dual Casting + Chain Stasis
- 1Cast Chain Stasis by paying , targeting the creature with Dual Casting attached.
- 2Storm-Kiln Artist triggers, creating a Treasure token.
- 3Activate the Treasure token by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 4Activate the creature with Dual Casting attached by paying and tapping it, copying Chain Stasis targeting the creature with Dual Casting attached.
- 5Storm-Kiln Artist triggers, creating a Treasure token.
- 6Resolve the copy of Chain Stasis, untapping the creature with Dual Casting attached and choosing not to copy Chain Stasis.
- 7Repeat from step 3.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Chain Stasis
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