Last Chance 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

Take an extra turn after this one. At the beginning of that turn's end step, you lose the game.

Complete guide

Last Chance is a high-risk, high-reward sorcery that offers you an immediate extra turn for a very low mana cost. However, this power comes with a terrifying drawback: if you cannot win by the end of that extra turn, you lose the game on the spot. It is the ultimate expression of red's philosophy of short-term gain for long-term risk.

What it Does

For just two red mana, Last Chance adds an extra turn into the turn order immediately following the current one. The spell sets up a delayed triggered ability that will go on the stack at the beginning of the end step of that extra turn. If that ability resolves and you are still in the game, you immediately lose.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, cast Last Chance during one of your main phases. When it resolves, it creates an extra turn for you. After your current turn ends, your extra turn begins. Play this turn normally, but be aware that the 'lose the game' trigger will trigger at the beginning of your end step. You must win the game before that trigger resolves, or find a way to skip or stifle the trigger.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is thinking that taking another extra turn via a second copy of Last Chance will save you. It will not; each Last Chance creates its own lose-the-game trigger for the specific turn it created. Another mistake is forgetting that 'losing the game' is a triggered ability that goes on the stack, meaning it can be responded to, but not ignored simply by ending the turn early.

When to Play It

Last Chance is best used as a finisher when you are one attack or one spell away from victory. It acts as a way to untap your creatures, draw an extra card, and gain another combat phase to push through those last points of damage. Use it only when you are certain the game will end before your extra end step does.

Interaction examples

Digging for the Win

Faithless Looting

On your extra turn granted by Last Chance, you can cast Faithless Looting to dig through your library for a specific card that will help you win. Since you have an entire extra turn's worth of mana, you can discard cards you don't need and find your win condition before the end step trigger kills you.

Clearing the Path

Vandalblast

If your opponent has a Ensnaring Bridge or other artifacts preventing you from winning, you can use your extra turn to cast Vandalblast. By destroying your opponent's defensive artifacts, you clear the way for a lethal attack during the extra combat phase provided by Last Chance.

The Final Stand

With the opponent at low life but having blockers, you cast Last Chance. You take your extra turn, untap your creatures, and draw a card. You move to combat, attack for the win, and succeed. Because the opponent has 0 life, you win the game before your end step even begins, meaning the lose-the-game trigger never happens.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.