Everything You Need to Know About Cast Triggers in Magic

Last updated on December 22, 2025

Hydroid Krasis | Illustration by Jason Felix

Cast triggers are a part of Magic that often go unnoticed. You could play many, many games before interacting with one, but they are important and powerful. Some of Magic’s best mechanics are cast triggers!

Do you know what a cast trigger is? Or do you think you’re an expert on them? Either way, this article has something for you!

What Is a Cast Trigger in MTG?

Spellgorger Weird | Illustration by James Paick

Cast triggers are abilities that trigger when you cast a spell. These are usually triggers from a permanent already on the battlefield (such as Spellgorger Weird), but some cards have abilities that trigger when they’re cast (great examples being Hydroid Krasis, as well as many Eldrazi Titans). Spells-matter cards are the place you’re most likely to see cast triggers, but they can show up all over.

To help you spot cast triggers, look out for phrases on cards such as “when/whenever you cast a spell.” Abilities such as prowess are also classified as cast triggers.

Is a Cast Trigger a Triggered Ability?

Cast triggers are a type of triggered ability that's triggered when you (or potentially someone else in the game) cast a spell.

Do Cast Triggers Use the Stack?

Yes, cast triggers are just like any other triggered abilities and use the stack.

Are Cast Triggers Spells?

No, cast triggers are not spells, they're a type of triggered ability.

What If a Card You Cast Also Has a Cast Trigger?

Some cards have cast triggers that trigger when they are cast (such as Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger’s ability that exiles two permanents when cast). When this happens, you cast the spell and the cast trigger goes above it on the stack. This means that the trigger resolves before the spell does, and in the case of permanents, they won’t be on the battlefield when the ability resolves.

What If Casting a Spell Causes Something Else to Trigger?

Many cards have abilities that trigger when you cast another spell, sometimes limited to a specific type of spell, such as a creature spell or instant/sorcery. In this case, when you cast the relevant spell, the cast trigger goes onto the stack above the spell, and resolves before the spell does.

Can You Counter a Cast Trigger?

As cast triggers are not spells, most counterspells don’t work on them. However, counters that can counter abilities, such as Stifle, can counter the cast triggers.

Does Countering a Spell Counter Its Cast Triggers?

No, countering a spell does not counter any cast triggers associated with it. This applies to cast triggers that come from other sources as well as the card itself, so if your Hydroid Krasis is countered, you still draw cards and gain life.

Can You Copy a Cast Trigger?

Cast triggers are just like any other kind of triggered ability, and therefore can be copied like any other ability. Some good examples of this are Echoes of Eternity copying cast abilities from colorless spells, or Veyran, Voice of Duality copying abilities triggered by instants and sorceries.

Does Copying a Spell Copy Its Cast Triggers?

Usually, copying spells doesn’t copy cast triggers. You may think that it would, as you’re getting another copy of the spell on the stack, but copied spells are not usually cast. They’re copied! There are a couple of cards, mainly from Strixhaven, that trigger on cast or copy, such as Storm-Kiln Artist.

Can You Stack Cast Triggers in MTG?

Yes. If casting a spell triggers multiple abilities, they all go on the stack, and the normal rules for placing abilities on the stack apply: Active player puts their abilities on first, in the order they choose, then the non-active players, starting from the player on the left of the active player.

Does an Additional Cost Count as a Cast Trigger?

No. Additional costs often modify the effects of a spell as it resolves, but they don’t count as triggered abilities. This applies to mechanics like kicker, squad, offspring, and so on, none of which are triggered abilities.

Do Any Cards Stop Cast Triggers?

Magic has a lot of ways to stop your opponents from doing their thing, but stopping cast triggers is difficult. You can of course Stifle individual triggers, but if you want something that takes care of more than one at a time you need to think a little differently.

The best ways I can think of is to just end the turn with something like Discontinuity. This may not work for every situation, especially if it’s your turn, but it is a way you can handle it. Something like Dress Down might work if the abilities are coming from creatures already on the battlefield. Use a bit of creativity!

What Happens If Someone Who Controls a Cast Trigger Leaves the Game?

If a cast trigger is on the stack, and the player who controls the trigger leaves the game then the ability also leaves the stack.

Does Approach of the Second Sun Have a Cast Trigger?

No, this is a very common misconception. Nothing happens when you cast Approach of the Second Sun, whether it be for the first, second, or any other copy of the spell. The resolution just checks to see if you’ve cast the card twice. There is no trigger from this card when it’s cast.

Wrap Up

Veyran, Voice of Duality | Illustration by Mathias Kollros

Cast triggers are super important to the game, and can be quite powerful. Some players, especially newer players, may find them unfair, although the most “unfair” aspect of them is the fact that they often get around counterspells, and new players generally hate counters. So they mainly provide a good additional element to the game.

What do you think? Do you like cast triggers, or are they one of those things that complicate the game? I’d love to know below in the comments or over on the Draftsim Discord if you learned something today, too. That way we know it’s doing some good!

I hope you did, and look forward to seeing you in the next one.