The Trigger in the Response Chain
Judge Level 1The Bolt gets countered — but the Guttersnipe trigger reached the stack first.
Cards involved
Bolt + Guttersnipe
You control Guttersnipe and cast Lightning Bolt targeting your opponent. The Guttersnipe trigger fires on casting and is put on the stack above the Bolt.
603.3bIf multiple abilities have triggered since the last time a player received priority, the abilities are placed on the stack in a two-part process. First, each player, in APNAP order, puts each triggered ability they control with a trigger condition that isn’t another ability triggering on the stack in any order they choose. (See rule 101.4.) Second, each player, in APNAP order, puts all remaining triggered abilities they control on the stack in any order they choose. Then the game once again checks for and performs state-based actions until none are performed, then abilities that triggered during this process go on the stack. This process repeats until no new state-based actions are performed and no abilities trigger. Then the appropriate player gets priority.
Your opponent counters the Bolt
Your opponent casts Counterspell — targeting the Bolt at the bottom. The stack from the top: Counterspell, Guttersnipe trigger, Bolt.
What happens?
Counterspell is about to resolve.
The Bolt will be countered. Does your opponent still take the 2 trigger damage?
Pick an answer to continue.
The casting itself is the triggering event — it can't be undone by countering the spell later. The same logic powers the storm scenario.
113.7The source of an ability is the object that generated it. The source of an activated ability on the stack is the object whose ability was activated. The source of a triggered ability (other than a delayed triggered ability) on the stack, or one that has triggered and is waiting to be put on the stack, is the object whose ability triggered. To determine the source of a delayed triggered ability, see rules 603.7d–f.
Counterspell resolves
The Bolt is countered and goes to the graveyard without effect.
701.6aTo counter a spell or ability means to cancel it, removing it from the stack. It doesn’t resolve and none of its effects occur. A countered spell is put into its owner’s graveyard.
The trigger hits
The Guttersnipe trigger resolves: 2 damage to your opponent. Your Bolt got countered — but the damage happened anyway.
Stack
Opponent's life:
Guttersnipe
Whenever you cast an instant/sorcery: 2 damage to each opponent
Lightning Bolt
Target: your opponent
Counterspell
Target: the Bolt
Triggered ability: Guttersnipe
Guttersnipe trigger: 2 damage to each opponent
The stack is empty.
Battlefield
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